And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.
And if he knocks out his male servant's tooth, or his female servant's tooth, he must set them free because of the tooth.
This verse teaches that masters who physically harm their servants by knocking out even a tooth must give them their freedom as compensation.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of Moses, God gave the Israelites a set of laws through the covenant at Mount Sinai to regulate their society, including specific rules for handling injuries caused by masters to their servants. These laws were designed to protect vulnerable people in a culture where slavery was common, emphasizing restitution and limits on abuse to promote justice. This particular rule ensured that if a master accidentally or intentionally knocked out a servant's tooth, the servant would be granted freedom as compensation, reflecting God's concern for human dignity.
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