Exodus 21 שְׁמוֹת פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Exodus 21 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וְאֵלֶּהve/EL/leand theseהַמִּשְׁפָּטִיםham/mish/pa/TIMthe judgmentsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhichתָּשִׂיםta/SIMyou shall setלִפְנֵיהֶם׃lif/ne/HEMbefore them

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

2. 2

   כִּיkiifתִקְנֶהtik/NEyou buyעֶבֶדE/veda servantעִבְרִיIv/RIa Hebrewשֵׁשׁsheshsixשָׁנִיםsha/NIMyearsיַעֲבֹדya/a/VODhe shall serveוּבַשְּׁבִעִתu/vash/she/vi/ITand in the seventhיֵצֵאye/TSEhe shall go outלַחׇפְשִׁיla/chof/SHIfreeחִנָּם׃chin/NAMfor 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־בְּגַפּוֹim-be/gap/POif by himselfיָבֹאya/VOhe came inבְּגַפּוֹbe/gap/POby himselfיֵצֵאye/TSEhe shall go outאִם־בַּעַלim-BA/alif the husband ofאִשָּׁהish/SHAa wifeהוּאhuheוְיָצְאָהve/ya/tse/Athen shall go outאִשְׁתּוֹish/TOhis wifeעִמּוֹ׃im/MOwith 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־אֲדֹנָיוim-a/do/NAYVif his masterיִתֶּן־לוֹyit/TEN-lohas given himאִשָּׁהish/SHAa wifeוְיָלְדָה־לוֹve/ya/le/DA-loand she has borne himבָנִיםva/NIMsonsאוֹoorבָנוֹתva/NOTdaughtersהָאִשָּׁהha/ish/SHAthe wifeוִילָדֶיהָvi/la/DE/haand her childrenתִּהְיֶהtih/YEshall beלַאדֹנֶיהָla/do/NE/haher master'sוְהוּאve/HUand heיֵצֵאye/TSEshall go outבְגַפּוֹ׃ve/gap/POby 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־אָמֹרve/IM-a/MORand if sayיֹאמַרyo/MARshall sayהָעֶבֶדha/E/vedthe servantאָהַבְתִּיa/HAV/tiI loveאֶת־אֲדֹנִיet-a/do/NImy masterאֶת־אִשְׁתִּיet-ish/TImy wifeוְאֶת־בָּנָיve/ET-ba/NAYand my childrenלֹאlonotאֵצֵאe/TSEgo outחׇפְשִׁי׃chof/SHIfree

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

6. 6

   וְהִגִּישׁוֹve/hig/gi/SHOand shall bring himאֲדֹנָיוa/do/NAYVhis masterאֶל־הָאֱלֹהִיםel-ha/e/lo/HIMto the judgesוְהִגִּישׁוֹve/hig/gi/SHOand shall bring himאֶל־הַדֶּלֶתel-had/DE/letto the doorאוֹoorאֶל־הַמְּזוּזָהel-ham/me/zu/ZAto the doorpostוְרָצַעve/ra/TSAand shall boreאֲדֹנָיוa/do/NAYVhis masterאֶת־אׇזְנוֹet-oz/NOhis earבַּמַּרְצֵעַbam/mar/TSE/awith an awlוַעֲבָדוֹva/a/va/DOand he shall serve himלְעֹלָם׃le/o/LAMfor 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־יִמְכֹּרve/KHI-yim/KORand if sellsאִישׁisha manאֶת־בִּתּוֹet-bit/TOhis daughterלְאָמָהle/a/MAto be a maidservantלֹאlonotתֵצֵאte/TSEshe shall go outכְּצֵאתke/TSETas go outהָעֲבָדִים׃ha/a/va/DIMthe menservants

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

8. 8

   אִם־רָעָהim-ra/Aif displeasingבְּעֵינֵיbe/e/NEin the eyes ofאֲדֹנֶיהָa/do/NE/haher masterאֲשֶׁר־[לוֹ]a/SHER-lowho for himself(לא)lיְעָדָהּye/a/DAhas betrothed herוְהֶפְדָּהּve/hef/DAthen shall he let her be redeemedלְעַםle/AMto a peopleנׇכְרִיnokh/RIforeignלֹא־יִמְשֹׁלlo-yim/SHOLhe shall have no powerלְמׇכְרָהּle/mokh/RAto sell herבְּבִגְדוֹ־בָהּ׃be/vig/DO-vaseeing 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־לִבְנוֹve/IM-liv/NOand if to his sonיִיעָדֶנָּהyi/a/DEN/nahe has betrothed herכְּמִשְׁפַּטke/mish/PATafter the manner ofהַבָּנוֹתhab/ba/NOTdaughtersיַעֲשֶׂה־לָּהּ׃ya/a/SE-lahe 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־אַחֶרֶתim-a/CHE/retif anotherיִקַּח־לוֹyik/KACH-lohe take himשְׁאֵרָהּshe/e/RAher foodכְּסוּתָהּke/su/TAher raimentוְעֹנָתָהּve/o/na/TAand her conjugal rightלֹאlonotיִגְרָע׃yig/RAshall 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־אֵלֶּהve/IM-she/LOSH-EL/leand if these threeלֹאlonotיַעֲשֶׂהya/a/SEhe doלָהּlafor herוְיָצְאָהve/ya/tse/Athen shall she go outחִנָּםchin/NAMfreeאֵיןenwithoutכָּסֶף׃KA/sefmoney

