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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 21

Translation and Transliteration of 

1These are the rules that you shall set before them:

v'-AY-leh ha-mish-pa-TEEM a-SHER ta-SEEM lif-nay-HEM

אוְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּשִׂ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃

 21:1   These are the rules

Following the giving of the Ten Commandments, the Torah discusses numerous civil laws dealing with honest and ethical business practices and interpersonal relationships. These laws precede the dictates regulating our relationship with Hashem, teaching us that religion demands not just belief, but ethical conduct as well. In fact, there is an oft-quoted adage, “derech eretz kadma laTorah” (דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה), which means that ‘ethics precedes Torah.’ Decency and common courtesy serve as the foundation for keeping the rest of the Torah’s commandments.

2When you acquire a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years; in the seventh year he shall go free, without payment.

KI tik-NEH e-VED iv-REE shesh sha-NEEM ya-a-VOD u-va-sh'-VEET ye-TZEH la-KHO-f'-SHEE khee-NAM

בכִּ֤י תִקְנֶה֙ עֶ֣בֶד עִבְרִ֔י שֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים יַעֲבֹ֑ד וּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔ת יֵצֵ֥א לַֽחׇפְשִׁ֖י חִנָּֽם׃

3If he came single, he shall leave single; if he had a wife, his wife shall leave with him.

im b'-ga-PO ya-VO b'-ga-PO ye-TSE im ba-AL i-SHA hu v'-ya-tze-AH ish-TO i-MO

גאִם־בְּגַפּ֥וֹ יָבֹ֖א בְּגַפּ֣וֹ יֵצֵ֑א אִם־בַּ֤עַל אִשָּׁה֙ ה֔וּא וְיָצְאָ֥ה אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ עִמּֽוֹ׃

4If his master gave him a wife, and she has borne him children, the wife and her children shall belong to the master, and he shall leave alone.

im-a-do-NAI-yav yi-TEYN-lo i-SHAH v'-ya-l'-DAH-lo va-NEEM o va-NOHT ha-i-SHAH vi-la-DE-ha tih-YE la-a-do-NE-ha v'-hu yay-TSE b'-ga-PO

דאִם־אֲדֹנָיו֙ יִתֶּן־ל֣וֹ אִשָּׁ֔ה וְיָלְדָה־ל֥וֹ בָנִ֖ים א֣וֹ בָנ֑וֹת הָאִשָּׁ֣ה וִילָדֶ֗יהָ תִּהְיֶה֙ לַֽאדֹנֶ֔יהָ וְה֖וּא יֵצֵ֥א בְגַפּֽוֹ׃

5But if the slave declares, “I love my master, and my wife and children: I do not wish to go free,”

v'-im-a-MOR yo-MAR ha-E-ved a-hav-TEE et a-do-NEE et-ish-TEE v'-et ba-NAI lo e-tz-E khof-SHEE

הוְאִם־אָמֹ֤ר יֹאמַר֙ הָעֶ֔בֶד אָהַ֙בְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֲדֹנִ֔י אֶת־אִשְׁתִּ֖י וְאֶת־בָּנָ֑י לֹ֥א אֵצֵ֖א חׇפְשִֽׁי׃

6his master shall take him before Hashem. He shall be brought to the door or the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall then remain his slave for life.

v'-hi-GI-sho a-do-NAI-av el ha-e-lo-HEEM v'-hi-GI-sho el ha-de-LET o el ha-m'-zu-ZAH va-ra-TZa a-do-NAI-av et a-Z'-no ba-mar-TSE-a va-a-va-do l'-o-LAM. (Selah)

ווְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹ אֲדֹנָיו֙ אֶל־הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ אֶל־הַדֶּ֔לֶת א֖וֹ אֶל־הַמְּזוּזָ֑ה וְרָצַ֨ע אֲדֹנָ֤יו אֶת־אׇזְנוֹ֙ בַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַ וַעֲבָד֖וֹ לְעֹלָֽם׃

7When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not be freed as male slaves are.

v'-khee yim-KOR eesh et bi-TO l'-a-MAH, lo tay-TZAY k'-tayt ha-a-va-DEEM

זוְכִֽי־יִמְכֹּ֥ר אִ֛ישׁ אֶת־בִּתּ֖וֹ לְאָמָ֑ה לֹ֥א תֵצֵ֖א כְּצֵ֥את הָעֲבָדִֽים׃

8If she proves to be displeasing to her master, who designated her for himself, he must let her be redeemed; he shall not have the right to sell her to outsiders, since he broke faith with her.

