Exodus 21:27 - If he strikes out his male servant’s tooth, or his female servant’s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.
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What does "Exodus 21:27" mean?
This verse from Exodus 21:27, "If he strikes out his male servant’s tooth, or his female servant’s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake," outlines a specific consequence for physical abuse of a servant (slave) by their master in ancient Israelite law. Let's break down what it means:
"If he strikes out his male servant’s tooth, or his female servant’s tooth...": This establishes the scenario: the master has physically assaulted their servant (male or female) and, specifically, has knocked out their tooth. The severity of this injury is being highlighted.
"...he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.": This is the crucial part. The master's punishment is to grant the injured servant their freedom. The reason given is "for his tooth's sake," meaning that the loss of the tooth is the direct cause of the emancipation.
Interpretation and Significance:
Limitation on Master's Authority: This law places a clear limitation on the master's right to treat their servants as they wished. It establishes that even though servants were considered property to some extent, they were not completely without rights or protection.
Value of Physical Well-being: The loss of a tooth, while seemingly minor, was considered a significant injury in ancient times, affecting the servant's ability to work, eat, and perhaps even their social standing. The law acknowledges the value of the servant's physical integrity.
Dissuasive Effect: The law likely served as a deterrent to prevent masters from inflicting serious physical harm on their servants. The loss of a valuable servant would be a significant economic consequence for the master.
Incomplete Justice: It's important to recognize that this law is not equivalent to modern concepts of justice and worker's rights. While it provides some protection, it does not address other forms of abuse or labor exploitation. The focus is on the specific injury of a lost tooth.
In short, the verse stipulates that if a master knocks out a servant's tooth, the servant must be set free as compensation for the injury. It is a limited but significant protection for servants under ancient Israelite law, demonstrating that even in a society where slavery was practiced, there were attempts to regulate and mitigate its harshest aspects.
Exodus 21:27 - If he strikes out his male servant’s tooth, or his female servant’s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.
What does "Exodus 21:27" mean?
This verse from Exodus 21:27, "If he strikes out his male servant’s tooth, or his female servant’s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake," outlines a specific consequence for physical abuse of a servant (slave) by their master in ancient Israelite law. Let's break down what it means:
"If he strikes out his male servant’s tooth, or his female servant’s tooth...": This establishes the scenario: the master has physically assaulted their servant (male or female) and, specifically, has knocked out their tooth. The severity of this injury is being highlighted.
"...he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.": This is the crucial part. The master's punishment is to grant the injured servant their freedom. The reason given is "for his tooth's sake," meaning that the loss of the tooth is the direct cause of the emancipation.
Interpretation and Significance:
Limitation on Master's Authority: This law places a clear limitation on the master's right to treat their servants as they wished. It establishes that even though servants were considered property to some extent, they were not completely without rights or protection.
Value of Physical Well-being: The loss of a tooth, while seemingly minor, was considered a significant injury in ancient times, affecting the servant's ability to work, eat, and perhaps even their social standing. The law acknowledges the value of the servant's physical integrity.
Dissuasive Effect: The law likely served as a deterrent to prevent masters from inflicting serious physical harm on their servants. The loss of a valuable servant would be a significant economic consequence for the master.
Incomplete Justice: It's important to recognize that this law is not equivalent to modern concepts of justice and worker's rights. While it provides some protection, it does not address other forms of abuse or labor exploitation. The focus is on the specific injury of a lost tooth.
In short, the verse stipulates that if a master knocks out a servant's tooth, the servant must be set free as compensation for the injury. It is a limited but significant protection for servants under ancient Israelite law, demonstrating that even in a society where slavery was practiced, there were attempts to regulate and mitigate its harshest aspects.