Hebrew Servants
(Deuteronomy 15:12–18)

1  וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (And these are) הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים (the judgments) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) תָּשִׂ֖ים (you shall set) לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (before their faces):

2  כִּ֤י (If) תִקְנֶה֙ (you buy) עֶ֣בֶד (a servant) עִבְרִ֔י (Hebrew), שֵׁ֥שׁ (six) שָׁנִ֖ים (years) יַעֲבֹ֑ד (he shall serve). וּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔ת (And in the seventh) יֵצֵ֥א (he shall go out) לַֽחָפְשִׁ֖י (as the free) חִנָּֽם׃ (for nothing). 3  אִם־ (If) בְּגַפּ֥וֹ (by himself) יָבֹ֖א (he comes in), בְּגַפּ֣וֹ (by himself) יֵצֵ֑א (he shall go out); אִם־ (if) בַּ֤עַל (husband) אִשָּׁה֙ (of a wife) ה֔וּא (he is), וְיָצְאָ֥ה (then shall go out) אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (his wife) עִמּֽוֹ׃ (with him). 4  אִם־ (If) אֲדֹנָיו֙ (his lord) יִתֶּן־ (gives) ל֣וֹ (to him) אִשָּׁ֔ה (a wife) וְיָלְדָה־ (and she bears) ל֥וֹ (to him) בָנִ֖ים (sons) א֣וֹ (or) בָנ֑וֹת (daughters), הָאִשָּׁ֣ה (the wife) וִילָדֶ֗יהָ (and her children) תִּהְיֶה֙ (shall be) לַֽאדֹנֶ֔יהָ (unto her lord), וְה֖וּא (and he) יֵצֵ֥א (shall go out) בְגַפּֽוֹ׃ (by himself).

5  וְאִם־ (And if) אָמֹ֤ר (declaring) יֹאמַר֙ (declares) הָעֶ֔בֶד (the servant), אָהַ֙בְתִּי֙ (I love) אֶת־ (-) אֲדֹנִ֔י (my lord), אֶת־ (-) אִשְׁתִּ֖י (my wife), וְאֶת־ (and) בָּנָ֑י (my children); לֹ֥א (not) אֵצֵ֖א (I will go out) חָפְשִֽׁי׃ (free), 6  וְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹ (then shall bring him) אֲדֹנָיו֙ (his lord) אֶל־ (to) הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים (the judges). וְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ (And He shall bring him) אֶל־ (to) הַדֶּ֔לֶת (the door) א֖וֹ (or) אֶל־ (to) הַמְּזוּזָ֑ה (the doorpost), וְרָצַ֨ע (and shall pierce) אֲדֹנָ֤יו (his lord) אֶת־ (-) אָזְנוֹ֙ (his ear) בַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַ (with an awl), וַעֲבָד֖וֹ (and he shall serve him) לְעֹלָֽם׃ס (forever).

7  וְכִֽי־ (And if) יִמְכֹּ֥ר (sells) אִ֛ישׁ (a man) אֶת־ (-) בִּתּ֖וֹ (his daughter) לְאָמָ֑ה (to be a maidservant), לֹ֥א (not) תֵצֵ֖א (she shall go out) כְּצֵ֥את (as go out) הָעֲבָדִֽים׃ (the menservants). 8  אִם־ (If) רָעָ֞ה (she is displeasing) בְּעֵינֵ֧י (in the eyes) אֲדֹנֶ֛יהָ (of her lord) אֲשֶׁר־ (who) לֹא (to himself) יְעָדָ֖הּ (has betrothed her), וְהֶפְדָּ֑הּ (then he shall redeem her). לְעַ֥ם (To a people) נָכְרִ֛י (foreign) לֹא־ (not) יִמְשֹׁ֥ל (he shall have right) לְמָכְרָ֖הּ (to sell her), בְּבִגְדוֹ־ (in his dealing deceitfully) בָֽהּ׃ (with her). 9  וְאִם־ (And if) לִבְנ֖וֹ (to his son) יִֽיעָדֶ֑נָּה (he has betrothed her), כְּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט (according to the judgment) הַבָּנ֖וֹת (of the daughters) יַעֲשֶׂה־ (he shall deal) לָּֽהּ׃ (with her). 10  אִם־ (If) אַחֶ֖רֶת (another wife) יִֽקַּֽח־ (he takes) ל֑וֹ (for himself), שְׁאֵרָ֛הּ (her food), כְּסוּתָ֥הּ (her clothing), וְעֹנָתָ֖הּ (and her marriage rights) לֹ֥א (not) יִגְרָֽע׃ (he shall diminish). 11  וְאִם־ (And if) שְׁלָ֨שׁ־ (three) אֵ֔לֶּה (these) לֹ֥א (not) יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (he does do) לָ֑הּ (for her), וְיָצְאָ֥ה (then she shall go out) חִנָּ֖ם (free) אֵ֥ין (without) כָּֽסֶף׃ס (silver).

