Summary

Eye for an eye bible verse
https://holylandmerchandise.com

Eye for an eye bible verse

The Ultimate Biblical Guide to “Eye for an Eye” (Lex Talionis) & Non-Retaliation

Part 1: The Scripture Collection (45 Verses)

 

Note: The specific phrase “Eye for an eye” only appears a few times. To reach a substantial list, I have included the direct mentions, the Old Testament context of proportional justice, and the New Testament mandate that fulfills and supersedes it.

The Old Testament Law (Lex Talionis – Proportional Justice)

 

1. Exodus 21:23 – “But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life.”

2. Exodus 21:24 – “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

3. Exodus 21:25 – “Burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.”

4. Leviticus 24:19 – “If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him.”

5. Leviticus 24:20 – “Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.”

6. Leviticus 24:21 – “Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, and whoever kills a person shall be put to death.”

7. Deuteronomy 19:21 – “Your eye shall not pity. It shall be life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

8. Deuteronomy 19:19 – “Then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.”

Jesus’ Radical Update (The Kingdom Law)

 

9. Matthew 5:38 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’”

10. Matthew 5:39 – “But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

11. Matthew 5:40 – “And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.”

12. Matthew 5:41 – “And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

13. Matthew 5:42 – “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”

14. Matthew 5:43 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’”

15. Matthew 5:44 – “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

16. Luke 6:27 – “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

17. Luke 6:29 – “To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.”

Rejection of Personal Revenge

 

18. Proverbs 20:22 – “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.”

19. Proverbs 24:29 – “Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.'”

20. Leviticus 19:18 – “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

21. Romans 12:17 – “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”

22. Romans 12:19 – “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'”

23. Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

24. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 – “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”

25. 1 Peter 3:9 – “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called.”

26. Proverbs 25:21 – “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.”

27. Proverbs 25:22 – “For you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”

Justice and Restitution (Context of the Law)

 

28. Exodus 21:18-19 – (Laws regarding compensation for injury and lost time).

29. Numbers 35:31 – “Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death.”

30. Genesis 9:6 – “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”

31. Ezekiel 18:20 – “The soul who sins shall die… the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself.”

The Heart of Forgiveness

 

32. Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

33. Colossians 3:13 – “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other.”

34. Matthew 6:14 – “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

35. Mark 11:25 – “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone.”

36. Luke 23:34 – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

37. Acts 7:60 – “And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.'”

Part 2: Top 25 Forum Q&A (The Believer’s Struggle)

 

I have synthesized the most common debates and questions from r/AcademicBiblical, r/Christianity, and GotQuestions regarding Lex Talionis.

1. Q: Was “Eye for an Eye” meant to be taken literally in the Old Testament? A: Most scholars agree it was a judicial principle of equivalence, usually satisfied by monetary fines (damages), not literal mutilation, except in cases of capital punishment (life for life).

2. Q: Did Jesus abolish the law of “Eye for an Eye”? A: He fulfilled it. He shifted the focus from civil justice (which the government still wields) to personal relationships. He forbade using the law as an excuse for personal revenge.

3. Q: Is self-defense allowed if we are supposed to “turn the other cheek”? A: “Turn the other cheek” refers to an insult (a backhanded slap), not a life-threatening assault. Most theologians argue that protecting life is biblical, but retaliating against insults is not.

4. Q: Why is the Old Testament God so harsh compared to Jesus? A: The “Eye for an Eye” law was actually mercy. In the ancient world, if you knocked out a man’s tooth, he might kill your whole family (see Lamech in Genesis 4). This law limited vengeance: only an eye for an eye, no more.

5. Q: Does “Eye for an Eye” support the death penalty? A: Historically, yes. Genesis 9:6 and the Mosaic Law establish that the only just payment for taking a human life (Imago Dei) is the forfeiture of the murderer’s life.

6. Q: Who said “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”? A: That was Mahatma Gandhi, not Jesus or the Bible.

7. Q: Can a Christian sue someone? A: Paul discourages it in 1 Corinthians 6, specifically between believers. He suggests it is better to be wronged than to drag the church’s reputation through secular courts.

8. Q: How does this apply to bullying? A: Turning the cheek stops the escalation of evil. However, seeking help from authorities (justice) is not the same as taking personal revenge.

9. Q: Is “Eye for an Eye” fair? A: It is the definition of fair. It is exact justice. But the Gospel is not about fairness; it is about Grace (getting what we don’t deserve).

10. Q: What does “heap burning coals on his head” mean? A: It means that by showing kindness to an enemy, their conscience will burn with shame, hopefully leading them to repentance.

