New Living Translation

Hebrew Study Bible

1“These are the regulations you must present to Israel.

1וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּשִׂ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

2“If you buy a Hebrew slave, he may serve for no more than six years. Set him free in the seventh year, and he will owe you nothing for his freedom.

2כִּ֤י תִקְנֶה֙ עֶ֣בֶד עִבְרִ֔י שֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים יַעֲבֹ֑ד וּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔ת יֵצֵ֥א לַֽחָפְשִׁ֖י חִנָּֽם׃

3If he was single when he became your slave, he shall leave single. But if he was married before he became a slave, then his wife must be freed with him.

3אִם־ בְּגַפּ֥וֹ יָבֹ֖א בְּגַפּ֣וֹ יֵצֵ֑א אִם־ בַּ֤עַל אִשָּׁה֙ ה֔וּא וְיָצְאָ֥ה אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ עִמּֽוֹ׃

4“If his master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or daughters, then only the man will be free in the seventh year, but his wife and children will still belong to his master.

4אִם־ אֲדֹנָיו֙ יִתֶּן־ ל֣וֹ אִשָּׁ֔ה וְיָלְדָה־ ל֥וֹ בָנִ֖ים א֣וֹ בָנ֑וֹת הָאִשָּׁ֣ה וִילָדֶ֗יהָ תִּהְיֶה֙ לַֽאדֹנֶ֔יהָ וְה֖וּא יֵצֵ֥א בְגַפּֽוֹ׃

5But the slave may declare, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I don’t want to go free.’

5וְאִם־ אָמֹ֤ר יֹאמַר֙ הָעֶ֔בֶד אָהַ֙בְתִּי֙ אֶת־ אֲדֹנִ֔י אֶת־ אִשְׁתִּ֖י וְאֶת־ בָּנָ֑י לֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א חָפְשִֽׁי׃

6If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door or doorpost and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will serve his master for life.

6וְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹ אֲדֹנָיו֙ אֶל־ הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ אֶל־ הַדֶּ֔לֶת א֖וֹ אֶל־ הַמְּזוּזָ֑ה וְרָצַ֨ע אֲדֹנָ֤יו אֶת־ אָזְנוֹ֙ בַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַ וַעֲבָד֖וֹ לְעֹלָֽם׃ ס

7“When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are.

7וְכִֽי־ יִמְכֹּ֥ר אִ֛ישׁ אֶת־ בִּתּ֖וֹ לְאָמָ֑ה לֹ֥א תֵצֵ֖א כְּצֵ֥את הָעֲבָדִֽים׃

8If she does not satisfy her owner, he must allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her.

8אִם־ רָעָ֞ה בְּעֵינֵ֧י אֲדֹנֶ֛יהָ אֲשֶׁר־ [לא] (ל֥וֹ) יְעָדָ֖הּ וְהֶפְדָּ֑הּ לְעַ֥ם נָכְרִ֛י לֹא־ יִמְשֹׁ֥ל לְמָכְרָ֖הּ בְּבִגְדוֹ־ בָֽהּ׃

9But if the slave’s owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave but as a daughter.

9וְאִם־ לִבְנ֖וֹ יִֽיעָדֶ֑נָּה כְּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבָּנ֖וֹת יַעֲשֶׂה־ לָּֽהּ׃

10“If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy.

10אִם־ אַחֶ֖רֶת יִֽקַּֽח־ ל֑וֹ שְׁאֵרָ֛הּ כְּסוּתָ֥הּ וְעֹנָתָ֖הּ לֹ֥א יִגְרָֽע׃

11If he fails in any of these three obligations, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. Cases of Personal Injury

11וְאִם־ שְׁלָ֨שׁ־ אֵ֔לֶּה לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה לָ֑הּ וְיָצְאָ֥ה חִנָּ֖ם אֵ֥ין כָּֽסֶף׃ ס

12“Anyone who assaults and kills another person must be put to death.

12מַכֵּ֥ה אִ֛ישׁ וָמֵ֖ת מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

13But if it was simply an accident permitted by God, I will appoint a place of refuge where the slayer can run for safety.

13וַאֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א צָדָ֔ה וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אִנָּ֣ה לְיָד֑וֹ וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י לְךָ֙ מָק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנ֖וּס שָֽׁמָּה׃ ס

14However, if someone deliberately kills another person, then the slayer must be dragged even from my altar and be put to death.

