Exodus 21:31
Exodus 21:31 in Multiple Translations
If the ox gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule.
Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
Whether it have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
If the death of a son or of a daughter has been caused, the punishment is to be in agreement with this rule.
If the ox uses its horns and kills a son or a daughter the same rule is applicable.
Whether he hath gored a sonne or gored a daughter, he shalbe iudged after the same maner.
whether it gore a son or gore a daughter, according to this judgment it is done to him.
Whether it has gored a son or has gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him.
Whether he hath gored a son, or hath gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done to him.
If he have gored a son, or a daughter, he shall fall under the like sentence.
If someone’s bull attacks and gores another person’s son or daughter, you must treat the bull’s owner according to that same rule.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 21:31
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Exodus 21:31 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אוֹ
בֵ֥ן
יִגָּ֖ח
אוֹ
בַ֣ת
יִגָּ֑ח
כַּ/מִּשְׁפָּ֥ט
הַ/זֶּ֖ה
יֵעָ֥שֶׂה
לּֽ/וֹ
אוֹ
ʼôw
H176
or
Conj
בֵ֥ן
bên
H1121
son
N-ms
יִגָּ֖ח
nâgach
H5055
to gore
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
אוֹ
ʼôw
H176
or
Conj
בַ֣ת
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
N-fs
יִגָּ֑ח
nâgach
H5055
to gore
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
כַּ/מִּשְׁפָּ֥ט
mishpâṭ
H4941
justice
Prep | N-ms
הַ/זֶּ֖ה
zeh
H2088
this
Art | Pron
יֵעָ֥שֶׂה
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
לּֽ/וֹ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 21:31
אוֹ
ʼôw
H176
"or"
Conj
Desire can also mean or, and, or if, showing a choice between options, as seen in Proverbs 31:4. It is used to express alternatives or possibilities.
Definition: 1) or, rather 1a) implying that the latter choice is preferred 1b) or if, introducing an example to be seen under a particular principle 1c) (in series) either...or, whether...or 1d) if perchance 1e) except, or else 2) whether, not the least, if, otherwise, also, and, then
Usage: Occurs in 218 OT verses. KJV: also, and, either, if, at the least, [idiom] nor, or, otherwise, then, whether. See also: Genesis 24:49; Leviticus 25:49; Proverbs 30:31.
בֵ֥ן
bên
H1121
"son"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
יִגָּ֖ח
nâgach
H5055
"to gore"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to push or thrust with force, like an animal using its horns. It can also mean to fight or war against someone. In the Bible, it is used to describe violent or aggressive behavior.
Definition: 1) to push, thrust, gore 1a) (Qal) to gore 1b) (Piel) to push or thrust at 1c) (Hithpael) to engage in thrusting, wage war
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: gore, push (down, -ing). See also: Exodus 21:28; 2 Chronicles 18:10; Psalms 44:6.
אוֹ
ʼôw
H176
"or"
Conj
Desire can also mean or, and, or if, showing a choice between options, as seen in Proverbs 31:4. It is used to express alternatives or possibilities.
Definition: 1) or, rather 1a) implying that the latter choice is preferred 1b) or if, introducing an example to be seen under a particular principle 1c) (in series) either...or, whether...or 1d) if perchance 1e) except, or else 2) whether, not the least, if, otherwise, also, and, then
Usage: Occurs in 218 OT verses. KJV: also, and, either, if, at the least, [idiom] nor, or, otherwise, then, whether. See also: Genesis 24:49; Leviticus 25:49; Proverbs 30:31.
בַ֣ת
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
N-fs
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
יִגָּ֑ח
nâgach
H5055
"to gore"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to push or thrust with force, like an animal using its horns. It can also mean to fight or war against someone. In the Bible, it is used to describe violent or aggressive behavior.
Definition: 1) to push, thrust, gore 1a) (Qal) to gore 1b) (Piel) to push or thrust at 1c) (Hithpael) to engage in thrusting, wage war
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: gore, push (down, -ing). See also: Exodus 21:28; 2 Chronicles 18:10; Psalms 44:6.
כַּ/מִּשְׁפָּ֥ט
mishpâṭ
H4941
"justice"
Prep | N-ms
Mishpat means justice or judgment, and is often used to describe God's righteous judgment, as well as human laws and decisions, in books like Deuteronomy and Isaiah.
Definition: : judgement/punishment 1) judgment, justice, ordinance 1a) judgment 1a1) act of deciding a case 1a2) place, court, seat of judgment 1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges) 1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment) 1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment) 1a6) execution (of judgment) 1a7) time (of judgment) 1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man) 1c) ordinance 1d) decision (in law) 1e) right, privilege, due (legal) 1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
Usage: Occurs in 406 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] adversary, ceremony, charge, [idiom] crime, custom, desert, determination, discretion, disposing, due, fashion, form, to be judged, judgment, just(-ice, -ly), (manner of) law(-ful), manner, measure, (due) order, ordinance, right, sentence, usest, [idiom] worthy, [phrase] wrong. See also: Genesis 18:19; 1 Kings 2:3; Psalms 1:5.
הַ/זֶּ֖ה
zeh
H2088
"this"
Art | Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning this or that, used to point out a specific person or thing. It appears in many contexts, including Genesis and Psalms, to indicate something specific. The KJV translates it as he, here, or it.
