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Exodus 21:26

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 21:26 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye`s sake.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye`s sake.
Exodus 21:26 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye`s sake.
27And if he smite out his man-servant`s tooth, or his maid-servant`s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth`s sake.
28And if an ox gore a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be surely stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
29But if the ox was wont to gore in time past, and it hath been testified to its owner, and he hath not kept it in, but it hath killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.
← Exodus 21:25Exodus 21:27 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“If a man smite the eye of his servant, etc.] Give him a blow on the eye in a passion, as a correction for some fault he has committed: or the eye of his maid, that it perish; strike her on that part in like manner, so that the eye is beaten or drops out, or however loses its sight, and “[is] blinded”, as the Septuagint version; or “corrupts” it f661, it turns black and blue, and gathers corrupt matter, and becomes a sore eye; yet if the sight is not lost, or corrupts so as to perish, this law does not take place; the Targum of Jonathan, and to Jarchi restrain this to a Canaanitish servant or maid: he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake; or “them”, as the Septuagint; his right to them as…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Freedom was the proper equivalent for permanent injury. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Exo 21:20; Deu 16:19; Neh 5:5; Job 31:13-15; Psa 9:12, Psa 10:14, Psa 10:18, Psa 72:12-14; Pro 22:22, Pro 22:23; Eph 6:9; Col 4:1 Exodus 21:27”
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Related study paths

Read Exodus 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification