One verse. Three ways to understand.
Don't feel sorry for the guilty person. The punishment must match the crime: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
This verse establishes that justice requires fair punishment that matches the severity of the crime - not more, not less.
These are AI-assisted adaptations, not separate Bible editions. Compare them with the KJV source and read our methodology. How these readings are made →
Read the KJV source
King James Version · EnglishAnd thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.Ask the AI Assistant
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📚 Historical Context
In ancient Israel, as Moses delivered God's laws to the Israelites preparing to enter the Promised Land, this verse was part of instructions on establishing justice systems, including cities of refuge for accidental killers. It addressed the need to prevent excessive revenge in a tribal society by enforcing proportional punishment for crimes like murder or injury. This principle helped maintain social order and fairness in a community without modern legal institutions.