im-RA-a b'-ay-NAY a-do-NEE-ha a-SHER-[LO] y'-a-DAH v'-hef-DAH l'-AM no-KH'-ree lo-yim-SHOL l'-mok-RAH b'-vi-g'-DO-vah

חאִם־רָעָ֞ה בְּעֵינֵ֧י אֲדֹנֶ֛יהָ אֲשֶׁר־[ל֥וֹ] (לא) יְעָדָ֖הּ וְהֶפְדָּ֑הּ לְעַ֥ם נׇכְרִ֛י לֹא־יִמְשֹׁ֥ל לְמׇכְרָ֖הּ בְּבִגְדוֹ־בָֽהּ׃

9And if he designated her for his son, he shall deal with her as is the practice with free maidens.

v'-im li-v'-NO yi-a-DE-nah, k'-mish-PAT ha-ba-NOT ya-a-SEH-lah

טוְאִם־לִבְנ֖וֹ יִֽיעָדֶ֑נָּה כְּמִשְׁפַּ֥ט הַבָּנ֖וֹת יַעֲשֶׂה־לָּֽהּ׃

10If he marries another, he must not withhold from this one her food, her clothing, or her conjugal rights.

im-a-KHE-ret yi-KAKH-lo, she-E-ra-KHA ke-SU-ta, ve-o-NA-ta, lo yi-g'-RA

יאִם־אַחֶ֖רֶת יִֽקַּֽח־ל֑וֹ שְׁאֵרָ֛הּ כְּסוּתָ֥הּ וְעֹנָתָ֖הּ לֹ֥א יִגְרָֽע׃

11If he fails her in these three ways, she shall go free, without payment.

v'-im sh'-LOSH ay-LEH lo ya-a-SEH LAH, va-ya-tz'-AH khin-NAM AYN ka-SEF. (s)

יאוְאִ֨ם־שְׁלׇשׁ־אֵ֔לֶּה לֹ֥א יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה לָ֑הּ וְיָצְאָ֥ה חִנָּ֖ם אֵ֥ין כָּֽסֶף׃

12He who fatally strikes a man shall be put to death.

ma-KEH eesh va-MET MOT yu-MAT

יבמַכֵּ֥ה אִ֛ישׁ וָמֵ֖ת מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

13If he did not do it by design, but it came about by an act of Hashem, I will assign you a place to which he can flee.

va-a-SHER lo tza-DAH v'-ha-e-lo-HEEM i-NAH l'-ya-DO v'-sam-TEE l'-KHA ma-KOM a-SHER ya-NOOS sha-MAH.

יגוַאֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א צָדָ֔ה וְהָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אִנָּ֣ה לְיָד֑וֹ וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י לְךָ֙ מָק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָנ֖וּס שָֽׁמָּה׃

14When a man schemes against another and kills him treacherously, you shall take him from My very mizbayach to be put to death.

v'-khee ya-ZID eesh al-re-E-hu l'-ho-r'-GO ve-o-r'-MAH, may-im miz-b'-khee ti-ka-KHE-nu la-MUT. (s)

ידוְכִֽי־יָזִ֥ד אִ֛ישׁ עַל־רֵעֵ֖הוּ לְהׇרְג֣וֹ בְעׇרְמָ֑ה מֵעִ֣ם מִזְבְּחִ֔י תִּקָּחֶ֖נּוּ לָמֽוּת׃

15He who strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

u-ma-KEH a-VEEV v'-i-MO mot yu-MAT. (S)

טווּמַכֵּ֥ה אָבִ֛יו וְאִמּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

16He who kidnaps a man—whether he has sold him or is still holding him—shall be put to death.

v'-go-NEV eesh u-m'-kha-RO v'-nim-TZA b'-ya-DO mot yu-MAT. (S)

טזוְגֹנֵ֨ב אִ֧ישׁ וּמְכָר֛וֹ וְנִמְצָ֥א בְיָד֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

17He who insults his father or his mother shall be put to death.

u-m'-ka-LEL a-VEEV v'-i-MO mot yu-MAT.

