Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. New Living Translation “Now suppose two men are fighting, and in the process they accidentally strike a pregnant woman so she gives birth prematurely. If no further injury results, the man who struck the woman must pay the amount of compensation the woman’s husband demands and the judges approve. English Standard Version “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. Berean Standard Bible If men who are fighting strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows. Berean Literal Bible And if men fight and strike a pregnant woman and her children come out and there is not harm, he shall surely be fined as the husband of the woman lays upon him, and he shall give through the judges. King James Bible If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. New King James Version “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. New American Standard Bible “Now if people struggle with each other and strike a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, but there is no injury, the guilty person shall certainly be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. NASB 1995 “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. NASB 1977 “And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage, yet there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him; and he shall pay as the judges decide. Legacy Standard Bible “And if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband will set for him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. Amplified Bible “If men fight with each other and injure a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely [and the baby lives], yet there is no further injury, the one who hurt her must be punished with a fine [paid] to the woman’s husband, as much as the judges decide. Berean Annotated Bible If men who are fighting strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely \and her children come out/, but there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows. Christian Standard Bible “When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. Holman Christian Standard Bible When men get in a fight and hit a pregnant woman so that her children are born prematurely but there is no injury, the one who hit her must be fined as the woman’s husband demands from him, and he must pay according to judicial assessment. American Standard Version And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow; he shall be surely fined, according as the woman's husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. Contemporary English Version Suppose a pregnant woman suffers a miscarriage as the result of an injury caused by someone who is fighting. If she isn't badly hurt, the one who injured her must pay whatever fine her husband demands and the judges approve. English Revised Version And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely fined, according as the woman's husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. GOD'S WORD® Translation "This is what you must do whenever men fight and injure a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely. If there are no other injuries, the offender must pay whatever fine the court allows the woman's husband to demand. Good News Translation "If some men are fighting and hurt a pregnant woman so that she loses her child, but she is not injured in any other way, the one who hurt her is to be fined whatever amount the woman's husband demands, subject to the approval of the judges. International Standard Version "If two men are fighting and they strike a pregnant woman and her children are born prematurely, but there is no harm, he is certainly to be fined as the husband of the woman demands of him, and he will pay as the court decides. NET Bible "If men fight and hit a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no serious injury, he will surely be punished in accordance with what the woman's husband demands of him, and he will pay what the court decides. New Heart English Bible "If men fight and strike a pregnant woman so that her child is born prematurely, but there is no injury, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow. Webster's Bible Translation If men shall contend, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit shall depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIf men who are fighting strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows. World English Bible “If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the woman’s husband demands and the judges allow. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd when men strive, and have struck a pregnant woman, and her children have come out, and there is no harm [to them], he is certainly fined as the husband of the woman lays on him, and he has given through the judges; Berean Literal Bible And if men fight and strike a pregnant woman and her children come out and there is not harm, he shall surely be fined as the husband of the woman lays upon him, and he shall give through the judges. Young's Literal Translation 'And when men strive, and have smitten a pregnant woman, and her children have come out, and there is no mischief, he is certainly fined, as the husband of the woman doth lay upon him, and he hath given through the judges; Smith's Literal Translation And if men shall quarrel and strike a woman pregnant, and her child shall go forth, and there shall not be harm, punishing, he shall be punished, as the husband of the woman shall put upon him; and he giving in justice. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf men quarrel, and one strike a woman with child, and she miscarry indeed, but live herself: he shall be answerable for so much damage as the woman's husband shall require, and as arbiters shall award. Catholic Public Domain Version If men will have quarreled, and one of them has struck a pregnant woman, and as a result she miscarries, but she herself survives, he shall be subject to as much damage as the husband of the woman shall petition from him, or as arbitrators shall judge. New American Bible When men have a fight and hurt a pregnant woman, so that she suffers a miscarriage, but no further injury, the guilty one shall be fined as much as the woman’s husband demands of him, and he shall pay in the presence of the judges. New Revised Standard Version When people who are fighting injure a pregnant woman so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no further harm follows, the one responsible shall be fined what the woman’s husband demands, paying as much as the judges determine. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf two men quarrel, and strike a woman with child so that she miscarries, and yet no mischief follow; he shall surely pay a fine such as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And when two men will fight and they strike a woman who is pregnant and her infant shall come out and there will be no misfortune, certainly he shall be fined according to what the husband of the woman lays upon him, and he will give as the Judges decide. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow, he shall be surely fined, according as the woman's husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. Brenton Septuagint Translation And if two men strive and smite a woman with child, and her child be born imperfectly formed, he shall be forced to pay a penalty: as the woman's husband may lay upon him, he shall pay with a valuation. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Personal Injury Laws…21However, if the servant gets up after a day or two, the owner shall not be punished, since the servant is his property. 22If men who are fighting strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no further injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows. 23But if a serious injury results, then you must require a life for a life—… Cross References If men who are fighting Exodus 2:13-14 The next day Moses went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you attacking your companion?” / But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.” 2 Samuel 14:6-7 And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. / Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.” Deuteronomy 25:11-12 If two men are fighting, and the wife of one comes to rescue her husband from the one striking him, and she reaches out her hand and grabs his genitals, / you are to cut off her hand. You must show her no pity. strike a pregnant woman Amos 1:13 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory. 2 Kings 15:16 At that time Menahem, starting from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah and everyone in its vicinity, because they would not open their gates. So he attacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women. Hosea 13:16 Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open. and her child is born prematurely, Isaiah 66:7-8 “Before she was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy. / Who has heard of such as this? Who has seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her children. Isaiah 37:3 to tell him, “This is what Hezekiah says: Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace; for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them. but there is no further injury, Numbers 35:22-25 But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally, / or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him, / then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. … Deuteronomy 19:4-6 Now this is the situation regarding the manslayer who flees to one of these cities to save his life, having killed his neighbor accidentally, without intending to harm him: / If he goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut timber and swings his axe to chop down a tree, but the blade flies off the handle and strikes and kills his neighbor, he may flee to one of these cities to save his life. / Otherwise, the avenger of blood might pursue the manslayer in a rage, overtake him if the distance is great, and strike him dead though he did not deserve to die, since he did not intend any harm. Leviticus 24:19-20 If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: / fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Just as he injured the other person, the same must be inflicted on him. he shall surely be fined Deuteronomy 22:19 They are also to fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the young woman’s father, because this man has given a virgin of Israel a bad name. And she shall remain his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives. Deuteronomy 22:29 then the man who lay with her must pay the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she must become his wife because he has violated her. He must not divorce her as long as he lives. Exodus 22:1-4 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. / If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed. / But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft. … as the woman’s husband demands Exodus 22:16-17 If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife. / If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin. 1 Samuel 18:25-27 Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines. / When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, / David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as payment in full to become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage. Treasury of Scripture If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. strive Exodus 21:18 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed: as the judges Exodus 21:30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him. Deuteronomy 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. Deuteronomy 22:18,19 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him; … Jump to Previous Allow Birth Child Demands Depart Fight Fined Follow Follows Fruit Further Gives Harm Hurt Husband Injury Judges Lay Miscarriage