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

12. 12

    מַכֵּהmak/KEhe that smitesאִישׁisha manוָמֵתva/METso that he diesמוֹתmotdieיוּמָת׃yu/MAThe shall be put to death

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

13. 13

    וַאֲשֶׁרva/a/SHERand ifלֹאlonotצָדָהtsa/DAlie in waitוְהָאֱלֹהִיםve/ha/e/lo/HIMbut Godאִנָּהin/NAdeliverלְיָדוֹle/ya/DOinto his handוְשַׂמְתִּיve/sam/TIthen I will appointלְךָle/KHAyouמָקוֹםma/KOMa placeאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwhereיָנוּסya/NUShe shall fleeשָׁמָּה׃SHAM/mathither

    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־יָזִדve/KHI-ya/ZIDbut if come presumptuouslyאִישׁisha manעַל־רֵעֵהוּal-re/E/huupon his neighborלְהׇרְגוֹle/hor/GOto slay himבְעׇרְמָהve/or/MAwith guileמֵעִםme/IMfromמִזְבְּחִיmiz/be/CHImy altarתִּקָּחֶנּוּtik/ka/CHEN/nuyou shall take himלָמוּת׃la/MUTthat 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

    וּמַכֵּהu/mak/KEand he that smitesאָבִיוa/VIVhis fatherוְאִמּוֹve/im/MOor his motherמוֹתmotdieיוּמָת׃yu/MAThe shall be put to death

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

16. 16

    וְגֹנֵבve/go/NEVand he who stealsאִישׁisha manוּמְכָרוֹu/me/kha/ROand sells himוְנִמְצָאve/nim/TSAor he be foundבְיָדוֹve/ya/DOin his handמוֹתmotdieיוּמָת׃yu/MAThe 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

    וּמְקַלֵּלu/me/kal/LELand he that cursesאָבִיוa/VIVhis fatherוְאִמּוֹve/im/MOor his motherמוֹתmotdieיוּמָת׃yu/MAThe shall be put to death

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

18. 18

    וְכִי־יְרִיבֻןve/KHI-ye/ri/VUNand if striveאֲנָשִׁיםa/na/SHIMmenוְהִכָּה־אִישׁve/hik/KA-ishand one smiteאֶת־רֵעֵהוּet-re/E/huanotherבְּאֶבֶןbe/E/venwith a stoneאוֹoorבְאֶגְרֹףve/eg/ROFwith his fistוְלֹאve/LOand notיָמוּתya/MUThe dieוְנָפַלve/na/FALbut fallsלְמִשְׁכָּב׃le/mish/KAVto 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־יָקוּםim-ya/KUMif he rise againוְהִתְהַלֵּךְve/hit/hal/LEKHand walkבַּחוּץba/CHUTSabroadעַל־מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹal-mish/an/TOupon his staffוְנִקָּהve/nik/KAthen shall be quitהַמַּכֶּהham/mak/KEhe who smoteרַקrakonlyשִׁבְתּוֹshiv/TOhis loss of timeיִתֵּןyit/TENhe shall payוְרַפֹּאve/rap/POand healיְרַפֵּא׃ye/rap/PEhe shall cause to be 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־יַכֶּהve/KHI-yak/KEand if smitesאִישׁisha manאֶת־עַבְדּוֹet-av/DOhis manservantאוֹoorאֶת־אֲמָתוֹet-a/ma/TOhis maidservantבַּשֵּׁבֶטbash/SHE/vetwith a rodוּמֵתu/METand he diesתַּחַתTA/chatunderיָדוֹya/DOhis handנָקֹםna/KOMavengeיִנָּקֵם׃yin/na/KEMit shall be avenged

