Exodus 21:19 - if he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him shall be cleared: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed.
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What does "Exodus 21:19" mean?
Exodus 21:19 lays out a legal framework for dealing with the consequences of a physical assault. Let's break down the verse to understand its meaning:
"If he rises again and walks around with his staff...": This sets the condition. It means if the injured person recovers enough to resume a relatively normal life, signified by being able to walk independently with a staff (a common aid in that era). The implication is that the injury, while significant, is not permanently debilitating.
"...then he who struck him shall be cleared...": This is the consequence of the injured party recovering. The person who inflicted the injury will not face further punishment for the act of striking, beyond what is outlined next. This suggests the original blow was not intended to be fatal or permanently disabling. It implies the act might have been unintentional or a heat-of-the-moment incident.
"...only he shall pay for the loss of his time...": The assailant is still responsible for compensating the injured party for the time they were unable to work and earn a living due to the injury. This is a form of restitution for lost wages or income.
"...and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed.": This mandates that the assailant must cover all medical expenses and costs associated with the victim's recovery. This obligation continues until the injured person is completely healed, or has reached the point where no further improvement is expected.
In Summary:
The verse deals with a situation where someone is injured by another person, but the injury is not life-threatening or permanently disabling. The assailant is not punished for the act of striking if the injured person recovers. However, the assailant is still responsible for:
1. Compensating the injured person for lost income during their recovery period.
2. Paying for all medical expenses until the injured person is fully healed.
Underlying Principles and Context:
Restitution and Compensation: The focus of this law is on restitution and ensuring the injured party is made whole, as far as possible. It prioritizes compensating the victim for their losses rather than simply inflicting punishment.
Degrees of Responsibility: The law recognizes different levels of culpability. If the injury is not permanent, the punishment is less severe.
Social Safety Net: The law places a responsibility on the assailant to provide a form of social safety net for the injured person during their recovery.
Community Impact: The use of the staff to walk around could signify to the community that the injured is not permanently disabled. This helps to reassure the community of a full recovery.
In conclusion, this verse from Exodus reflects a system of justice aimed at balancing accountability, restitution, and fairness in cases of non-fatal physical harm.
Exodus 21:19 - if he rises again and walks around with his staff, then he who struck him shall be cleared: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed.
What does "Exodus 21:19" mean?
Exodus 21:19 lays out a legal framework for dealing with the consequences of a physical assault. Let's break down the verse to understand its meaning:
"If he rises again and walks around with his staff...": This sets the condition. It means if the injured person recovers enough to resume a relatively normal life, signified by being able to walk independently with a staff (a common aid in that era). The implication is that the injury, while significant, is not permanently debilitating.
"...then he who struck him shall be cleared...": This is the consequence of the injured party recovering. The person who inflicted the injury will not face further punishment for the act of striking, beyond what is outlined next. This suggests the original blow was not intended to be fatal or permanently disabling. It implies the act might have been unintentional or a heat-of-the-moment incident.
"...only he shall pay for the loss of his time...": The assailant is still responsible for compensating the injured party for the time they were unable to work and earn a living due to the injury. This is a form of restitution for lost wages or income.
"...and shall provide for his healing until he is thoroughly healed.": This mandates that the assailant must cover all medical expenses and costs associated with the victim's recovery. This obligation continues until the injured person is completely healed, or has reached the point where no further improvement is expected.
In Summary:
The verse deals with a situation where someone is injured by another person, but the injury is not life-threatening or permanently disabling. The assailant is not punished for the act of striking if the injured person recovers. However, the assailant is still responsible for:
1. Compensating the injured person for lost income during their recovery period.
2. Paying for all medical expenses until the injured person is fully healed.
Underlying Principles and Context:
Restitution and Compensation: The focus of this law is on restitution and ensuring the injured party is made whole, as far as possible. It prioritizes compensating the victim for their losses rather than simply inflicting punishment.
Degrees of Responsibility: The law recognizes different levels of culpability. If the injury is not permanent, the punishment is less severe.
Social Safety Net: The law places a responsibility on the assailant to provide a form of social safety net for the injured person during their recovery.
Community Impact: The use of the staff to walk around could signify to the community that the injured is not permanently disabled. This helps to reassure the community of a full recovery.
In conclusion, this verse from Exodus reflects a system of justice aimed at balancing accountability, restitution, and fairness in cases of non-fatal physical harm.