^21:28⁵⁸ “If an ox⁵⁹ gores a man or a woman so that either dies,⁶⁰ then the ox must surely⁶¹ be stoned and its flesh must not be eaten, but the owner of the ox will be acquitted. ^21:29But if the ox had the habit of goring, and its owner was warned,⁶² and he did not take the necessary precautions,⁶³ and then it killed a man or a woman, the ox must be stoned and the man must be put to death. ^21:30If a ransom is set for him,⁶⁴ then he must pay the redemption for his life according to whatever amount was set for him. ^21:31If the ox⁶⁵ gores a son or a daughter, the owner⁶⁶ will be dealt with according to this rule.⁶⁷^21:32If the ox gores a male servant or a female servant, the owner⁶⁸ must pay thirty shekels of silver,⁶⁹ and the ox must be stoned.⁷⁰

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Footnotes

58 The point that this section of the laws makes is that one must ensure the safety of others by controlling the circumstances.
59 Traditionally “ox,” but “bull” would also be suitable. The term may refer to one of any variety of large cattle.
60 Heb “and he dies”; “that they die”; , “to death.”
61 The text uses סָקוֹל יִסָּקֵל (saqol yissaqel), a Qal infinitive absolute with a Niphal imperfect. The infinitive intensifies the imperfect, which here has an obligatory nuance or is a future of instruction.
62 The Hophal perfect has the idea of “attested, testified against.”
63 Heb “he was not keeping it” or perhaps guarding or watching it (referring to the ox).
64 The family of the victim would set the amount for the ransom of the man guilty of criminal neglect. This practice was common in the ancient world, rare in Israel. If the family allowed the substitute price, then the man would be able to redeem his life.
65 Heb “it”; the referent (the ox) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
66 Heb “he”; the referent (the owner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
67 Heb “according to this judgment it shall be done to him.”
68 Heb “he”; the referent (the owner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
69 A shekel was a unit for measure by means of a scale. Both the weight and the value of a shekel of silver are hard to determine. “Though there is no certainty, the shekel is said to weigh about 11, 5 grams” (C. Houtman, Exodus, 3:181). Over four hundred years earlier, Joseph was sold into Egypt for 20 shekels. The free Israelite citizen was worth about 50 shekels (Lev 27:3f.).
70 See further B. S. Jackson, “The Goring Ox Again [Ex. 21, 28–36],” 18 (1974): 55–94.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“When 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 shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him. If it gores a man’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule. If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded. This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox must be stoned, and its meat may not be eaten, but the ox’s owner is innocent. However, if the ox was in the habit of goring, and its owner has been warned yet does not restrain it, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox must be stoned, and its owner must also be put to death. If instead a ransom is demanded of him, he can pay a redemption price for his life in the full amount demanded from him. If it gores a son or a daughter, he is to be dealt with according to this same law. If the ox gores a male or female slave, he must give thirty shekels of silver to the slave’s master, and the ox must be stoned.

NLTNew Living Translation

“If an ox gores a man or woman to death, the ox must be stoned, and its flesh may not be eaten. In such a case, however, the owner will not be held liable. But suppose the ox had a reputation for goring, and the owner had been informed but failed to keep it under control. If the ox then kills someone, it must be stoned, and the owner must also be put to death. However, the dead person’s relatives may accept payment to compensate for the loss of life. The owner of the ox may redeem his life by paying whatever is demanded.

“The same regulation applies if the ox gores a boy or a girl. But if the ox gores a slave, either male or female, the animal’s owner must pay the slave’s owner thirty silver coins, and the ox must be stoned.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“ ‘And if an ox gores a man or a woman and he dies, the ox will surely be stoned, and its meat will not be eaten, and the owner of the ox is innocent. But if it was a goring ox before and its owner was warned and did not restrain it and it kills a man or a woman, the ox will be stoned, and the owner also will be put to death. If a ransom is set on him, he will pay the redemption money for his life according to all that is set on him. If it gores a son or it gores a daughter, according to this regulation it shall be done to him. If the ox gores a male slave or a female slave, he will give thirty shekels of silver to his master, and the ox will be stoned.

KJV 1900King James Version

If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit. But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death. If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him. Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him. If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

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