Exodus 21 שְׁמוֹת פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Exodus 21 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וְאֵלֶּהand theseהַמִּשְׁפָּטִיםthe judgmentsאֲשֶׁרwhichתָּשִׂיםyou shall setלִפְנֵיהֶם׃before them

   Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

2. 2

   כִּיifתִקְנֶהyou buyעֶבֶדa servantעִבְרִיHebrewשֵׁשׁsixשָׁנִיםyearsיַעֲבֹדhe shall serveוּבַשְּׁבִעִתand in the seventhיֵצֵאhe shall go outלַחׇפְשִׁיfreeחִנָּם׃for nothing

   If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

3. 3

   אִם־בְּגַפּוֹif by himselfיָבֹאhe came inבְּגַפּוֹby himselfיֵצֵאhe shall go outאִם־בַּעַלif marriedאִשָּׁהa womanהוּאhe wasוְיָצְאָהthen shall go outאִשְׁתּוֹhis wifeעִמּוֹ׃with him

   If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

4. 4

   אִם־אֲדֹנָיוif his masterיִתֶּן־לוֹhave given himאִשָּׁהa womanוְיָלְדָה־לוֹand she have born himבָנִיםsonsאוֹorבָנוֹתdaughtersהָאִשָּׁהthe womanוִילָדֶיהָand her childrenתִּהְיֶהshall beלַאדֹנֶיהָto her masterוְהוּאand heיֵצֵאshall go outבְגַפּוֹ׃by himself

   If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.

5. 5

   וְאִם־אָמֹרand if plainlyיֹאמַרshall sayהָעֶבֶדthe servantאָהַבְתִּיI loveאֶת־אֲדֹנִיmy masterאֶת־אִשְׁתִּיmy wifeוְאֶת־בָּנָיand my sonsלֹאnotאֵצֵאI will go outחׇפְשִׁי׃free

   And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:

6. 6

   וְהִגִּישׁוֹthen shall bring himאֲדֹנָיוhis masterאֶל־הָאֱלֹהִיםunto Godוְהִגִּישׁוֹthen shall bring himאֶל־הַדֶּלֶתto the doorאוֹorאֶל־הַמְּזוּזָהto the doorpostוְרָצַעand shall boreאֲדֹנָיוhis masterאֶת־אׇזְנוֹhis earבַּמַּרְצֵעַwith an awlוַעֲבָדוֹand he shall serve himלְעֹלָם׃for ever

   Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

7. 7

   וְכִי־יִמְכֹּרand if sellאִישׁa manאֶת־בִּתּוֹhis daughterלְאָמָהto be a maidservantלֹאnotתֵצֵאshe shall go outכְּצֵאתas go outהָעֲבָדִים׃the menservants

   And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.

8. 8

   אִם־רָעָהif please notבְּעֵינֵיin the eyes ofאֲדֹנֶיהָher masterאֲשֶׁר־[לוֹ]who(לא)יְעָדָהּhas betrothed herוְהֶפְדָּהּthen shall he let her be redeemedלְעַםunto a nationנׇכְרִיstrangeלֹא־יִמְשֹׁלhe shall have no powerלְמׇכְרָהּto her sellבְּבִגְדוֹ־בָהּ׃seeing he has dealt deceitfully with her

   If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

9. 9

   וְאִם־לִבְנוֹand if unto his sonיִיעָדֶנָּהhe have betrothed herכְּמִשְׁפַּטafter the manner ofהַבָּנוֹתdaughtersיַעֲשֶׂה־לָּהּ׃he shall deal with her

   And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.

10. 10

    אִם־אַחֶרֶתif he take him anotherיִקַּח־לוֹwifeשְׁאֵרָהּher foodכְּסוּתָהּher raimentוְעֹנָתָהּand her duty of marriageלֹאnotיִגְרָע׃shall he diminish

    If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.

11. 11

    וְאִם־שְׁלׇשׁ־אֵלֶּהand if these threeלֹאnotיַעֲשֶׂהhe doלָהּunto herוְיָצְאָהthen shall she go outחִנָּםfreeאֵיןwithoutכָּסֶף׃money

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

12. 12

    מַכֵּהhe that smitesאִישׁa manוָמֵתso that he dieמוֹתsurelyיוּמָת׃he shall be put to death

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

13. 13

    וַאֲשֶׁרand ifלֹאnotצָדָהlie in waitוְהָאֱלֹהִיםbut Godאִנָּהdeliverלְיָדוֹinto his handוְשַׂמְתִּיthen I will appointלְךָfor youמָקוֹםa placeאֲשֶׁרwhichיָנוּסhe shall fleeשָׁמָּה׃thither

    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.

