While this law is commonly quoted today as the form retribution should take against those found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to another, it was actually instituted in relation to the following circumstances:

An injury to, or the death of, a pregnant woman and/or her child.  (Exodus 21:22-24).

Anyone found guilty of scheming violence against his fellow by making a false charge against him. In  such cases, punishment due for the charge was administered to the false witness (i.e.  "eye  for  an  eye").  (Deut 19:16-21).
 

Jehovah appointed a place to which a slayer could flee after striking and accidentally killing a man that Jehovah allowed to occur.

One who was injured after being struck with a stone or a fist during a quarrel was to be compensated by the one who struck him until he fully recovered.

 A man who struck and ruined the eye of a slave, male or female, was to let that slave go free in compensation for his or her eye.
 

The guiding principle of the Mosaic Law administered against those found guilty was that proportionate compensation was to be paid to the injured party: "Wherever hurt is done, you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, bruise for bruise, wound for wound."  (See Exodus 21:12-25 NWT & NEB).

With regard to physical injury done to another, the penalties listed were part of the Mosaic Law under the "old covenant" that God commanded to be administered at that time. But Jehovah found fault with the Israelites because they failed to abide by the terms of that covenant. "Had that first covenant been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second in its place."  That is why He established a new covenant, founded on better promises.  (Heb 8:6-13 NEB).

In place of the regulations and decrees instituted under the "old covenant", Jehovah inaugurated a new covenant by the merits of The Christ's sacrifice. The old laws consisting in decrees were taken out of the way by The Christ's death, enabling the reconciliation of both Jew and Gentile into one body. (Eph 2:15,16)  (Col 2:13,14).  To illustrate this, when asked, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"  The Christ said: "'You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, 'You must love your neighbour as yourself.'  On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets."  (Matt 22:36  40).

11/4/92.
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