KJV ORIGINAL
If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
If a payment is demanded from him, then he must pay whatever amount is required to ransom his life.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse is explaining that if someone's life is at risk due to their negligence, they can pay money instead of facing the death penalty.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of the detailed laws God gave Moses for governing Israel, specifically dealing with cases where someone's ox kills a person. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, compensation payments were common alternatives to physical punishment. These laws provided structure for a nomadic people transitioning to settled life, ensuring justice while allowing for mercy through financial restitution.
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