14. 14

    וְכִי־יָזִדbut if come presumptuouslyאִישׁa manעַל־רֵעֵהוּupon his neighborלְהׇרְגוֹto slay himבְעׇרְמָהwith guileמֵעִםfromמִזְבְּחִיMy altarתִּקָּחֶנּוּyou shall take himלָמוּת׃that he may die

    But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

15. 15

    וּמַכֵּהand he that smitesאָבִיוhis fatherוְאִמּוֹor his motherמוֹתsurelyיוּמָת׃he shall be put to death

    And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.

16. 16

    וְגֹנֵבand he that stealsאִישׁa manוּמְכָרוֹand sells himוְנִמְצָאor if he be foundבְיָדוֹin his handמוֹתsurelyיוּמָת׃he shall be put to death

    And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

17. 17

    וּמְקַלֵּלand he that cursesאָבִיוhis fatherוְאִמּוֹor his motherמוֹתsurelyיוּמָת׃he shall be put to death

    And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

18. 18

    וְכִי־יְרִיבֻןand if striveאֲנָשִׁיםmen togetherוְהִכָּה־אִישׁand one smiteאֶת־רֵעֵהוּthe otherבְּאֶבֶןwith a stoneאוֹorבְאֶגְרֹףwith his fistוְלֹאand notיָמוּתhe dieוְנָפַלbut keepsלְמִשְׁכָּב׃his bed

    And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:

19. 19

    אִם־יָקוּםif he rise againוְהִתְהַלֵּךְand walkבַּחוּץabroadעַל־מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹupon his staffוְנִקָּהthen shall be quitהַמַּכֶּהhe that smote himרַקonlyשִׁבְתּוֹhis loss of timeיִתֵּןshall giveוְרַפֹּאand shall cause him to be thoroughlyיְרַפֵּא׃healed

    If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.

20. 20

    וְכִי־יַכֶּהand if smiteאִישׁa manאֶת־עַבְדּוֹhis servantאוֹorאֶת־אֲמָתוֹhis maidבַּשֵּׁבֶטwith a rodוּמֵתand he dieתַּחַתunderיָדוֹhis handנָקֹםsurelyיִנָּקֵם׃he shall be punished

    And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.

21. 21

    אַךְbutאִם־יוֹםif a dayאוֹorיוֹמַיִםtwoיַעֲמֹדhe continueלֹאnotיֻקַּםhe shall be punishedכִּיforכַסְפּוֹhis moneyהוּא׃he is

    Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.

22. 22

    וְכִי־יִנָּצוּand if striveאֲנָשִׁיםmenוְנָגְפוּand hurtאִשָּׁהa womanהָרָהwith childוְיָצְאוּso that depart from herיְלָדֶיהָher fruitוְלֹאand notיִהְיֶהshall beאָסוֹןmischiefעָנוֹשׁsurelyיֵעָנֵשׁhe shall be punishedכַּאֲשֶׁרasיָשִׁיתshall layעָלָיוupon himבַּעַלthe husband ofהָאִשָּׁהthe womanוְנָתַןand he shall payבִּפְלִלִים׃as the judges determine

    If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.

23. 23

    וְאִם־אָסוֹןand if mischiefיִהְיֶהshall beוְנָתַתָּהthen you shall giveנֶפֶשׁlifeתַּחַתforנָפֶשׁ׃life

    And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,

24. 24

    עַיִןeyeתַּחַתforעַיִןeyeשֵׁןtoothתַּחַתforשֵׁןtoothיָדhandתַּחַתforיָדhandרֶגֶלfootתַּחַתforרָגֶל׃foot

    Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25. 25

    כְּוִיָּהburningתַּחַתforכְּוִיָּהburningפֶּצַעwoundתַּחַתforפָּצַעwoundחַבּוּרָהstripeתַּחַתforחַבּוּרָה׃stripe

    Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

26. 26

    וְכִי־יַכֶּהand if smiteאִישׁa manאֶת־עֵיןthe eye ofעַבְדּוֹhis servantאוֹ־אֶת־עֵיןor the eye ofאֲמָתוֹhis maidוְשִׁחֲתָהּthat it perishלַחׇפְשִׁיfreeיְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּhe shall let him goתַּחַתforעֵינוֹ׃his eye

    And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.

27. 27

    וְאִם־שֵׁןand if the tooth ofעַבְדּוֹhis servantאוֹ־שֵׁןor the tooth ofאֲמָתוֹhis maidיַפִּילhe smite outלַחׇפְשִׁיfreeיְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּhe shall let him goתַּחַתforשִׁנּוֹ׃his tooth

    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.

