Exodus 21:34
Exodus 21:34 in Multiple Translations
the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he must pay its owner, and the dead animal will 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.
the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money unto the owner thereof, and the dead beast shall be his.
The owner of the hole is responsible; he will have to make payment to their owner, but the dead beast will be his.
the owner of the pit must pay compensation to the animal's owner and keep the dead animal.
The owner of the pit shall make it good, and giue money to the owners thereof, but the dead beast shalbe his.
the owner of the pit doth repay, money he doth give back to its owner, and the dead is his.
the owner of the pit shall make it good. He shall give money to its owner, and the dead animal shall be his.
The owner of the pit shall make compensation, and give money to the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
The owner of the pit shall pay the price of the beasts: and that which is dead shall be his own.
Then the owner of the pit/cistern must pay for the animal that died. He must give the money to the animal’s owner, but then he can take away the animal that died and do whatever he wants to with it.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 21:34
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 21:34 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בַּ֤עַל
הַ/בּוֹר֙
יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם
כֶּ֖סֶף
יָשִׁ֣יב
לִ/בְעָלָ֑י/ו
וְ/הַ/מֵּ֖ת
יִֽהְיֶה
לּֽ/וֹ
בַּ֤עַל
baʻal
H1167
master
N-ms
הַ/בּוֹר֙
bôwr
H953
pit
Art | N-ms
יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם
shâlam
H7999
to complete
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms
כֶּ֖סֶף
keçeph
H3701
silver
N-ms
יָשִׁ֣יב
shûwb
H7725
to return
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
לִ/בְעָלָ֑י/ו
baʻal
H1167
master
Prep | N-mp | Suff
וְ/הַ/מֵּ֖ת
mûwth
H4191
to die
Conj | Art | V-Qal
יִֽהְיֶה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
לּֽ/וֹ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 21:34
בַּ֤עַל
baʻal
H1167
"master"
N-ms
Means master or owner, often referring to a husband or leader, as seen in the book of Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : master/leader 1) owner, husband, lord 1a) owner 1b) a husband 1c) citizens, inhabitants 1d) rulers, lords 1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
Usage: Occurs in 79 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of. See also: Genesis 14:13; 1 Samuel 23:11; Proverbs 1:17.
הַ/בּוֹר֙
bôwr
H953
"pit"
Art | N-ms
This word refers to a cistern or pit, often used to hold water or as a prison. In the Bible, it is used to describe a place of confinement, like a dungeon or well. It is a physical hole in the ground.
Definition: pit, well, cistern, dungeon, pit of the grave
Usage: Occurs in 62 OT verses. KJV: cistern, dungeon, fountain, pit, well. See also: Genesis 37:20; Proverbs 5:15; Psalms 7:16.
יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם
shâlam
H7999
"to complete"
V-Piel-Imperf-3ms
This verb means to be at peace or to make peace with someone. It is used in the Bible to describe a state of safety or friendship. In the KJV, it is translated as 'make amends' or 'be at peace'.
Definition: 1) to be complete, be sound 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be complete, be finished, be ended 1a2) to be sound, be uninjured 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to complete, finish 1b2) to make safe 1b3) to make whole or good, restore, make compensation 1b4) to make good, pay 1b5) to requite, recompense, reward 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be performed 1c2) to be repaid, be requited 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to complete, perform 1d2) to make an end of Aramaic equivalent: she.lam (שְׁלֵם "be complete" H8000)
Usage: Occurs in 107 OT verses. KJV: make amends, (make an) end, finish, full, give again, make good, (re-) pay (again), (make) (to) (be at) peace(-able), that is perfect, perform, (make) prosper(-ous), recompense, render, requite, make restitution, restore, reward, [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 44:4; Psalms 7:5; Psalms 22:26.
כֶּ֖סֶף
keçeph
H3701
"silver"
N-ms
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Definition: : money/payment/silver 1) silver, money 1a) silver 1a1) as metal 1a2) as ornament 1a3) as colour 1b) money, shekels, talents
Usage: Occurs in 343 OT verses. KJV: money, price, silver(-ling). See also: Genesis 13:2; Numbers 22:18; 2 Chronicles 1:17.
יָשִׁ֣יב
shûwb
H7725
"to return"
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to return or turn back, and can be used literally or figuratively. It is often used to describe someone returning to God or repenting from sin, as seen in the book of Psalms and the prophets.
Definition: : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back 1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment 1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore 1d3) to bring back, report to, answer 1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense) 1d5) to turn back or backward, repel, defeat, repulse, hinder, reject, refuse 1d6) to turn away (face), turn toward 1d7) to turn against 1d8) to bring back to mind 1d9) to show a turning away 1d10) to reverse, revoke 1e) (Hophal) to be returned, be restored, be brought back 1f) (Pulal) brought back
Usage: Occurs in 953 OT verses. KJV: ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. See also: Genesis 3:19; Numbers 8:25; Judges 8:13.
לִ/בְעָלָ֑י/ו
baʻal
H1167
"master"
Prep | N-mp | Suff
Means master or owner, often referring to a husband or leader, as seen in the book of Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : master/leader 1) owner, husband, lord 1a) owner 1b) a husband 1c) citizens, inhabitants 1d) rulers, lords 1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
Usage: Occurs in 79 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of. See also: Genesis 14:13; 1 Samuel 23:11; Proverbs 1:17.