14וְכִֽי־ יָזִ֥ד אִ֛ישׁ עַל־ רֵעֵ֖הוּ לְהָרְג֣וֹ בְעָרְמָ֑ה מֵעִ֣ם מִזְבְּחִ֔י תִּקָּחֶ֖נּוּ לָמֽוּת׃ ס

15“Anyone who strikes father or mother must be put to death.

15וּמַכֵּ֥ה אָבִ֛יו וְאִמּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

16“Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.

16וְגֹנֵ֨ב אִ֧ישׁ וּמְכָר֛וֹ וְנִמְצָ֥א בְיָד֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃ ס

17“Anyone who dishonors father or mother must be put to death.

17וּמְקַלֵּ֥ל אָבִ֛יו וְאִמּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃ ס

18“Now suppose two men quarrel, and one hits the other with a stone or fist, and the injured person does not die but is confined to bed.

18וְכִֽי־ יְרִיבֻ֣ן אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְהִכָּה־ אִישׁ֙ אֶת־ רֵעֵ֔הוּ בְּאֶ֖בֶן א֣וֹ בְאֶגְרֹ֑ף וְלֹ֥א יָמ֖וּת וְנָפַ֥ל לְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃

19If he is later able to walk outside again, even with a crutch, the assailant will not be punished but must compensate his victim for lost wages and provide for his full recovery.

19אִם־ יָק֞וּם וְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בַּח֛וּץ עַל־ מִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹ וְנִקָּ֣ה הַמַּכֶּ֑ה רַ֥ק שִׁבְתּ֛וֹ יִתֵּ֖ן וְרַפֹּ֥א יְרַפֵּֽא׃ ס

20“If a man beats his male or female slave with a club and the slave dies as a result, the owner must be punished.

20וְכִֽי־ יַכֶּה֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶת־ עַבְדּ֜וֹ א֤וֹ אֶת־ אֲמָתוֹ֙ בַּשֵּׁ֔בֶט וּמֵ֖ת תַּ֣חַת יָד֑וֹ נָקֹ֖ם יִנָּקֵֽם׃

21But if the slave recovers within a day or two, then the owner shall not be punished, since the slave is his property.

21אַ֥ךְ אִם־ י֛וֹם א֥וֹ יוֹמַ֖יִם יַעֲמֹ֑ד לֹ֣א יֻקַּ֔ם כִּ֥י כַסְפּ֖וֹ הֽוּא׃ ס

22“Now suppose two men are fighting, and in the process they accidentally strike a pregnant woman so she gives birth prematurely. If no further injury results, the man who struck the woman must pay the amount of compensation the woman’s husband demands and the judges approve.

22וְכִֽי־ יִנָּצ֣וּ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ אִשָּׁ֤ה הָרָה֙ וְיָצְא֣וּ יְלָדֶ֔יהָ וְלֹ֥א יִהְיֶ֖ה אָס֑וֹן עָנ֣וֹשׁ יֵעָנֵ֗שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׁ֤ית עָלָיו֙ בַּ֣עַל הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וְנָתַ֖ן בִּפְלִלִֽים׃

23But if there is further injury, the punishment must match the injury: a life for a life,

23וְאִם־ אָס֖וֹן יִהְיֶ֑ה וְנָתַתָּ֥ה נֶ֖פֶשׁ תַּ֥חַת נָֽפֶשׁ׃

24an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot,

24עַ֚יִן תַּ֣חַת עַ֔יִן שֵׁ֖ן תַּ֣חַת שֵׁ֑ן יָ֚ד תַּ֣חַת יָ֔ד רֶ֖גֶל תַּ֥חַת רָֽגֶל׃

25a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise.

25כְּוִיָּה֙ תַּ֣חַת כְּוִיָּ֔ה פֶּ֖צַע תַּ֣חַת פָּ֑צַע חַבּוּרָ֕ה תַּ֖חַת חַבּוּרָֽה׃ ס

26“If a man hits his male or female slave in the eye and the eye is blinded, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye.

26וְכִֽי־ יַכֶּ֨ה אִ֜ישׁ אֶת־ עֵ֥ין עַבְדּ֛וֹ אֽוֹ־ אֶת־ עֵ֥ין אֲמָת֖וֹ וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּ לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ תַּ֥חַת עֵינֽוֹ׃ ס

27And if a man knocks out the tooth of his male or female slave, he must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

27וְאִם־ שֵׁ֥ן עַבְדּ֛וֹ אֽוֹ־ שֵׁ֥ן אֲמָת֖וֹ יַפִּ֑יל לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ תַּ֥חַת שִׁנּֽוֹ׃ פ

28“If an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox must be stoned, and its flesh may not be eaten. In such a case, however, the owner will not be held liable.

