Exodus 21 · Verse 12

Exodus 21:12

He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
Exodus 21:12, King James Version

Exodus 21:12 in other translations

BSBWhoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.
WEB“One who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death,
ASVHe that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death.
YLT‘He who smiteth a man so that he hath died, is certainly put to death;
DARBYHe that striketh a man, so that he die, shall certainly be put to death.
BBEHe who gives a man a death-blow is himself to be put to death.
WebsterHe that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall be surely put to death.

What does Exodus 21:12 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 21:12-21
God, who by his providence gives and maintains life, by his law protects it. A wilful murderer shall be taken even from God's altar. But God provided cities of refuge to protect those whose unhappiness it was, and not their fault, to cause the death of another; for such as by accident, when a man is doing a lawful act, without intent of hurt, happens to kill another. Let children hear the sentence of God's word upon the ungrateful and disobedient; and remember that God will certainly requite it, if they have ever cursed their parents, even in their hearts, or have lifted up their hands against them, except they repent, and flee for refuge to the Saviour. And let parents hence learn to be very careful in training up their children, setting them a good example, especially in the government of their passions, and in praying for them; taking heed not to provoke them to wrath. Through poverty the Israelites sometimes sold themselves or their children; magistrates sold some persons for their crimes, and creditors were in some cases allowed to sell their debtors who could not pay. But "man-stealing," the object of which is to force another into slavery, is ranked in the New Testament with the greatest crimes. Care is here taken, that satisfaction be made for hurt done to a person, though death do not follow. The gospel teaches masters to forbear, and to moderate threatenings, Ep 6:9, considering with Job, What shall I do, when God riseth up? Job 31:13, 14.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Exodus 21:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מַכֵּ֥הma.Keh[one who] will strikeH5221
אִ֛ישׁ'ish<of> anyoneH376
וָמֵ֖תva.Metand he will dieH4191
מ֥וֹתMotcertainly <to to die>H4191
יוּמָֽת\׃yu.Mathe will be put to deathH4191

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 21:12

  • Genesis 9:6

    Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

  • Matthew 26:52

    Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

  • Leviticus 24:17

    And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.

  • Numbers 35:30-31

    Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

  • Numbers 35:16-24

    And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. …

  • 2 Samuel 12:13

    And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

  • Deuteronomy 19:11-13

    But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

  • Exodus 20:13

    Thou shalt not kill.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20:13; Ge 9:6; Le 24:17; Nu 35:16-24,30,31; De 19:11-13
2Sa 12:13; Mt 26:52

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 21:11

    And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.

  • Exodus 21:12

    He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.

  • Exodus 21:13

    And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.

Read all of Exodus 21

Exodus 21:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que hiriere á alguno, haciéndole así morir, él morirá.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si quelqu’un frappe un homme, et qu’il en meure, il sera certainement mis à mort.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wer einen Menschen schlägt, daß er stirbt, soll gewißlich getötet werden;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui percusserit hominem volens occidere, morte moriatur.