Mischief Pregnant Punished Strike Strive Struggle Surely Woman'sJump to Next Allow Birth Child Demands Depart Fight Fined Follow Follows Fruit Further Gives Harm Hurt Husband Injury Judges Lay Miscarriage Mischief Pregnant Punished Strike Strive Struggle Surely Woman'sExodus 21 1. Laws for men servants5. For the servant whose ear is bored 7. For women servants 12. For manslaughter 16. For kidnappers 17. For cursers of parents 18. For smiters 22. For a hurt by chance 28. For an ox that gores 33. For him who is an occasion of harm If men who are fighting This phrase sets the scene of a physical altercation between men, a common occurrence in ancient times. The context is a legal case within the Mosaic Law, which was given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. The law aimed to maintain order and justice within the community. Fighting among men could disrupt societal harmony, and the law sought to address the consequences of such actions. strike a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely but there is no further injury he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband demands and as the court allows Persons / Places / Events 1. Men Striving TogetherThis refers to a conflict or fight between two or more men, which inadvertently affects a pregnant woman. 2. Pregnant Woman A woman carrying a child, who becomes involved in the conflict unintentionally. 3. Children Come Out This phrase indicates a premature birth caused by the altercation. 4. Husband The woman's spouse, who has a role in determining the fine imposed on the offender. 5. Judges Authorities who assess the situation and determine the appropriate penalty. Teaching Points Sanctity of LifeThis passage emphasizes the value of both the mother and the unborn child, highlighting the importance of protecting life at all stages. Responsibility and Consequences Actions have consequences, and this law underscores the responsibility individuals have for unintended harm caused by their actions. Role of Authority The involvement of judges illustrates the importance of impartial authorities in maintaining justice and order. Conflict Resolution The passage encourages us to consider the impact of our conflicts on others and to seek peaceful resolutions. Community and Accountability The community, represented by the husband and judges, plays a role in ensuring justice, reminding us of our collective responsibility to uphold righteousness. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Exodus 21:22?2. How does Exodus 21:22 emphasize the value of unborn life in God's eyes? 3. What principles from Exodus 21:22 can guide our views on justice today? 4. How does Exodus 21:22 connect with the sanctity of life in Psalm 139? 5. How can Exodus 21:22 inform our approach to modern legal systems and penalties? 6. In what ways does Exodus 21:22 challenge us to protect vulnerable individuals? 7. How does Exodus 21:22 address the value of unborn life? 8. What does Exodus 21:22 imply about the personhood of a fetus? 9. How is justice served according to Exodus 21:22? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 21? 11. What does the Bible say about miscarriage? 12. Exodus 21:22–25 describes “eye for eye” justice; does this literal approach to retribution conflict with later biblical injunctions on forgiveness? 13. What do Exodus 21:22-23 say about abortion? 14. What is the Bible's stance on abortion? What Does Exodus 21:22 Mean If men who are fightingTwo men are already in a heated conflict (cf. Proverbs 17:14; James 4:1). • Scripture recognizes that anger and violence often spill over, affecting bystanders. • From the start, the verse underscores accountability even when harm is unintentional (see Leviticus 24:19–20). strike a pregnant woman A vulnerable person is injured (Psalm 82:3–4). • God’s law pays special attention to those needing protection—widows, orphans, sojourners, and here, an expectant mother (Deuteronomy 24:17–18). • The unborn child is treated as a separate life, worthy of legal consideration (Psalm 139:13–16; Jeremiah 1:5). and her child is born prematurely The incident triggers an early birth (Isaiah 66:9). • The text differentiates between birth that ends in life and birth that ends in death, showing divine concern for outcome. • Even a premature but healthy delivery still warrants review, proving the seriousness with which God views parental and fetal well-being. but there is no further injury Both mother and baby survive without lasting harm (Exodus 21:19). • “No further injury” implies that bruises, shock, or inconvenience exist but no permanent damage. • The principle of measured justice applies; injury level guides penalty (Deuteronomy 19:21). he shall surely be fined Financial restitution replaces corporal punishment (Numbers 5:5–7). • Monetary payment satisfies justice when life is preserved. • The penalty acknowledges loss—medical expenses, lost wages, emotional trauma—affirming personal responsibility. as the woman’s husband demands The husband, closest advocate, voices the claim (Ephesians 5:28–29). • His role protects wife and child, reflecting covenant headship. • Yet his demand is not the final word; it enters a legal process. and as the court allows Judges weigh the facts (Deuteronomy 16:18–20). • The Hebrew elders ensure penalties stay fair, preventing vengeance from overruling justice (Proverbs 11:1). • This balance between private claim and public verdict safeguards community order (Romans 13:1–4). summary Exodus 21:22 shows God’s law valuing unborn life, protecting the vulnerable, and insisting on proportional justice. An accidental blow that prompts premature birth but no lasting injury still incurs a fine, determined jointly by the family’s claim and the court’s oversight. The passage affirms that life in the womb matters, personal responsibility extends even to unintended harm, and God’s justice blends compassion with accountability. (22-25) A personal injury peculiar to women--a hurt producing miscarriage--is here considered. The miscarriage might cost the woman her life, in which case the man who caused it was to suffer death (Exodus 21:23); or it might have no further ill result than the loss of the child. In this latter case the penalty was to be a fine, assessed by the husband with the consent of the judge (Exodus 21:22). The death penalty, where the woman died, is clearly excessive, and probably belongs to the pre-Mosaic legislation, which required "life for life" in every case.