Lev 24:20 | TNotes | STEP | 24:20 eye for an eye: The legal principle involved is often called lex talionis (“law of retaliation”), which is that the penalty must fit the crime. When an injured party sought revenge on behalf of their kinsman (see Num 35:19-21 ), excessive revenge naturally ensued instead of appropriate justice. This provoked even greater retaliation, resulting in a cycle of increasing violence. Lex talionis served to regulate the prosecution of crimes (see also Lev 6:2-7 ; cp. Exod 21:24 ; Lev 24:20 ; Deut 19:21 ; Matt 5:28-39 ).

bNum 35:19-21►

cLev 6:2-7►

dExod 21:24►

eLev 24:20►

fDeut 19:21►

gMatt 5:28-39►

‏ Leviticus 24:20

24:20 ^a eye for an eye: The legal principle involved is often called lex talionis (“law of retaliation”), which is that the penalty must fit the crime. When an injured party sought revenge on behalf of their kinsman (see Num 35:19-21 ^b), excessive revenge naturally ensued instead of appropriate justice. This provoked even greater retaliation, resulting in a cycle of increasing violence. Lex talionis served to regulate the prosecution of crimes (see also Lev 6:2-7 ^c; cp. Exod 21:24 ^d; Lev 24:20 ^e; Deut 19:21 ^f; Matt 5:28-39 ^g).