11. Q: Does this verse apply to war? A: “Eye for an Eye” is judicial law, not necessarily rules of engagement for war, though it implies proportionality (Just War Theory).

12. Q: Why did the law require “hand for hand”? A: To instill a respect for the bodies of others. If you knew you would lose your hand for crushing another’s, you would be extremely careful.

13. Q: How do I handle a coworker who steals credit? (Eye for an Eye?) A: Do not steal theirs in return. Trust God to be the Vindicator. “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.”

14. Q: Is it a sin to want justice? A: No. We cry out for justice. But we must not exact vigilante justice ourselves.

15. Q: Did the Pharisees misuse this law? A: Yes. They took a command given to judges (for courtrooms) and applied it to personal conflicts to justify petty revenge.

16. Q: What is the “Law of Retaliation”? A: It is the Latin term Lex Talionis, the principle that punishment should correspond in degree and kind to the offense.

17. Q: If someone hurts my child, shouldn’t I hurt them? A: That is human instinct. Biblical command is to protect the child, seek legal justice, but leave the vengeance/hatred to God.

18. Q: Does “Turn the other cheek” mean being a doormat? A: No. It is an act of strength. It denies the aggressor the power to provoke a reaction.

19. Q: How does the Cross relate to “Eye for an Eye”? A: On the Cross, Jesus took the “Eye for an Eye” punishment we deserved. Justice was satisfied so mercy could be released.

20. Q: Can I demand an apology? A: You can desire it, but demanding it often leads to bitterness. Forgive even if they don’t apologize.

21. Q: Is Karma the same as “Eye for an Eye”? A: No. Karma is an impersonal cosmic force. “Eye for an Eye” was a specific civil law given by a personal God to Israel.

22. Q: What if the law of the land doesn’t give justice? A: This is where faith kicks in. We believe in a Final Judgment where every wrong will be righted.

23. Q: How do I teach this to teenagers? A: Teach them that “getting even” keeps the pain alive. Forgiveness stops the cycle.

24. Q: Why is Deuteronomy 19:21 so strict (“Show no pity”)? A: Because in a court of law, pity leads to perverted justice. A judge must look at facts, not feelings, to protect society.

25. Q: What is the spiritual application today? A: We must view others through the lens of Mercy, knowing that if God applied “Eye for an Eye” to us for our sins against Him, we would all be destroyed.

Part 3: 15 Actionable Tips for Daily Application

At Work & Career

 

1. The “CC” War: If a colleague copies your boss on a rude email to get you in trouble, do not “Reply All” with a defensive attack. Reply only to them, or speak in person. Stop the cycle.

2. Credit Stealing: If someone takes credit for your idea, let it go in the moment. Keep excellent records of your work. Let your output speak louder than your revenge.

3. The Rumor Mill: If someone gossips about you, do not gossip about them in return. Speak well of them. It confuses the enemy and kills the drama.

4. Negotiations: Seek a “Win-Win” rather than trying to crush the opponent. “Eye for an eye” in business often leads to burnt bridges.

In Studies (School/University)

 

5. Group Projects: When a team member doesn’t do their work, don’t sabotage their grade. Do the work, inform the professor factually if needed, but don’t be vindictive.

6. Social Exclusion: If you are left out of a party, don’t form a clique to exclude them later. Invite them to your table. “Overcome evil with good.”

7. Debate Club: Attack the argument, not the person. Ad hominem attacks are a verbal form of “eye for an eye.”

Social Life

 

8. The “Subtweet”: Never post passive-aggressive content on social media aimed at someone who hurt you. It is digital revenge.

9. Traffic: When someone cuts you off, do not speed up to cut them off. Lift your hand and pray a blessing. It sounds crazy, but it saves your heart from rage.

10. The Snarky Comment: When a friend makes a sarcastic dig, answer with a genuine compliment. It disarms the aggression immediately (Proverbs 15:1).

Family & Home

 

11. Marital Scorekeeping: Stop tracking who did the dishes last. Marriage is not 50/50 transaction; it is 100/100 covenant. Throw away the scorecard.

12. Sibling Rivalry: Teach kids that “He hit me first!” is not a valid excuse to hit back. Teach conflict resolution, not retaliation.

13. In-Laws: If extended family is critical of you, respond with extreme kindness. “Heap burning coals” of kindness on the tension.

14. Discipline: Never discipline a child in anger (retaliation). Discipline should be for correction and growth, not payback for annoying you.

15. The Silent Treatment: This is emotional “Eye for an Eye.” If you are hurt, speak up. Don’t punish with silence.