Exo 21:28-29 | NETfull | STEP | “If an ox gores a man or a woman so that either dies, then the ox must surely be stoned and its flesh must not be eaten, but the owner of the ox will be acquitted.

Exodus 21:28-29

Laws about Animals

28 ^{▼▼ The point that this section of the laws makes is that one must ensure the safety of others by controlling the circumstances.} “If an ox ^{▼▼ Traditionally “ox,” but “bull” would also be suitable. The term may refer to one of any variety of large cattle.} gores a man or a woman so that either dies, ^{▼▼ Heb “and he dies”; KJV “that they die”; NAB, NASB “to death.”} then the ox must surely ^{▼▼ The text uses סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל (saqol yissaqel), a Qal infinitive absolute with a Niphal imperfect. The infinitive intensifies the imperfect, which here has an obligatory nuance or is a future of instruction.} be stoned and its flesh must not be eaten, but the owner of the ox will be acquitted. 29 But if the ox had the habit of goring, and its owner was warned, ^{▼▼ The Hophal perfect has the idea of “attested, testified against.”} and he did not take the necessary precautions, ^{▼▼ Heb “he was not keeping it” or perhaps guarding or watching it (referring to the ox).} and then it killed a man or a woman, the ox must be stoned and the man must be put to death.