יזוּמְקַלֵּ֥ל אָבִ֛יו וְאִמּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת׃

18When men quarrel and one strikes the other with stone or fist, and he does not die but has to take to his bed

v'-khee y'-ree-VUN a-na-SHEEM v'-hi-KA a-EESH et ray-E-hu b'-E-ven o v'-E-g'-ROF v'-LO ya-MUT v'-na-FAL l'-mish-KAV

יחוְכִֽי־יְרִיבֻ֣ן אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְהִכָּה־אִישׁ֙ אֶת־רֵעֵ֔הוּ בְּאֶ֖בֶן א֣וֹ בְאֶגְרֹ֑ף וְלֹ֥א יָמ֖וּת וְנָפַ֥ל לְמִשְׁכָּֽב׃

19if he then gets up and walks outdoors upon his staff, the assailant shall go unpunished, except that he must pay for his idleness and his cure.

im-ya-KUM v'-hit-ha-LEKH ba-KHUtz al-mish-a-NTO v'-ni-KA ha-MA-KEH rak shiv-TO yi-TEN v'-ra-PO y'-ra-PE

יטאִם־יָק֞וּם וְהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ בַּח֛וּץ עַל־מִשְׁעַנְתּ֖וֹ וְנִקָּ֣ה הַמַּכֶּ֑ה רַ֥ק שִׁבְתּ֛וֹ יִתֵּ֖ן וְרַפֹּ֥א יְרַפֵּֽא׃

20When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod, and he dies there and then, he must be avenged.

v'-khee ya-KEH eesh et a-vo-DO o et a-ma-TO ba-SHE-vet u-MET ta-KHAT ya-DO, na-KOM yi-NA-kem

כוְכִֽי־יַכֶּה֩ אִ֨ישׁ אֶת־עַבְדּ֜וֹ א֤וֹ אֶת־אֲמָתוֹ֙ בַּשֵּׁ֔בֶט וּמֵ֖ת תַּ֣חַת יָד֑וֹ נָקֹ֖ם יִנָּקֵֽם׃

21But if he survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, since he is the other's property.

akh im-YOM o yo-MA-yim ya-a-MOD lo yu-KAM ki khas-PO HU.

כאאַ֥ךְ אִם־י֛וֹם א֥וֹ יוֹמַ֖יִם יַעֲמֹ֑ד לֹ֣א יֻקַּ֔ם כִּ֥י כַסְפּ֖וֹ הֽוּא׃

22When men fight, and one of them pushes a pregnant woman and a miscarriage results, but no other damage ensues, the one responsible shall be fined according as the woman's husband may exact from him, the payment to be based on reckoning.

v'-khee yi-NA-tzu a-na-SHEEM v'-na-G'-fu i-SHA ha-RA v'-ya-t'-ZU ye-la-DE-ha v'-lo yi-HE-yeh a-SOHN a-NOSH yay-a-NAYSH ka-a-SHER ya-SHEET a-LAV ba-AL ha-i-SHA v'-na-TAN b'-f'-li-LIM

כבוְכִֽי־יִנָּצ֣וּ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ אִשָּׁ֤ה הָרָה֙ וְיָצְא֣וּ יְלָדֶ֔יהָ וְלֹ֥א יִהְיֶ֖ה אָס֑וֹן עָנ֣וֹשׁ יֵעָנֵ֗שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׁ֤ית עָלָיו֙ בַּ֣עַל הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וְנָתַ֖ן בִּפְלִלִֽים׃

23But if other damage ensues, the penalty shall be life for life,

v'-im a-SOHN yi-HE-yeh, v'-na-ta-TAH NE-fesh TA-khat NA-fesh

כגוְאִם־אָס֖וֹן יִהְיֶ֑ה וְנָתַתָּ֥ה נֶ֖פֶשׁ תַּ֥חַת נָֽפֶשׁ׃

24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

AYIN TAKHAT AYIN, SHEN TAKHAT SHEN, YAD TAKHAT YAD, REGEL TAKHAT RAGEL.

