If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
If a bull attacks and kills a man or woman, the bull must definitely be stoned to death, and its meat cannot be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible.
This verse establishes that when an animal kills someone, the animal must be destroyed but the owner isn't automatically blamed if it was an accident.
📚 Historical Context
This law was part of the civil and judicial code God gave to Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai. In ancient agricultural societies, livestock accidents were common, so clear laws were needed to handle cases where animals caused human death. The stoning of the animal and prohibition against eating its flesh treated the killing as a serious matter that required purification, even when accidental.
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