Keraia
Leviticus 24

Leviticus 24:17

An Eye for an Eye · Leviticus 24:17–23
Read Leviticus 24

Translations

Modern
And if a man takes the life of anyone else, he must surely be put to death.
Traditional
And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.
Literal
And whoever kills any man, he must surely be put to death.
Latin
Qui percusserit, et occiderit hominem, morte moriatur.

Original

Hebrew
English
And if a man takes the life of anyone else, he must surely be put to death.

Notes

Leviticus 24:17

Because human life was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, 27), murder was seen as an attack against God himself. It carried the same penalty as speaking blasphemy against God (Genesis 9:6). For a similar law and its details, see Exodus 21:12–14.

Leviticus 24:10–23

A large group of non-Israelites, including other Semitic people and Egyptians, left Egypt with the Israelites (Exodus 12:38). Among them was a man with an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father. A fight broke out between this man and a full-blooded Israelite. the man who was half-Egyptian verbally cursed the Israelite, using the name of God in a disrespectful manner.

Theme notes and profiles

Moses Ancient Law Codes Violation of the Sacred

Parallels

Matthew 5:38–48

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Courts and Trials Deuteronomy, Book of Foreigner History of Israel Leviticus, Book of Naboth

Topics

Capital Punishment Homicide: Punishment of Retaliation: General Scriptures Concerning Thou Shalt Not Kill