What does the Bible mean when it says, “An eye for eye, and a tooth for tooth?”
That Scripture is taken out of the Christian Bible’s Old Testament, which is the Jewish Bible. Let’s take a look at it in its entire context.
Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him – fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him. And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death.”
(Lev. 24:17-21 NKJV)
The law of Moses instructed the Jewish people how to judge Israelites in a court of law. Whatever they did to another was to be done to them. This was not a moral code for individuals to follow, but it was the standard that the judges were to use for punishment.
These laws had been perverted and people were using them to justify personal retaliation. This is why Jesus made the following statement when He walked on the earth:
You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”
(Matt. 5:38-39 NIV)
The phrase, “You have heard that it was said” refers to the perversion they were taught. “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” was not for personal retaliation but for use in the courtroom.
In our personal lives, we are to leave vengeance in the Lord’s hands (Rom. 12:19-21).
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Joe Cameneti Sr. is the lead pastor of Believers Church, located in his hometown of Warren, Ohio. Pastor Joe, along with his wife Gina, pioneered Believers Church in 1983 following his graduation from Bible School.
In addition to leading a thriving local church, Pastor Joe is the host of a weekly show called "BCTV." The program is aired locally on WFMJ, the NBC affiliate, reaching thousands weekly.
Pastor Joe is a gifted communicator, skilled in the art of building bridges to unchurched America. Transparent and authentic, you'll walk away challenged and encouraged to connect with God in a deeper way.