Personal Injury Laws

12  מַכֵּ֥ה (The one who strikes) אִ֛ישׁ (a man) וָמֵ֖ת (so that he dies), מ֥וֹת (dying) יוּמָֽת׃ (must be put to death). 13  וַאֲשֶׁר֙ (And if) לֹ֣א (not) צָדָ֔ה (he did lie in wait), וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים (and God) אִנָּ֣ה (caused it to meet) לְיָד֑וֹ (to his hand), וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י (then I will appoint) לְךָ֙ (for you) מָק֔וֹם (a place) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (where) יָנ֖וּס (he may flee) שָֽׁמָּה׃ס (there).

14  וְכִֽי־ (But if) יָזִ֥ד (acts presumptuously) אִ֛ישׁ (a man) עַל־ (against) רֵעֵ֖הוּ (his neighbor) לְהָרְג֣וֹ (to kill him) בְעָרְמָ֑ה (by treachery), מֵעִ֣ם (from) מִזְבְּחִ֔י (My altar) תִּקָּחֶ֖נּוּ (you shall take him away) לָמֽוּת׃ס (to die).

15  וּמַכֵּ֥ה (And the one who strikes) אָבִ֛יו (his father) וְאִמּ֖וֹ (or his mother) מ֥וֹת (dying) יוּמָֽת׃ (he must be put to death).

16  וְגֹנֵ֨ב (And the one who steals) אִ֧ישׁ (a man) וּמְכָר֛וֹ (and sells him), וְנִמְצָ֥א (or if he is found) בְיָד֖וֹ (in his hand), מ֥וֹת (dying) יוּמָֽת׃ס (he must be put to death).

17  וּמְקַלֵּ֥ל (And the one who curses) אָבִ֛יו (his father) וְאִמּ֖וֹ (or his mother) מ֥וֹת (dying) יוּמָֽת׃ס (he must be put to death).

18  וְכִֽי־ (And if) יְרִיבֻ֣ן (contend with each other) אֲנָשִׁ֔ים (men), וְהִכָּה־ (and strikes) אִישׁ֙ (one) אֶת־ (-) רֵעֵ֔הוּ (his neighbor) בְּאֶ֖בֶן (with a stone) א֣וֹ (or) בְאֶגְרֹ֑ף (with a fist), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יָמ֖וּת (he does die) וְנָפַ֥ל (and falls) לְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃ (to bed), 19  אִם־ (if) יָק֞וּם (he rises again) וְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ (and walks) בַּח֛וּץ (about outside) עַל־ (with) מִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹ (his staff), וְנִקָּ֣ה (and shall be acquitted) הַמַּכֶּ֑ה (the one who struck him); רַ֥ק (only) שִׁבְתּ֛וֹ (for the loss of his time) יִתֵּ֖ן (he shall pay), וְרַפֹּ֥א (so that healing) יְרַפֵּֽא׃ס (he is healed).

20  וְכִֽי־ (And if) יַכֶּה֩ (strikes) אִ֨ישׁ (a man) אֶת־ (-) עַבְדּ֜וֹ (his manservant) א֤וֹ (or) אֶת־ (-) אֲמָתוֹ֙ (maidservant) בַּשֵּׁ֔בֶט (with a rod), וּמֵ֖ת (and he dies) תַּ֣חַת (under) יָד֑וֹ (his hand), נָקֹ֖ם (being avenged) יִנָּקֵֽם׃ (he shall be avenged). 21  אַ֥ךְ (Notwithstanding), אִם־ (if) י֛וֹם (a day) א֥וֹ (or) יוֹמַ֖יִם (two) יַעֲמֹ֑ד (he stands), לֹ֣א (not) יֻקַּ֔ם (he shall be avenged); כִּ֥י (for) כַסְפּ֖וֹ (his silver) הֽוּא׃ס (he is).