    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

    אַךְakhnotwithstandingאִם־יוֹםim-yomif a dayאוֹoorיוֹמַיִםyo/MA/yimtwo daysיַעֲמֹדya/a/MODhe continueלֹאlonotיֻקַּםyuk/KAMhe shall be avengedכִּיkiforכַסְפּוֹkhas/POhis moneyהוּא׃huhe is

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

22. 22

    וְכִי־יִנָּצוּve/KHI-yin/na/TSUand if striveאֲנָשִׁיםa/na/SHIMmenוְנָגְפוּve/na/ge/FUand hurtאִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanהָרָהha/RAwith childוְיָצְאוּve/ya/tse/Uso that come outיְלָדֶיהָye/la/DE/haher childrenוְלֹאve/LOand notיִהְיֶהyih/YEthere beאָסוֹןa/SONharmעָנוֹשׁa/NOSHfineיֵעָנֵשׁye/a/NESHhe shall be finedכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasיָשִׁיתya/SHITshall layעָלָיוa/LAYVupon himבַּעַלBA/althe husband ofהָאִשָּׁהha/ish/SHAthe womanוְנָתַןve/na/TANand he shall payבִּפְלִלִים׃bif/li/LIMby the judges

    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־אָסוֹןve/IM-a/SONand if harmיִהְיֶהyih/YEthere beוְנָתַתָּהve/na/tat/TAthen you shall giveנֶפֶשׁNE/feshlifeתַּחַתTA/chatforנָפֶשׁ׃NA/feshlife

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

24. 24

    עַיִןA/yineyeתַּחַתTA/chatforעַיִןA/yineyeשֵׁןshentoothתַּחַתTA/chatforשֵׁןshentoothיָדyadhandתַּחַתTA/chatforיָדyadhandרֶגֶלRE/gelfootתַּחַתTA/chatforרָגֶל׃RA/gelfoot

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

25. 25

    כְּוִיָּהke/viy/YAburningתַּחַתTA/chatforכְּוִיָּהke/viy/YAburningפֶּצַעPE/tsawoundתַּחַתTA/chatforפָּצַעPA/tsawoundחַבּוּרָהchab/bu/RAstripeתַּחַתTA/chatforחַבּוּרָה׃chab/bu/RAstripe

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

26. 26

    וְכִי־יַכֶּהve/KHI-yak/KEand if smitesאִישׁisha manאֶת־עֵיןet-enthe eye ofעַבְדּוֹav/DOhis manservantאוֹ־אֶת־עֵיןo-et-enor the eye ofאֲמָתוֹa/ma/TOhis maidservantוְשִׁחֲתָהּve/shi/cha/TAand destroys itלַחׇפְשִׁיla/chof/SHIfreeיְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּye/shal/le/CHEN/nuhe shall let him goתַּחַתTA/chatforעֵינוֹ׃e/NOhis 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־שֵׁןve/IM-shenand if the tooth ofעַבְדּוֹav/DOhis manservantאוֹ־שֵׁןo-shenor the tooth ofאֲמָתוֹa/ma/TOhis maidservantיַפִּילyap/PILhe knock outלַחׇפְשִׁיla/chof/SHIfreeיְשַׁלְּחֶנּוּye/shal/le/CHEN/nuhe shall let him goתַּחַתTA/chatforשִׁנּוֹ׃shin/NOhis 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־יִגַּחve/KHI-yig/GACHand if goresשׁוֹרshoran oxאֶת־אִישׁet-isha manאוֹoorאֶת־אִשָּׁהet-ish/SHAa womanוָמֵתva/METand he diesסָקוֹלsa/KOLstoneיִסָּקֵלyis/sa/KELshall be stonedהַשּׁוֹרhash/SHORthe oxוְלֹאve/LOand notיֵאָכֵלye/a/KHELshall be eatenאֶת־בְּשָׂרוֹet-be/sa/ROits fleshוּבַעַלu/VA/albut the owner ofהַשּׁוֹרhash/SHORthe oxנָקִי׃na/KIshall 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

