Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
If someone injures another person, they should receive the same injury in return: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Whatever harm they have caused to someone else should be done to them in the same way.
This verse establishes that punishment should match the crime - if you harm someone, you should face the same consequences you caused them.
📚 Historical Context
This law, known as 'lex talionis' (law of retaliation), was given to ancient Israel as part of their civil justice system. It was actually designed to limit revenge by ensuring punishments were proportional rather than excessive. In ancient times, this principle helped prevent blood feuds where families would escalate violence beyond the original offense.
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