Exodus 21:20
“When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged.
In context
17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
18 “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, 19 then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.
20 “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. 21 But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.
22 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life,
Compare in other versions
- KJV King James Version
— Exodus 21:20 in the KJV
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
- NIV New International Version
— Exodus 21:20 in the NIV
“Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result,