“If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, the man shall surely be punished.”
Exodus 21:20 (WEB)
Context Reading
18“If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he doesn’t die, but is confined to bed; 19if 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. 20“If a man strikes his servant or his maid with a rod, and he dies under his hand, the man shall surely be punished. 21Notwithstanding, if his servant gets up after a day or two, he shall not be punished, for the servant is his property. 22“If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow.