But if it was known that the ox had a habit of goring, yet its owner failed to restrain it, he shall pay full compensation, ox for ox, and the dead animal will be his. But if it was knownThe phrase "But if it was known" introduces a condition of prior knowledge and responsibility. In Hebrew, the word for "known" is "yada," which implies an intimate or certain knowledge. This suggests that the owner had a clear understanding of the ox's dangerous behavior. Theologically, this highlights the importance of accountability and awareness in one's actions, reflecting the broader biblical principle that knowledge brings responsibility. that the ox was in the habit of goring
The phrase "in the habit of goring" indicates a repeated and dangerous behavior. The Hebrew word for "habit" can be linked to "nagach," meaning to thrust or gore. This implies a pattern of aggression, not a one-time incident. Historically, oxen were valuable assets in agrarian societies, and their behavior was closely monitored. This phrase underscores the necessity of vigilance and proactive management of one's resources and responsibilities. yet its owner did not restrain it
"Yet its owner did not restrain it" points to negligence. The Hebrew root for "restrain" is "shamar," meaning to guard or keep. This implies a failure to act upon known information, a neglect of duty. In a spiritual context, this serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring one's responsibilities, emphasizing the biblical call to stewardship and the moral obligation to prevent harm. he must pay full compensation
The requirement to "pay full compensation" reflects the principle of restitution. The Hebrew term "shalem" means to make whole or complete. This legal requirement underscores the biblical value of justice and fairness, ensuring that wrongs are righted and victims are made whole. It serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and the need to rectify one's mistakes. ox for ox
The phrase "ox for ox" is a straightforward expression of the lex talionis, or the law of retaliation, which is a principle of justice found throughout the Old Testament. This principle ensures that the punishment or restitution is equivalent to the loss incurred. It reflects the biblical emphasis on proportional justice, ensuring that the response to wrongdoing is fair and balanced. and the dead animal will be his
Finally, "and the dead animal will be his" indicates the transfer of the carcass to the negligent owner. This clause serves as a practical resolution to the situation, ensuring that the owner bears the full consequence of his negligence. It highlights the biblical theme of personal responsibility and the tangible outcomes of one's actions, reminding believers of the importance of accountability in all aspects of life. Persons / Places / Events 1. The OwnerThe individual responsible for the ox, who is expected to manage and restrain it if it is known to be dangerous. 2. The OxA domesticated animal, significant in agrarian societies, which could cause harm if not properly managed. 3. The VictimThe person or property affected by the ox's actions, who is entitled to compensation. 4. The LawPart of the Mosaic Law given to the Israelites, providing guidelines for justice and responsibility. 5. The CommunityThe broader society that is impacted by the adherence to or neglect of these laws. Teaching Points Responsibility and AccountabilityThe passage emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one's property and actions. Owners must be aware of potential dangers and act to prevent harm. Justice and RestitutionThe law requires fair compensation for loss or damage, reflecting God's justice. This principle encourages believers to make amends when they have wronged others. Community and CareThe well-being of the community is a priority. Believers are called to act in ways that protect and uplift those around them, ensuring safety and harmony. Awareness and ActionKnowing the potential for harm obligates one to take preventive measures. This principle can be applied to various aspects of life, including relationships and stewardship. Moral IntegrityUpholding God's laws and principles reflects one's integrity and commitment to living a life that honors Him. Believers are called to be examples of righteousness in their communities. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the principle of responsibility in Exodus 21:36 apply to modern-day situations involving personal property or actions? 2. In what ways can we ensure that we are acting justly and making restitution when we have wronged others, as outlined in this passage? 3. How does the concept of community care in this verse relate to the New Testament teachings on loving one's neighbor? 4. What are some practical steps we can take to be more aware of potential harm our actions or possessions might cause to others? 5. How can we demonstrate moral integrity in our daily lives, reflecting the principles found in Exodus 21:36 and related scriptures? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 9:5-6This passage discusses the sanctity of life and the accountability for shedding blood, emphasizing the value of life and responsibility. Leviticus 19:18This verse commands love for one's neighbor, which underpins the principle of responsibility and restitution. Matthew 5:25-26Jesus speaks about settling matters quickly with an adversary, which relates to the importance of resolving disputes and making restitution. 1 Corinthians 10:24Paul encourages believers to seek the good of others, aligning with the principle of responsibility for one's actions. James 4:17This verse highlights the sin of knowing the right thing to do and failing to do it, which parallels the owner's negligence in restraining the ox. People MosesPlaces Mount SinaiTopics Accustomed, Animal, Beast, Bull, Case, Certainly, Common, Confined, Control, Damage, Dead, Frequently, Gore, Gored, Goring, Habit, Heretofore, Kept, Owner, Ox, Past, Pay, Penned, Previously, Push, Repayeth, Restore, Restrained, Surely, Watch, Wont, YetDictionary of Bible Themes Exodus 21:36 5873 habits Exodus 21:28-36 4615 bull Exodus 21:32-36 5264 compensation Exodus 21:33-36 4605 animals, religious role
5803 carelessness Library The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old TestamentThe Kinsman Redeemer
'After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him.'--LEV. xxv. 48. There are several of the institutions and precepts of the Mosaic legislation which, though not prophetic, nor typical, have yet remarkable correspondences with lofty Christian truth. They may be used as symbols, if only we remember that we are diverting them from their original purpose. How singularly these words lend themselves to the statement of the very central truths of Christianity--a slavery …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Non-Resistance
'Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.'--MATT. v. 38-42. The old law …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture A Discourse of the Building, Nature, Excellency, and Government of the House of God; with Counsels and Directions to the Inhabitants Thereof.
