Exodus 21:28

Laws about Animals

21:28 “If an ox gores a man or a woman so that either dies, then the ox must surely be stoned and its flesh must not be eaten, but the owner of the ox will be acquitted.


sn The point that this section of the laws makes is that one must ensure the safety of others by controlling the circumstances.

tn Traditionally “ox,” but “bull” would also be suitable. The term may refer to one of any variety of large cattle.

tn Heb “and he dies”; KJV “that they die”; NAB, NASB “to death.”

tn The text uses סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל (saqol yissaqel), a Qal infinitive absolute with a Niphal imperfect. The infinitive intensifies the imperfect, which here has an obligatory nuance or is a future of instruction.