22  וְכִֽי־ (And if) יִנָּצ֣וּ (fight) אֲנָשִׁ֗ים (men) וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ (and strike) אִשָּׁ֤ה (a woman) הָרָה֙ (pregnant), וְיָצְא֣וּ (and come out) יְלָדֶ֔יהָ (her children), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִהְיֶ֖ה (there is) אָס֑וֹן (harm), עָנ֣וֹשׁ (being fined) יֵעָנֵ֗שׁ (he shall be fined) כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר (as) יָשִׁ֤ית (lays) עָלָיו֙ (upon him) בַּ֣עַל (the husband) הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (of the woman), וְנָתַ֖ן (and he shall give) בִּפְלִלִֽים׃ (through the judges). 23  וְאִם־ (But if) אָס֖וֹן (harm) יִהְיֶ֑ה (there is), וְנָתַתָּ֥ה (and you shall give) נֶ֖פֶשׁ (life) תַּ֥חַת (for) נָֽפֶשׁ׃ (life), 24  עַ֚יִן (eye) תַּ֣חַת (for) עַ֔יִן (eye), שֵׁ֖ן (tooth) תַּ֣חַת (for) שֵׁ֑ן (tooth), יָ֚ד (hand) תַּ֣חַת (for) יָ֔ד (hand), רֶ֖גֶל (foot) תַּ֥חַת (for) רָֽגֶל׃ (foot), 25  כְּוִיָּה֙ (burn) תַּ֣חַת (for) כְּוִיָּ֔ה (burn), פֶּ֖צַע (wound) תַּ֣חַת (for) פָּ֑צַע (wound), חַבּוּרָ֕ה (stripe) תַּ֖חַת (for) חַבּוּרָֽה׃ס (stripe).

26  וְכִֽי־ (And if) יַכֶּ֨ה (strikes) אִ֜ישׁ (a man) אֶת־ (-) עֵ֥ין (the eye) עַבְדּ֛וֹ (of his manservant) אֽוֹ־ (or) אֶת־ (-) עֵ֥ין (the eye) אֲמָת֖וֹ (of his maidservant), וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּ (and he destroys it), לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י (free) יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ (he shall send him out) תַּ֥חַת (for) עֵינֽוֹ׃ס (his eye). 27  וְאִם־ (And if) שֵׁ֥ן (the tooth) עַבְדּ֛וֹ (of his manservant) אֽוֹ־ (or) שֵׁ֥ן (the tooth) אֲמָת֖וֹ (of his maidservant) יַפִּ֑יל (he knocks out), לַֽחָפְשִׁ֥י (free) יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ (he shall send him out) תַּ֥חַת (for) שִׁנּֽוֹ׃פ (his tooth).

28  וְכִֽי־ (And if) יִגַּ֨ח (gores) שׁ֥וֹר (an ox) אֶת־ (-) אִ֛ישׁ (a man) א֥וֹ (or) אֶת־ (-) אִשָּׁ֖ה (a woman), וָמֵ֑ת (and they die), סָק֨וֹל (being stoned) יִסָּקֵ֜ל (it shall be stoned) הַשּׁ֗וֹר (the ox), וְלֹ֤א (and not) יֵאָכֵל֙ (shall be eaten) אֶת־ (-) בְּשָׂר֔וֹ (its flesh); וּבַ֥עַל (and the owner) הַשּׁ֖וֹר (of the ox) נָקִֽי׃ (is innocent).

