Deuteronomy 19:21Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
The setting
Moab plains, Jordan River valley, ~1406 BC. Moses addresses Israel before crossing into Canaan, modern-day Jordan/Israel border...
The emotion here: weighty responsibility recording divine justice standards
The original word
ʿayin (עַיִן) — eye, but also perspective/viewpoint, suggesting proportional justice
Why it matters
This law actually LIMITED revenge - before this, killing someone's family for taking your eye was common
Read with care
What most readers miss in Deuteronomy 19:21
This wasn't encouraging revenge - it was the world's first limit on retaliation
Common misconceptionPeople think this encourages revenge, but it was revolutionary mercy - limiting punishment to match the crime exactly, preventing escalation.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Deuteronomy 19:21
Bible Genome reading
Deuteronomy 19:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Deuteronomy 19:21 comes from the book of Deuteronomy, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to Moses. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the law genre of biblical literature. Key themes include proportional justice, lex talionis, divine justice. Notable phrases: eye for eye, tooth for tooth. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“For a fire is kindled in my anger, Burns to the lowest Sheol, Devours the earth with its increase, and sets the foundations of the mountains…”
— Deuteronomy 32:22
Your reflection
What does Deuteronomy 19:21 mean to you, today?
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