“Eye for Eye, Tooth for Tooth, was not a directive to individuals, licensing them to retaliate – they were ‘sentencing’ guidelines for courts. This section is found in a larger passage addressed to judges which starts from Exodus 21:1-22:17.

When we read it in its context, we will understand that this directive was never given to common people but to judges presiding over the courts. This so called “law of retaliation” or “lex Taliaonis ” is found in its fullest form in Exodus 21:23-25 and then in a shorter form in Lev 24:19-20 and Deut 19:21. But did the Bible tell the Israelites to take the law into their own hands and settle their disputes by taking personal revenge?

The first thing that comes into our mind when we hear this saying is ‘personal retribution’ or retaliation. This saying is well known not only among Christians but also to others who have never read the Bible. Not only Christians throughout the history of the church but even most Jewish people during Jesus time had interpreted this in a way which was not intended in the text. The axiom ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth’ demands the study of the ancient world. We need go into the world of the Bible to find out how their culture was, their literature was, their worldview & how they used their language. A culture, literature, language and time gap exists between us and the Bible. In order to get the right interpretation we should always find out what a particular verse meant for the people it was first written to, then we can rightly apply it for our times. Bible interpretation of the Christians is shaped by the culture they live in, the church they have been a part of, their world view, their use of language etc. It is seen that quite often we assume the meaning of a Bible verse from the general opinion of the public of how they perceive it. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth!! Did the Old Testament allow Israelites to take personal revenge?Įx 21:23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life,Įx 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,Įx 21:25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.ĭid the Mosaic law allow the Israelites to assault a person who had done damage to them? From the law given in Exodus 21:23-25 it seems God had allowed that but lets see whats the truth behind the giving of these laws and how they were actually used.

Eye for an eye old testament