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NASB | Leviticus 24:20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Leviticus 24:20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so shall the same be done to him. [Matt 5:38-42; 7:2] |
Bible Question: Is this verse a bit like "the golden rule," but phrased in terms of punishment? |
Bible Answer: Hi, Just... No, the eye for eye and tooth for tooth was actually a new concept to the ancients. Jews use this expression today (I don't know how it is written, but phonetically they say, "Ein taken ein shen taken shen"). It was a novel concept to them to *limit* retribution. Thus it was actually an expression of mercy. In modern English we might say, "Just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted, but no more." The Code of Hammurabi contained a similar statement, but it was more along the lines, "Just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted, at least to that extent!" In Him, Doc PS I'd love to discuss art in the forum sometime. When looking through church history you can see some pretty interesting shifts in what is considered good art. Personally, I'm so un-artistic that I can be perfectly comfortable wearing a paisley shirt with striped pants. :-) |