Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.
Or if it's known that the ox had a habit of attacking people before, and the owner didn't keep it secured, then he must definitely pay back ox for ox, and he gets to keep the dead animal.
This verse teaches that if someone knows their animal is dangerous but doesn't control it, they're fully responsible for any damage it causes.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context, Exodus 21 is part of the Mosaic Law given to the Israelites by God through Moses on Mount Sinai, which provided detailed guidelines for justice, restitution, and community order in ancient Israelite society. This specific verse addresses cases of animal negligence, where if an ox was known to be habitually aggressive and its owner failed to restrain it, resulting in another ox's death, the owner was required to compensate fully by giving an ox in return. These laws reflected the practical needs of an agrarian culture in the ancient Near East, emphasizing personal responsibility to maintain peace and fairness among neighbors.
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