Definition: 1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, another, such 1a) (alone) 1a1) this one 1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another 1b) (appos to subst) 1b1) this 1c) (as predicate) 1c1) this, such 1d) (enclitically) 1d1) then 1d2) who, whom 1d3) how now, what now 1d4) what now 1d5) wherefore now 1d6) behold here 1d7) just now 1d8) now, now already 1e) (poetry) 1e1) wherein, which, those who 1f) (with prefixes) 1f1) in this (place) here, then 1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter 1f3) thus and thus 1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus 1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side 1f6) on this account 1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how
Usage: Occurs in 1061 OT verses. KJV: he, [idiom] hence, [idiom] here, it(-self), [idiom] now, [idiom] of him, the one...the other, [idiom] than the other, ([idiom] out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, [idiom] thus, very, which. Compare H2063 (זֹאת), H2090 (זֹה), H2097 (זוֹ), H2098 (זוּ). See also: Genesis 5:1; Exodus 10:17; Numbers 14:16.
יֵעָ֥שֶׂה
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
לּֽ/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Exodus 21:31
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Exodus 21:31 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 21:31
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 21:31
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 21:31
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 21:31
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 21:31
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 21:31
- Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 21:31
Context — Personal Injury Laws
29But if the ox has a habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or woman, then the ox must be stoned and its owner must also be put to death.
30If payment is demanded of him instead, he may redeem his life by paying the full amount demanded of him.
31If the ox gores a son or a daughter, it shall be done to him according to the same rule.
32If the ox gores a manservant or maidservant, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of that servant, and the ox must be stoned. 33If a man opens or digs a pit and fails to cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,Exodus 21:31 Summary
This verse means that if someone's ox hurts their child, the owner will be punished in the same way as if the ox had hurt an adult, because all human life is valuable to God. This shows us that God cares about everyone, no matter how old they are, as we see in Psalm 127:3, where children are a heritage from the Lord. The owner of the ox is also responsible for making sure their animal does not hurt anyone, just like we are responsible for our own actions, as taught in Galatians 6:7-8, where we reap what we sow. This reminds us to always be careful and considerate of others, because our actions can have serious consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for the owner to be treated 'according to the same rule' if their ox gores someone's child?
This means that if the ox has a history of goring and the owner failed to restrain it, they would be held accountable for the death of the child, just as they would be for the death of an adult, as seen in Exodus 21:29-30, where the owner's life is at stake if the ox kills a man or woman.
Does this verse imply that the value of a child's life is the same as an adult's life?
Yes, according to Exodus 21:31, the same rule applies whether the ox gores a son, a daughter, a man, or a woman, indicating that all human life is valued equally in God's sight, as also stated in Genesis 1:27, where all humans are created in God's image.
How does this verse relate to the concept of personal responsibility in the Bible?
This verse emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility, as seen in Exodus 21:29-30, where the owner's failure to restrain their ox leads to severe consequences, highlighting the biblical principle that we are accountable for our actions and the actions of those under our care, as also taught in Proverbs 22:3, where the prudent see danger and take refuge.
What can we learn from this verse about God's view of human life and accountability?
This verse teaches us that God values all human life, regardless of age, and holds us accountable for our actions and the well-being of those around us, as also seen in Psalm 139:13-16, where God's care and value for human life are clearly expressed.
Reflection Questions
- What can I learn from this verse about the importance of being responsible for my actions and the actions of those under my care?
- How does this verse challenge my understanding of the value of human life, and what implications does this have for my relationships with others?
- In what ways can I apply the principle of personal responsibility in my own life, and what steps can I take to ensure that I am being a good steward of the resources and people God has entrusted to me?
- What does this verse reveal about God's character, and how can I trust in His justice and wisdom in all circumstances?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 21:31
Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter,.... A little son or daughter, and both Israelites, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; this is observed, because only a man or woman are made mention of in
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 21:31
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. If an ox gore a man.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 21:31
A son or a daughter; names signifying their tender age, in respect of the man or woman, . And this is added, lest the foregoing sense should be restrained to their parents, whose lives were more precious, and therefore their loss greater.
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 21:31
Exodus 21:31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.Ver. 31. A son or a daughter.] A little one, and in his minority, as Puerilitas est periculorum pelagus.
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 21:31
(28-32) Injuries to the person might arise either from man or from animals. Protection from both was needed. The law given to Noah (Genesis 9:5) had already laid it down that whenever a beast killed a man his life was to be forfeit. This law was now re-enacted, but with a further and very important proviso. If the animal had an owner, and the owner had reason to know that it was dangerous, then not only the beast, but the owner also was to be held guilty. He was to be liable to a process for murder (Exodus 21:29); but, with the consent of the aggrieved family, might pay a sum of money as compensation instead (Exodus 21:30). In the case of a slave, the sum was fixed at what was regarded as the standard price of a slave (Leviticus 25:44-46; Leviticus 27:3), viz., thirty silver shekels.
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 21:31
31. The same law is to hold good, if the person who has been killed is (as we should say) a minor, of either sex. this judgement] The decision embodied in the preceding laws (vv. 28–30). Cf. on v. 1.
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 21:31
28-32. If an ox gore a man — This statute further guards the sanctity of human life.