Leviticus 24:20 - fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has injured someone, so shall it be done to him.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Leviticus 24:20" mean?
Leviticus 24:20, "fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has injured someone, so shall it be done to him," is a statement of retributive justice, often referred to as lex talionis (the law of retaliation). Here's a breakdown of what it means, and some important context:
Literal Meaning: The verse states that if someone causes a physical injury to another person, they should receive a corresponding injury in return. If you break someone's bone, your bone should be broken. If you knock out someone's eye, your eye should be knocked out. If you knock out a tooth, your tooth should be knocked out.
Purpose and Context:
Limiting Vengeance: While seemingly harsh, many scholars believe this law was actually designed to limit excessive vengeance. Before codified laws, retaliatory violence could easily escalate into endless cycles of retribution. This principle set a limit to the punishment, ensuring it was proportional to the crime and prevented feuds from spiraling out of control. Instead of killing the person who knocked out your tooth, your vengeance should not exceed retaliation with the same injury.
Equal Justice: It aimed for equal treatment under the law. The wealthy could not simply pay their way out of a crime against someone of lower social status. The law was to be applied equally to all.
Deterrence: The severity of the punishment was also likely intended to deter people from committing violent acts in the first place.
Not Necessarily Literal Application: While the wording is direct, there's debate about whether it was always applied literally. In practice, monetary compensation might have been more common, especially if applying the literal penalty was impractical or would result in further injury (e.g., trying to perfectly match a complex fracture). Some scholars argue that the principle of "equal value" was the most important thing, and monetary compensation was a way to uphold that principle. This is supported by other passages in the Torah that provide for monetary compensation in certain cases.
Interpretations:
Jewish Tradition: While some literal interpretations existed, Jewish legal tradition, as developed in the Talmud, generally interprets this law as referring to monetary compensation for the injured party. The compensation would cover things like:
Loss of earning potential
Medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Humiliation
Christianity: Jesus addresses this law in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38-42), saying "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." This is often interpreted as advocating for non-violence, forgiveness, and turning the other cheek, moving away from a strictly retributive view. It encourages a higher moral standard.
Ethical Considerations: The concept of lex talionis raises ethical questions about the nature of justice. Is true justice achieved through direct retribution, or are there more effective and humane ways to address wrongdoing, such as rehabilitation, restorative justice, or focusing on the needs of both the victim and the offender?
In summary, Leviticus 24:20 expresses the principle of retributive justice, emphasizing equal and proportional punishment for injuries. While literally stating "eye for eye," its practical application and later interpretations often leaned towards monetary compensation and a limitation of excessive vengeance. Furthermore, its moral implications are debated and interpreted differently within Jewish and Christian traditions.
Leviticus 24:20 - fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has injured someone, so shall it be done to him.
What does "Leviticus 24:20" mean?
Leviticus 24:20, "fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has injured someone, so shall it be done to him," is a statement of retributive justice, often referred to as lex talionis (the law of retaliation). Here's a breakdown of what it means, and some important context:
Literal Meaning: The verse states that if someone causes a physical injury to another person, they should receive a corresponding injury in return. If you break someone's bone, your bone should be broken. If you knock out someone's eye, your eye should be knocked out. If you knock out a tooth, your tooth should be knocked out.
Purpose and Context:
Limiting Vengeance: While seemingly harsh, many scholars believe this law was actually designed to limit excessive vengeance. Before codified laws, retaliatory violence could easily escalate into endless cycles of retribution. This principle set a limit to the punishment, ensuring it was proportional to the crime and prevented feuds from spiraling out of control. Instead of killing the person who knocked out your tooth, your vengeance should not exceed retaliation with the same injury.
Equal Justice: It aimed for equal treatment under the law. The wealthy could not simply pay their way out of a crime against someone of lower social status. The law was to be applied equally to all.
Deterrence: The severity of the punishment was also likely intended to deter people from committing violent acts in the first place.
Not Necessarily Literal Application: While the wording is direct, there's debate about whether it was always applied literally. In practice, monetary compensation might have been more common, especially if applying the literal penalty was impractical or would result in further injury (e.g., trying to perfectly match a complex fracture). Some scholars argue that the principle of "equal value" was the most important thing, and monetary compensation was a way to uphold that principle. This is supported by other passages in the Torah that provide for monetary compensation in certain cases.
Interpretations:
Jewish Tradition: While some literal interpretations existed, Jewish legal tradition, as developed in the Talmud, generally interprets this law as referring to monetary compensation for the injured party. The compensation would cover things like:
Loss of earning potential
Medical expenses
Pain and suffering
Humiliation
Christianity: Jesus addresses this law in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38-42), saying "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." This is often interpreted as advocating for non-violence, forgiveness, and turning the other cheek, moving away from a strictly retributive view. It encourages a higher moral standard.
Ethical Considerations: The concept of lex talionis raises ethical questions about the nature of justice. Is true justice achieved through direct retribution, or are there more effective and humane ways to address wrongdoing, such as rehabilitation, restorative justice, or focusing on the needs of both the victim and the offender?
In summary, Leviticus 24:20 expresses the principle of retributive justice, emphasizing equal and proportional punishment for injuries. While literally stating "eye for eye," its practical application and later interpretations often leaned towards monetary compensation and a limitation of excessive vengeance. Furthermore, its moral implications are debated and interpreted differently within Jewish and Christian traditions.