(22) If men strive, and hurt a woman with child.--It is assumed that this hurt would probably take place through the interference of a pregnant wife in some strife wherein her husband was engaged. It would almost certainly be accidental. And yet no mischief follow--i.e., no further mischief--nothing beyond the loss of the child. (22, 23) Life for life, eye for eye.--It is a reasonable conjecture that the law of retaliation was much older than Moses, and accepted by him as tolerable rather than devised as rightful. The law itself was very widely spread. Traces of it are found in India, in Egypt, among the Greeks, and in the laws of the Twelve Tables. Aristotle says that the Pythagoreans approved it, and that it was believed to be the rule by which Rhadamanthus administered justice in the other world. There is, prima facie, a semblance of exact rectitude and equality about it which captivates rude minds, and causes the adoption of the rule generally in an early condition of society. Theoretically, retaliation is the exactest and strictest justice; but in practice difficulties arise. How is the force of a blow to be measured? How are exactly similar burns and wounds to be inflicted? Is eye to be given for eye when the injurer is a one-eyed man? And, again, is it expedient for law to multiply the number of mutilated citizens in a community? Considerations of these kinds cause the rule to be discarded as soon as civilisation reaches a certain point, and tend generally to the substitution of a money compensation, to be paid to the injured party by the injurer. The present passage sanctioned the law of retaliation in principle, but authorised its enforcement in a single case only. In a later part of the Mosaic code the application was made universal (Leviticus 24:17-21; Deuteronomy 19:21). . . . Verse 22-25. - Assault producing miscarriage. Retaliation. Women in all countries are apt to interfere in the quarrels of men, and run the risk of suffering injuries which proceed from accident rather than design, one such injury being of a peculiar character, to which there is nothing correspondent among the injuries which may be done to man. This is abortion, or miscarriage. The Mosaic legislation sought to protect pregnant women from suffering this injury by providing, first, that if death resulted the offender should suffer death (ver. 23); and, secondly, that if there were no further ill-result than the miscarriage itself, still a fine should be paid, to be assessed by the husband of the injured woman with the consent of the judges (ver. 22). The mention of "life for life," in ver. 23, is followed by an enunciation of the general "law of retaliation," applied here (it would seem) to the special case in hand, but elsewhere (Leviticus 24:19, 20) extended so as to be a fundamental law, applicable to all cases of personal injury. Verse 22. - If men strive and hurt a woman. A chance hurt is clearly intended, not one done on purpose. So that her fruit depart from her. So that she be prematurely delivered of a dead child. And no mischief follow. "Mischief" here means "death," as in Genesis 42:4, 38; Genesis 44:29. He shall pay as the judges determine. He was not to be wholly at the mercy of the injured father. If he thought the sum demanded was excessive, there was to be an appeal to a tribunal.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Ifוְכִֽי־ (wə·ḵî-) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction men אֲנָשִׁ֗ים (’ă·nā·šîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 582: Man, mankind who are fighting יִנָּצ֣וּ (yin·nā·ṣū) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5327: To go forth, to be expelled, desolate, to lay waste, to quarrel strike וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ (wə·nā·ḡə·p̄ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 5062: To push, gore, defeat, stub, inflict a pregnant הָרָה֙ (hā·rāh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 2030: Pregnant woman אִשָּׁ֤ה (’iš·šāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female and her child יְלָדֶ֔יהָ (yə·lā·ḏe·hā) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 3206: Something born, a lad, offspring is born prematurely, וְיָצְא֣וּ (wə·yā·ṣə·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim but there is יִהְיֶ֖ה (yih·yeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be no [further] וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no injury, אָס֑וֹן (’ā·sō·wn) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 611: Mischief, evil, harm he shall surely be fined עָנ֣וֹשׁ (‘ā·nō·wōš) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 6064: To urge, to inflict a, penalty, to fine as כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר (ka·’ă·šer) Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that the woman’s הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה (hā·’iš·šāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female husband בַּ֣עַל (ba·‘al) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner demands יָשִׁ֤ית (yā·šîṯ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7896: To put, set and as the court allows. וְנָתַ֖ן (wə·nā·ṯan) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set Links Exodus 21:22 NIVExodus 21:22 NLT Exodus 21:22 ESV Exodus 21:22 NASB Exodus 21:22 KJV Exodus 21:22 BibleApps.com Exodus 21:22 Biblia Paralela Exodus 21:22 Chinese Bible Exodus 21:22 French Bible Exodus 21:22 Catholic Bible OT Law: Exodus 21:22 If men fight and hurt a pregnant (Exo. 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