Discovery BoxExodus 21:12 
Context21:12 1 “Whoever strikes someone 2 so that he dies 3 must surely be put to death. 4
Exodus 21:14
Context21:14 But if a man willfully attacks his neighbor to kill him cunningly, 5 you will take him even from my altar that he may die.
Exodus 21:23
Context21:23 But if there is serious injury, then you will give a life for a life,
Exodus 21:28
Context21:28 6 “If an ox 7 gores a man or a woman so that either dies, 8 then the ox must surely 9 be stoned and its flesh must not be eaten, but the owner of the ox will be acquitted.
Exodus 21:36
Context21:36 Or if it is known that the ox had the habit of goring, and its owner did not take the necessary precautions, he must surely pay 10 ox for ox, and the dead animal will become his. 11
1 sn The underlying point of this section remains vital today: The people of God must treat all human life as sacred.
2 tn The construction uses a Hiphil participle in construct with the noun for “man” (or person as is understood in a law for the nation): “the one striking [of] a man.” This is a casus pendens (independent nominative absolute); it indicates the condition or action that involves further consequence (GKC 361 §116.w).
3 tn The Hebrew word וָמֵת (vamet) is a Qal perfect with vav consecutive; it means “and he dies” and not “and killed him” (which require another stem). Gesenius notes that this form after a participle is the equivalent of a sentence representing a contingent action (GKC 333 §112.n). The word shows the result of the action in the opening participle. It is therefore a case of murder or manslaughter.
4 sn See A. Phillips, “Another Look at Murder,” JJS 28 (1977): 105-26.
5 tn The word עָרְמָה (’ormah) is problematic. It could mean with prior intent, which would be connected with the word in Prov 8:5, 12 which means “understanding” (or “prudence” – fully aware of the way things are). It could be connected also to an Arabic word for “enemy” which would indicate this was done with malice or evil intentions (U. Cassuto, Exodus, 270). The use here seems parallel to the one in Josh 9:4, an instance involving intentionality and clever deception.
6 sn The point that this section of the laws makes is that one must ensure the safety of others by controlling the circumstances.
7 tn Traditionally “ox,” but “bull” would also be suitable. The term may refer to one of any variety of large cattle.
8 tn Heb “and he dies”; KJV “that they die”; NAB, NASB “to death.”
9 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.
10 tn The construction now uses the same Piel imperfect (v. 34) but adds the infinitive absolute to it for emphasis.
11 sn The point of this section (21:28-36) seems to be that one must ensure the safety of others by controlling one’s property and possessions. This section pertained to neglect with animals, but the message would have applied to similar situations. The people of God were to take heed to ensure the well-being of others, and if there was a problem, it had to be made right.