29  וְאִ֡ם (But if) שׁוֹר֩ (the ox) נַגָּ֨ח (has a habit of goring) ה֜וּא (it) מִתְּמֹ֣ל (from yesterday) שִׁלְשֹׁ֗ם (and the day before yesterday), וְהוּעַ֤ד (and it has been made known) בִּבְעָלָיו֙ (to his owner), וְלֹ֣א (and not) יִשְׁמְרֶ֔נּוּ (he has guarded it), וְהֵמִ֥ית (and it has killed) אִ֖ישׁ (a man) א֣וֹ (or) אִשָּׁ֑ה (a woman), הַשּׁוֹר֙ (the ox) יִסָּקֵ֔ל (shall be stoned), וְגַם־ (and also) בְּעָלָ֖יו (its owner) יוּמָֽת׃ (shall be put to death). 30  אִם־ (If) כֹּ֖פֶר (a ransom) יוּשַׁ֣ת (is laid) עָלָ֑יו (on him), וְנָתַן֙ (and he shall give) פִּדְיֹ֣ן (the redemption) נַפְשׁ֔וֹ (of his soul) כְּכֹ֥ל (according to all) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) יוּשַׁ֖ת (is laid) עָלָֽיו׃ (on him).

31  אוֹ־ (Whether) בֵ֥ן (a son) יִגָּ֖ח (it gores), אוֹ־ (or) בַ֣ת (a daughter) יִגָּ֑ח (it gores), כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט (according to the judgment) הַזֶּ֖ה (this) יֵעָ֥שֶׂה (it shall be done) לּֽוֹ׃ (to him).

32  אִם־ (If) עֶ֛בֶד (a manservant) יִגַּ֥ח (gores) הַשּׁ֖וֹר (the ox), א֣וֹ (or) אָמָ֑ה (a maidservant), כֶּ֣סֶף׀ (silver) שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים (thirty) שְׁקָלִ֗ים (shekels) יִתֵּן֙ (he shall give) לַֽאדֹנָ֔יו (to their lord), וְהַשּׁ֖וֹר (and the ox) יִסָּקֵֽל׃ס (shall be stoned).

33  וְכִֽי־ (And if) יִפְתַּ֨ח (opens) אִ֜ישׁ (a man) בּ֗וֹר (a pit), א֠וֹ (or) כִּֽי־ (if) יִכְרֶ֥ה (digs) אִ֛ישׁ (a man) בֹּ֖ר (a pit), וְלֹ֣א (and not) יְכַסֶּ֑נּוּ (he does cover it), וְנָֽפַל־ (and falls) שָׁ֥מָּה (in there) שּׁ֖וֹר (an ox) א֥וֹ (or) חֲמֽוֹר׃ (a donkey), 34  בַּ֤עַל (the owner) הַבּוֹר֙ (of the pit) יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם (shall repay). כֶּ֖סֶף (Silver) יָשִׁ֣יב (he shall return) לִבְעָלָ֑יו (to its owner), וְהַמֵּ֖ת (and the dead animal) יִֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) לּֽוֹ׃ס (unto him).

35  וְכִֽי־ (And if) יִגֹּ֧ף (strikes) שֽׁוֹר־ (the ox) אִ֛ישׁ (of one man) אֶת־ (-) שׁ֥וֹר (the ox) רֵעֵ֖הוּ (of his neighbor) וָמֵ֑ת (and it dies), וּמָ֨כְר֜וּ (then they shall sell) אֶת־ (-) הַשּׁ֤וֹר (the ox) הַחַי֙ (living) וְחָצ֣וּ (and divide) אֶת־ (-) כַּסְפּ֔וֹ (its silver), וְגַ֥ם (and also) אֶת־ (-) הַמֵּ֖ת (the dead ox) יֶֽחֱצֽוּן׃ (they shall divide). 36  א֣וֹ (Or) נוֹדַ֗ע (if it was known) כִּ֠י (that) שׁ֣וֹר (the ox) נַגָּ֥ח (has a habit of goring) הוּא֙ (it) מִתְּמ֣וֹל (from yesterday) שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם (and the day before yesterday), וְלֹ֥א (and not) יִשְׁמְרֶ֖נּוּ (has guarded it) בְּעָלָ֑יו (its owner), שַׁלֵּ֨ם (repaying) יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם (he shall repay), שׁוֹר֙ (ox) תַּ֣חַת (for) הַשּׁ֔וֹר (ox); וְהַמֵּ֖ת (and the dead animal) יִֽהְיֶה־ (shall be) לּֽוֹ׃ס (unto him).