כדעַ֚יִן תַּ֣חַת עַ֔יִן שֵׁ֖ן תַּ֣חַת שֵׁ֑ן יָ֚ד תַּ֣חַת יָ֔ד רֶ֖גֶל תַּ֥חַת רָֽגֶל׃

25burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

k'-vi-YAH ta-KHAT k'-vi-YAH PE-tza ta-KHAT pa-TZA cha-BU-rah ta-KHAT cha-BU-rah

כהכְּוִיָּה֙ תַּ֣חַת כְּוִיָּ֔ה פֶּ֖צַע תַּ֣חַת פָּ֑צַע חַבּוּרָ֕ה תַּ֖חַת חַבּוּרָֽה׃

26When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye.

v'-khee ya-KEH eesh et AYN av-DO o-et AYN a-MA-to v'-shi-KHA-ta LA-khaf-SHEE y'-sha-l'-KHE-nu TA-khat AY-no

כווְכִֽי־יַכֶּ֨ה אִ֜ישׁ אֶת־עֵ֥ין עַבְדּ֛וֹ אֽוֹ־אֶת־עֵ֥ין אֲמָת֖וֹ וְשִֽׁחֲתָ֑הּ לַֽחׇפְשִׁ֥י יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ תַּ֥חַת עֵינֽוֹ׃

27If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth.

v'-im SHEN a-vo-DO o-SHEN a-ma-TO ya-PEEL la-KHO-f'-shi y'-sha-l'-KHE-nu TA-khat SHI-no

כזוְאִם־שֵׁ֥ן עַבְדּ֛וֹ אֽוֹ־שֵׁ֥ן אֲמָת֖וֹ יַפִּ֑יל לַֽחׇפְשִׁ֥י יְשַׁלְּחֶ֖נּוּ תַּ֥חַת שִׁנּֽוֹ׃

28When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox is not to be punished.

v'-khee y'-GAKH shor et-EESH o et-i-SHA va-MET sa-KOL yi-SA-kel ha-SHOR v'-lo ye-A-khel et b'-SA-ro u-val ha-SHOR na-KI

כחוְכִֽי־יִגַּ֨ח שׁ֥וֹר אֶת־אִ֛ישׁ א֥וֹ אֶת־אִשָּׁ֖ה וָמֵ֑ת סָק֨וֹל יִסָּקֵ֜ל הַשּׁ֗וֹר וְלֹ֤א יֵאָכֵל֙ אֶת־בְּשָׂר֔וֹ וּבַ֥עַל הַשּׁ֖וֹר נָקִֽי׃

29If, however, that ox has been in the habit of goring, and its owner, though warned, has failed to guard it, and it kills a man or a woman—the ox shall be stoned and its owner, too, shall be put to death.

v'-im SHOR na-GAKH HU mi-TE-mol shil-SHOM v'-hu-AD bi-v'-a-LAV v'-LO yish-ME-re-NU v'-he-MIT eesh o ish-SHA ha-SHOR yi-SA-kel v'-gam bi-a-LAV yu-MAT

כטוְאִ֡ם שׁוֹר֩ נַגָּ֨ח ה֜וּא מִתְּמֹ֣ל שִׁלְשֹׁ֗ם וְהוּעַ֤ד בִּבְעָלָיו֙ וְלֹ֣א יִשְׁמְרֶ֔נּוּ וְהֵמִ֥ית אִ֖ישׁ א֣וֹ אִשָּׁ֑ה הַשּׁוֹר֙ יִסָּקֵ֔ל וְגַם־בְּעָלָ֖יו יוּמָֽת׃

30If ransom is laid upon him, he must pay whatever is laid upon him to redeem his life.

im-KO-fer yu-SHAT a-LA-yav, v'-na-TAN pid-YON naf-SHO, k'-KOL a-SHER yu-SHAT a-LA-yav

לאִם־כֹּ֖פֶר יוּשַׁ֣ת עָלָ֑יו וְנָתַן֙ פִּדְיֹ֣ן נַפְשׁ֔וֹ כְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יוּשַׁ֖ת עָלָֽיו׃

31So, too, if it gores a minor, male or female, [the owner] shall be dealt with according to the same rule.

o-VEN yi-GACH o-VAT yi-GACH ka-mish-PAT ha-ZEH ye-a-SEH LO

לאאוֹ־בֵ֥ן יִגָּ֖ח אוֹ־בַ֣ת יִגָּ֑ח כַּמִּשְׁפָּ֥ט הַזֶּ֖ה יֵעָ֥שֶׂה לּֽוֹ׃

32But if the ox gores a slave, male or female, he shall pay thirty shekalim of silver to the master, and the ox shall be stoned.