וְ/הַ/מֵּ֖ת
mûwth
H4191
"to die"
Conj | Art | V-Qal
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to die, either literally or as a punishment, and is used in books like Genesis and Exodus. It can also mean to perish or be killed. This concept is seen in the story of Adam and Eve, where death enters the world as a result of sin.
Definition: 1) to die, kill, have one executed 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to die 1a2) to die (as penalty), be put to death 1a3) to die, perish (of a nation) 1a4) to die prematurely (by neglect of wise moral conduct) 1b) (Polel) to kill, put to death, dispatch 1c) (Hiphil) to kill, put to death 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be killed, be put to death 1d1a) to die prematurely
Usage: Occurs in 695 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. See also: Genesis 2:17; Exodus 21:18; Numbers 35:21.
יִֽהְיֶה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לּֽ/וֹ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Exodus 21:34
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Exodus 21:34 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 21:34
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 21:34
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 21:34
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 21:34
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 21:34
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 21:34
- Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 21:34
Context — Personal Injury Laws
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,
34the owner of the pit shall make restitution; he must pay its owner, and the dead animal will be his.
35If a man’s ox injures his neighbor’s ox and it dies, they must sell the live one and divide the proceeds; they also must divide the dead animal. 36But if it was known that the ox had a habit of goring, yet its owner failed to restrain it, he shall pay full compensation, ox for ox, and the dead animal will be his.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 22:6 | If a fire breaks out and spreads to thornbushes so that it consumes stacked or standing grain, or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution. |
| 2 | Exodus 21:29–30 | But 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. If payment is demanded of him instead, he may redeem his life by paying the full amount demanded of him. |
| 3 | Exodus 22:14 | If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while its owner is not present, he must make full restitution. |
Exodus 21:34 Summary
[Exodus 21:34 teaches us that if we are responsible for something that causes harm to someone else, we must take responsibility and make it right, just like the owner of the pit must pay for the dead animal. This principle is also seen in other parts of the Bible, such as in Luke 19:8, where Zacchaeus makes restitution for his wrongdoings. By taking responsibility for our actions, we can demonstrate our love and respect for others, as found in Matthew 22:39. This verse also reminds us to be mindful of how our actions may affect those around us, and to take steps to prevent harm whenever possible, as seen in Proverbs 22:3.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main principle behind Exodus 21:34?
The main principle is that the owner of the pit is responsible for the damage caused by their negligence, as seen in Exodus 21:34, and they must make restitution to the owner of the dead animal, similar to the principle of restitution found in Leviticus 24:18-22.
Why does the dead animal belong to the owner of the pit?
The dead animal belongs to the owner of the pit because they are responsible for the animal's death due to their negligence, as stated in Exodus 21:34, and this serves as a form of punishment and restitution, similar to the concept of restitution in Numbers 35:31-32.
How does this verse relate to our daily lives?
This verse teaches us about the importance of taking responsibility for our actions and being mindful of how they may affect others, as seen in Exodus 21:34, and it reminds us to be good stewards of the things that are in our care, just like the principle of stewardship found in Genesis 1:28.
What is the significance of restitution in this verse?
The significance of restitution in Exodus 21:34 is that it highlights the importance of making things right when we have wronged someone, similar to the concept of restitution in Deuteronomy 22:1-4, and it demonstrates God's desire for justice and fairness in all our interactions, as seen in Micah 6:8.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be 'digging a pit' for others, and how can I take steps to prevent harm?
- How can I apply the principle of restitution in my own life, and what are some ways I can make things right when I have wronged someone?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of responsibility and accountability, and how can I apply these principles in my daily life?
- How does this verse relate to the concept of loving my neighbor as myself, as found in Leviticus 19:18, and what are some ways I can demonstrate this kind of love in my interactions with others?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 21:34
The owner of the pit shall make it good,.... Repair the loss of the ox or ass: and give the money unto the owner of them: the price of them, what they are worth: the Targum of Jonathan is, "the owner
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 21:34
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 21:34
The owner of the pit, i.e. he by whose hand or command it was made, shall give money equal to the worth of the dead beast, in the opinion of the judge.
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 21:34
Exodus 21:34 The owner of the pit shall make [it] good, [and] give money unto the owner of them; and the dead [beast] shall be his.Ver. 34. The owner of the pit shall make it good.] Think the same of other cattle also, good vel ad usum, vel ad esum, as horse, ass, sheep, &c.: a parte, tolum intelligendum, saith Augustine here; by a part it is to be understood the whole.
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 21:34
(34) The dead beast shall be his.—Having paid the full value of the live animal, the owner of the well was entitled to make what he could by the carcass.
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 21:34
34. Having paid the value of the dead animal to the owner, he is naturally at liberty to keep the carcase himself. The carcase would be of value for its hide: but though ‘that which died of itself’ was forbidden later as food (Deuteronomy 14:21; cf. Leviticus 17:15 f. P), this may not have been the case at the time when the present code of laws was drawn up. money] i.e. to the value of the beast; its money (= the price of it, v. 35: λρτε for λρσ) would be clearer, and should perhaps be restored.
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 21:34
33-36. The provisions of this section must commend themselves as both wise and prudent. Caution, forethought, and most equitable dealing were hereby inculcated.