BY JOHN BUNYAN, OF BEDFORD. 'Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.'--Psalm 26:8 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Beautiful in its simplicity is this treatise on the Church of Christ, by John Bunyan. He opens, with profound knowledge and eminent skill, all those portions of sacred writ which illustrate the nature, excellency, and government of the house of God, with the personal and relative duties of its inhabitants. It was originally published in …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Appeal to the Christian Women of the South
BY A.E. GRIMKE. "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not within thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place: but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this. And Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer:--and so will I go in unto the king, …
Angelina Emily Grimke—An Appeal to the Christian Women of the South The Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force Has Been Professed by a Minority of Men from the Very Foundation of Christianity. Of the Book "What
CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINE OF NON-RESISTANCE TO EVIL BY FORCE HAS BEEN PROFESSED BY A MINORITY OF MEN FROM THE VERY FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIANITY. Of the Book "What I Believe"--The Correspondence Evoked by it-- Letters from Quakers--Garrison's Declaration--Adin Ballou, his Works, his Catechism--Helchitsky's "Net of Faith"--The Attitude of the World to Works Elucidating Christ's Teaching--Dymond's Book "On War"--Musser's "Non-resistance Asserted"--Attitude of the Government in 1818 to Men who Refused to …
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you The Sermon on the Mount - the Kingdom of Christ and Rabbinic Teaching.
It was probably on one of those mountain-ranges, which stretch to the north of Capernaum, that Jesus had spent the night of lonely prayer, which preceded the designation of the twelve to the Apostolate. As the soft spring morning broke, He called up those who had learned to follow Him, and from among them chose the twelve, who were to be His Ambassadors and Representatives. [2500] [2501] But already the early light had guided the eager multitude which, from all parts, had come to the broad level …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Deputation from Jerusalem - the Three Sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes - Examination of their Distinctive Doctrines.
APART from the repulsively carnal form which it had taken, there is something absolutely sublime in the continuance and intensity of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah. It outlived not only the delay of long centuries, but the persecutions and scattering of the people; it continued under the disappointment of the Maccabees, the rule of a Herod, the administration of a corrupt and contemptible Priesthood, and, finally, the government of Rome as represented by a Pilate; nay, it grew in intensity …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments That Deep Things Ought not to be Preached at all to Weak Souls.
But the preacher should know how to avoid drawing the mind of his hearer beyond its strength, lest, so to speak, the string of the soul, when stretched more than it can bear, should be broken. For all deep things should be covered up before a multitude of hearers, and scarcely opened to a few. For hence the Truth in person says, Who, thinkest thou, is the faithful and wise steward, whom his Lord has appointed over his household, to give them their measure of wheat in due season? (Luke xii. 42). …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia.
Part I. History of the Councils. Reason why two Councils were called. Inconsistency and folly of calling any; and of the style of the Arian formularies; occasion of the Nicene Council; proceedings at Ariminum; Letter of the Council to Constantius; its decree. Proceedings at Seleucia; reflections on the conduct of the Arians. 1. Perhaps news has reached even yourselves concerning the Council, which is at this time the subject of general conversation; for letters both from the Emperor and the Prefects …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
Ver. 8. "Judah, thou, thy brethren shall praise thee; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; before thee shall bow down the sons of thy father. Ver. 9. A lion's whelp is Judah; from the prey, my son, thou goest up; he stoopeth down, he coucheth as a lion, and as a full-grown lion, who shall rouse him up? Ver. 10. The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto Him the people shall adhere." Thus does dying Jacob, in announcing …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Exodus
The book of Exodus--so named in the Greek version from the march of Israel out of Egypt--opens upon a scene of oppression very different from the prosperity and triumph in which Genesis had closed. Israel is being cruelly crushed by the new dynasty which has arisen in Egypt (i.) and the story of the book is the story of her redemption. Ultimately it is Israel's God that is her redeemer, but He operates largely by human means; and the first step is the preparation of a deliverer, Moses, whose parentage, …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Exodus 21:36 NIVExodus 21:36 NLTExodus 21:36 ESVExodus 21:36 NASBExodus 21:36 KJV
Exodus 21:36 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