im-E-ved yi-GACH ha-SHOR o-o-MAH KE-sef SHE-lo-SHEEM SHE-ka-LEEM yi-TEN la-a-do-NAI-v'ha-SHOR yi-SA-kel. (S)

לבאִם־עֶ֛בֶד יִגַּ֥ח הַשּׁ֖וֹר א֣וֹ אָמָ֑ה כֶּ֣סֶף ׀ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שְׁקָלִ֗ים יִתֵּן֙ לַֽאדֹנָ֔יו וְהַשּׁ֖וֹר יִסָּקֵֽל׃

33When a man opens a pit, or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or an ass falls into it,

v'-khee yif-TAKH eesh BOR o ki-yikh-REH eesh BOR v'-lo y'-ka-SE-nu, v'-na-FAL sha-MAH SHOR o kha-MOR.

לגוְכִֽי־יִפְתַּ֨ח אִ֜ישׁ בּ֗וֹר א֠וֹ כִּֽי־יִכְרֶ֥ה אִ֛ישׁ בֹּ֖ר וְלֹ֣א יְכַסֶּ֑נּוּ וְנָֽפַל־שָׁ֥מָּה שּׁ֖וֹר א֥וֹ חֲמֽוֹר׃

34the one responsible for the pit must make restitution; he shall pay the price to the owner, but shall keep the dead animal.

ba-al ha-BOR y'-sha-LEM KE-sef ya-SHEEV liv-a-LAV v'-ha-MAYT yi-HE-yeh LO. (S)

לדבַּ֤עַל הַבּוֹר֙ יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם כֶּ֖סֶף יָשִׁ֣יב לִבְעָלָ֑יו וְהַמֵּ֖ת יִֽהְיֶה־לּֽוֹ׃

35When a man's ox injures his neighbor's ox and it dies, they shall sell the live ox and divide its price; they shall also divide the dead animal.

v'-khee yi-GOF shor-ISH et-SHOR ray-E-hu va-MAYT, u-ma-KH'-ru et ha-SHOR ha-KHAI v'-kha-TZU et-KAS-po, v'-GAM et ha-MAYT ye-khe-TZUN

להוְכִֽי־יִגֹּ֧ף שֽׁוֹר־אִ֛ישׁ אֶת־שׁ֥וֹר רֵעֵ֖הוּ וָמֵ֑ת וּמָ֨כְר֜וּ אֶת־הַשּׁ֤וֹר הַחַי֙ וְחָצ֣וּ אֶת־כַּסְפּ֔וֹ וְגַ֥ם אֶת־הַמֵּ֖ת יֶֽחֱצֽוּן׃

36If, however, it is known that the ox was in the habit of goring, and its owner has failed to guard it, he must restore ox for ox, but shall keep the dead animal.

o no-DA ki SHOR na-GACH HU mit-MOL shil-SHOM v'-LO yish-ME-re-NU b'-a-LA-yav sha-LEM y'-sha-LEM SHOR ta-CHAT ha-SHOR v'-ha-MET yi-HE-yeh-LO. (Selah)

לוא֣וֹ נוֹדַ֗ע כִּ֠י שׁ֣וֹר נַגָּ֥ח הוּא֙ מִתְּמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם וְלֹ֥א יִשְׁמְרֶ֖נּוּ בְּעָלָ֑יו שַׁלֵּ֨ם יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם שׁוֹר֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשּׁ֔וֹר וְהַמֵּ֖ת יִֽהְיֶה־לּֽוֹ׃

37When a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox, and four sheep for the sheep

KI yig-NOV-ish SHOR o-SEH u-te-VA-kho o-m'-KHA-ro, kha-mi-SHA va-KAR ye-sha-LEM TA-khat ha-SHOR ve-ar-BA tzo-AN TA-khat ha-SEH.

לזכִּ֤י יִגְנֹֽב־אִישׁ֙ שׁ֣וֹר אוֹ־שֶׂ֔ה וּטְבָח֖וֹ א֣וֹ מְכָר֑וֹ חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה בָקָ֗ר יְשַׁלֵּם֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשּׁ֔וֹר וְאַרְבַּע־צֹ֖אן תַּ֥חַת הַשֶּֽׂה׃