28וְכִֽי־ יִגַּ֨ח שׁ֥וֹר אֶת־ אִ֛ישׁ א֥וֹ אֶת־ אִשָּׁ֖ה וָמֵ֑ת סָק֨וֹל יִסָּקֵ֜ל הַשּׁ֗וֹר וְלֹ֤א יֵאָכֵל֙ אֶת־ בְּשָׂר֔וֹ וּבַ֥עַל הַשּׁ֖וֹר נָקִֽי׃

29But suppose the ox had a reputation for goring, and the owner had been informed but failed to keep it under control. If the ox then kills someone, it must be stoned, and the owner must also be put to death.

29וְאִ֡ם שׁוֹר֩ נַגָּ֨ח ה֜וּא מִתְּמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֗ם וְהוּעַ֤ד בִּבְעָלָיו֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְרֶ֔נּוּ וְהֵמִ֥ית אִ֖ישׁ א֣וֹ אִשָּׁ֑ה הַשּׁוֹר֙ יִסָּקֵ֔ל וְגַם־ בְּעָלָ֖יו יוּמָֽת׃

30However, the dead person’s relatives may accept payment to compensate for the loss of life. The owner of the ox may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded.

30אִם־ כֹּ֖פֶר יוּשַׁ֣ת עָלָ֑יו וְנָתַן֙ פִּדְיֹ֣ן נַפְשׁ֔וֹ כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ יוּשַׁ֖ת עָלָֽיו׃

31“The same regulation applies if the ox gores a boy or a girl.

31אוֹ־ בֵ֥ן יִגָּ֖ח אוֹ־ בַ֣ת יִגָּ֑ח כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט הַזֶּ֖ה יֵעָ֥שֶׂה לּֽוֹ׃

32But if the ox gores a slave, either male or female, the animal’s owner must pay the slave’s owner thirty silver coins, and the ox must be stoned.

32אִם־ עֶ֛בֶד יִגַּ֥ח הַשּׁ֖וֹר א֣וֹ אָמָ֑ה כֶּ֣סֶף ׀ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שְׁקָלִ֗ים יִתֵּן֙ לַֽאדֹנָ֔יו וְהַשּׁ֖וֹר יִסָּקֵֽל׃ ס

33“Suppose someone digs or uncovers a pit and fails to cover it, and then an ox or a donkey falls into it.

33וְכִֽי־ יִפְתַּ֨ח אִ֜ישׁ בּ֗וֹר א֠וֹ כִּֽי־ יִכְרֶ֥ה אִ֛ישׁ בֹּ֖ר וְלֹ֣א יְכַסֶּ֑נּוּ וְנָֽפַל־ שָׁ֥מָּה שּׁ֖וֹר א֥וֹ חֲמֽוֹר׃

34The owner of the pit must pay full compensation to the owner of the animal, but then he gets to keep the dead animal.

34בַּ֤עַל הַבּוֹר֙ יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם כֶּ֖סֶף יָשִׁ֣יב לִבְעָלָ֑יו וְהַמֵּ֖ת יִֽהְיֶה־ לּֽוֹ׃ ס

35“If someone’s ox injures a neighbor’s ox and the injured ox dies, then the two owners must sell the live ox and divide the price equally between them. They must also divide the dead animal.

35וְכִֽי־ יִגֹּ֧ף שֽׁוֹר־ אִ֛ישׁ אֶת־ שׁ֥וֹר רֵעֵ֖הוּ וָמֵ֑ת וּמָ֨כְר֜וּ אֶת־ הַשּׁ֤וֹר הַחַי֙ וְחָצ֣וּ אֶת־ כַּסְפּ֔וֹ וְגַ֥ם אֶת־ הַמֵּ֖ת יֶֽחֱצֽוּן׃

36But if the ox had a reputation for goring, yet its owner failed to keep it under control, he must pay full compensation—a live ox for the dead one—but he may keep the dead ox.

36א֣וֹ נוֹדַ֗ע כִּ֠י שׁ֣וֹר נַגָּ֥ח הוּא֙ מִתְּמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמְרֶ֖נּוּ בְּעָלָ֑יו שַׁלֵּ֨ם יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם שׁוֹר֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשּׁ֔וֹר וְהַמֵּ֖ת יִֽהְיֶה־ לּֽוֹ׃ ס

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.