    וְאִםve/IMbut ifשׁוֹרshoran oxנַגָּחnag/GACHwont to goreהוּאhuit wasמִתְּמֹלmit/te/MOLin time pastשִׁלְשֹׁםshil/SHOMand beforeוְהוּעַדve/hu/ADand it has been testifiedבִּבְעָלָיוbiv/a/LAYVto its ownerוְלֹאve/LOand notיִשְׁמְרֶנּוּyish/me/REN/nuhe has kept it inוְהֵמִיתve/he/MITand it has killedאִישׁisha manאוֹoorאִשָּׁהish/SHAa womanהַשּׁוֹרhash/SHORthe oxיִסָּקֵלyis/sa/KELshall be stonedוְגַם־בְּעָלָיוve/GAM-be/a/LAYVand its owner alsoיוּמָת׃yu/MATshall 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־כֹּפֶרim-KO/ferif a ransomיוּשַׁתyu/SHATbe laidעָלָיוa/LAYVupon himוְנָתַןve/na/TANthen he shall giveפִּדְיֹןpid/YONthe redemption ofנַפְשׁוֹnaf/SHOhis lifeכְּכֹלke/KHOLaccording to allאֲשֶׁר־יוּשַׁתa/SHER-yu/SHATthat is laidעָלָיו׃a/LAYVupon 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־בֵןo-venwhether a sonיִגָּחyig/GACHit has goredאוֹ־בַתo-vator a daughterיִגָּחyig/GACHit has goredכַּמִּשְׁפָּטkam/mish/PATaccording to judgmentהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisיֵעָשֶׂהye/a/SEshall it be doneלּוֹ׃loto 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־עֶבֶדim-E/vedif a manservantיִגַּחyig/GACHshall goreהַשּׁוֹרhash/SHORthe oxאוֹoorאָמָהa/MAa maidservantכֶּסֶףKE/sefsilverשְׁלֹשִׁיםshe/lo/SHIMthirtyשְׁקָלִיםshe/ka/LIMshekelsיִתֵּןyit/TENhe shall giveלַאדֹנָיוla/do/NAYVto their masterוְהַשּׁוֹרve/hash/SHORand the oxיִסָּקֵל׃yis/sa/KELshall 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־יִפְתַּחve/KHI-yif/TACHand if opensאִישׁisha manבּוֹרbora pitאוֹoorכִּי־יִכְרֶהki-yikh/REif digsאִישׁisha manבֹּרbora pitוְלֹאve/LOand notיְכַסֶּנּוּye/khas/SEN/nucover itוְנָפַל־שָׁמָּהve/na/FAL-SHAM/maand falls thereinשּׁוֹרshoran oxאוֹoorחֲמוֹר׃cha/MORa 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

    בַּעַלBA/althe owner ofהַבּוֹרhab/BORthe pitיְשַׁלֵּםye/shal/LEMshall make it goodכֶּסֶףKE/sefmoneyיָשִׁיבya/SHIVhe shall giveלִבְעָלָיוliv/a/LAYVto its ownerוְהַמֵּתve/ham/METand the deadיִהְיֶה־לּוֹ׃yih/YE-loshall 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־יִגֹּףve/KHI-yig/GOFand if hurtsשׁוֹר־אִישׁshor-ishone man's oxאֶת־שׁוֹרet-shorthe ox ofרֵעֵהוּre/E/huhis neighborוָמֵתva/METso that it diesוּמָכְרוּu/ma/khe/RUthen they shall sellאֶת־הַשּׁוֹרet-hash/SHORthe oxהַחַיha/CHAYliveוְחָצוּve/cha/TSUand divideאֶת־כַּסְפּוֹet-kas/POits priceוְגַםve/GAMand alsoאֶת־הַמֵּתet-ham/METthe deadיֶחֱצוּן׃ye/che/TSUNthey 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

    אוֹoorנוֹדַעno/DAit be knownכִּיkithatשׁוֹרshoran oxנַגָּחnag/GACHwont to goreהוּאhuit wasמִתְּמוֹלmit/te/MOLin time pastשִׁלְשֹׁםshil/SHOMand beforeוְלֹאve/LOand notיִשְׁמְרֶנּוּyish/me/REN/nuhas kept it inבְּעָלָיוbe/a/LAYVhis ownerשַׁלֵּםshal/LEMpayיְשַׁלֵּםye/shal/LEMhe shall payשׁוֹרshoran oxתַּחַתTA/chatforהַשּׁוֹרhash/SHORthe oxוְהַמֵּתve/ham/METand the deadיִהְיֶה־לּוֹ׃yih/YE-loshall be his

    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

    כִּיkiifיִגְנֹב־אִישׁyig/NOV-isha man stealsשׁוֹרshoran oxאוֹ־שֶׂהo-seor a sheepוּטְבָחוֹu/te/va/CHOand slaughters itאוֹoorמְכָרוֹme/kha/ROsells itחֲמִשָּׁהcha/mish/SHAfiveבָקָרva/KARoxenיְשַׁלֵּםye/shal/LEMhe shall restoreתַּחַתTA/chatforהַשּׁוֹרhash/SHORthe oxוְאַרְבַּע־צֹאןve/ar/BA-tsonand four sheepתַּחַתTA/chatforהַשֶּׂה׃has/SEthe 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.