28. 28

    וְכִי־יִגַּחand if goreשׁוֹרan oxאֶת־אִישׁa manאוֹorאֶת־אִשָּׁהa womanוָמֵתthat they dieסָקוֹלsurelyיִסָּקֵלshall be stonedהַשּׁוֹרthe oxוְלֹאand notיֵאָכֵלshall be eatenאֶת־בְּשָׂרוֹhis fleshוּבַעַלbut the owner ofהַשּׁוֹרthe oxנָקִי׃shall be quit

    If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.

29. 29

    וְאִםand ifשׁוֹרan oxנַגָּחwont to pushהוּאhe wasמִתְּמֹלin time pastשִׁלְשֹׁםand before thatוְהוּעַדand it has been testifiedבִּבְעָלָיוto his ownerוְלֹאand notיִשְׁמְרֶנּוּhe has kept him inוְהֵמִיתbut that he has killedאִישׁa manאוֹorאִשָּׁהa womanהַשּׁוֹרthe oxיִסָּקֵלshall be stonedוְגַם־בְּעָלָיוand his owner alsoיוּמָת׃he shall be put to death

    But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.

30. 30

    אִם־כֹּפֶרif a sum of moneyיוּשַׁתbe laidעָלָיוupon himוְנָתַןthen he shall giveפִּדְיֹןfor the ransom ofנַפְשׁוֹhis lifeכְּכֹלaccording to allאֲשֶׁר־יוּשַׁתthat is laidעָלָיו׃upon him

    If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.

31. 31

    אוֹ־בֵןwhether a sonיִגָּחhe have goredאוֹ־בַתor a daughterיִגָּחhe have goredכַּמִּשְׁפָּטaccording to the ordinanceהַזֶּהthisיֵעָשֶׂהshall it be doneלּוֹ׃unto him

    Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.

32. 32

    אִם־עֶבֶדif a manservantיִגַּחshall pushהַשּׁוֹרthe oxאוֹorאָמָהa maidservantכֶּסֶףmoneyשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyשְׁקָלִיםshekelsיִתֵּןhe shall giveלַאדֹנָיוunto their masterוְהַשּׁוֹרand the oxיִסָּקֵל׃shall be stoned

    If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

33. 33

    וְכִי־יִפְתַּחand if shall openאִישׁa manבּוֹרa pitאוֹorכִּי־יִכְרֶהif shall digאִישׁa manבֹּרa pitוְלֹאand notיְכַסֶּנּוּcover itוְנָפַל־שָׁמָּהand fall thereinשּׁוֹרan oxאוֹorחֲמוֹר׃a donkey

    And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;

34. 34

    בַּעַלthe owner ofהַבּוֹרthe pitיְשַׁלֵּםshall make it goodכֶּסֶףmoneyיָשִׁיבshall he giveלִבְעָלָיוunto the owner of themוְהַמֵּתand the dead beastיִהְיֶה־לּוֹ׃shall be his

    The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.

35. 35

    וְכִי־יִגֹּףand if hurtשׁוֹר־אִישׁa man's oxאֶת־שׁוֹרthe ox ofרֵעֵהוּanother'sוָמֵתthat he dieוּמָכְרוּthen they shall sellאֶת־הַשּׁוֹרthe oxהַחַיthe liveוְחָצוּand divideאֶת־כַּסְפּוֹthe money of itוְגַםand alsoאֶת־הַמֵּתthe deadיֶחֱצוּן׃they shall divide

    And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.

36. 36

    אוֹorנוֹדַעit be knownכִּיthatשׁוֹרan oxנַגָּחwont to pushהוּאheמִתְּמוֹלin time pastשִׁלְשֹׁםand before thatוְלֹאand notיִשְׁמְרֶנּוּhas kept him inבְּעָלָיוhis ownerשַׁלֵּםsurelyיְשַׁלֵּםhe shall payשׁוֹרan oxתַּחַתforהַשּׁוֹרthe oxוְהַמֵּתand the deadיִהְיֶה־לּוֹ׃shall be his own

    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.

37. 37

    כִּיifיִגְנֹב־אִישׁshall steal a manשׁוֹרan oxאוֹ־שֶׂהor a sheepוּטְבָחוֹand kill itאוֹorמְכָרוֹsell itחֲמִשָּׁהfiveבָקָרoxenיְשַׁלֵּםhe shall restoreתַּחַתforהַשּׁוֹרthe oxוְאַרְבַּע־צֹאןand four sheepתַּחַתforהַשֶּׂה׃a sheep

    If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.