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Exodus 21:32 - Slave's value: thirty silver shekels?

Exodus 21:32 - שמות 21:32

Hebrew Text

אִם־עֶבֶד יִגַּח הַשּׁוֹר אוֹ אָמָה כֶּסֶף שְׁלֹשִׁים שְׁקָלִים יִתֵּן לַאדֹנָיו וְהַשּׁוֹר יִסָּקֵל׃

English Translation

If the ox shall gore a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Transliteration

Im-eved yigach hashor o ama kesef shloshim shekalim yiten la'adonav vehashor yisakel.

Hebrew Leining Text

אִם־עֶ֛בֶד יִגַּ֥ח הַשּׁ֖וֹר א֣וֹ אָמָ֑ה כֶּ֣סֶף <b>׀</b> שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שְׁקָלִ֗ים יִתֵּן֙ לַֽאדֹנָ֔יו וְהַשּׁ֖וֹר יִסָּקֵֽל׃ <span class="mam-spi-samekh">{ס}</span>        
אִם־עֶ֛בֶד יִגַּ֥ח הַשּׁ֖וֹר א֣וֹ אָמָ֑ה כֶּ֣סֶף ׀ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שְׁקָלִ֗ים יִתֵּן֙ לַֽאדֹנָ֔יו וְהַשּׁ֖וֹר יִסָּקֵֽל׃ {ס}        

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context in the Torah

The verse (Exodus 21:32) appears in Parshat Mishpatim, which details civil and tort laws. This specific law addresses the case of an ox goring a manservant (eved ivri) or maidservant (amah), outlining the financial compensation and the fate of the ox.

Compensation of Thirty Shekels

Rashi explains that the payment of thirty shekels is a fixed amount, regardless of the servant's actual value. The Talmud (Kiddushin 14b) connects this to the valuation of a maidservant in Leviticus 27:4, where thirty shekels is the standard redemption price for a female servant. Rambam (Hilchot Nizkei Mamon 11:1) codifies this as a uniform penalty, emphasizing that the Torah sets this amount to avoid disputes over the servant's worth.

The Stoning of the Ox

The requirement to stone the ox (vehashor yisakel) follows the principle of mu'ad (a habitual gorer), as discussed in the Mishnah (Bava Kama 4:4). The Talmud (Bava Kama 41b) clarifies that the ox is stoned only if it was previously warned (hoda'ah) for goring, reflecting the severity of taking human life—even that of a servant.

Moral and Halachic Implications

  • Human Dignity: The Mechilta emphasizes that even a servant's life is sacred, and the penalty underscores the Torah's view that all human beings are created in the Divine image (B'tzelem Elokim).
  • Owner Responsibility: Ramban notes that the owner's liability for the ox's actions teaches the broader principle of shmirat ba'alim (owner vigilance) to prevent harm.
  • Symbolism of Thirty Shekels: Midrash Tanchuma links this amount to the thirty pieces of silver in Zechariah 11:12, hinting at a deeper moral lesson about accountability.

Contrast with Other Cases

The Talmud (Bava Kama 24a) contrasts this law with cases where a free person is gored, where compensation is based on damages (nezek). Here, the fixed amount reflects the servant's legal status while affirming their intrinsic value.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Bava Kamma 41b
The verse is discussed in the context of damages caused by an ox, specifically addressing the compensation for a manservant or maidservant gored by an ox.
📖 Sanhedrin 15b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the laws of stoning an ox that has gored a person, emphasizing the legal procedures and implications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Exodus 21:32 mean when it says an ox that gores a servant must be stoned?
A: This verse teaches that an ox that kills a servant (manservant or maidservant) must be put to death by stoning (Exodus 21:32). According to Rashi, this emphasizes the severity of taking a human life, even accidentally, and the owner must also pay compensation of thirty shekels to the servant's master.
Q: Why does the Torah specify thirty shekels as compensation for a gored servant?
A: The Torah sets thirty shekels as a fixed amount to avoid disputes over the value of the servant (Exodus 21:32). The Talmud (Bava Kama 40a) explains that this amount was standard for such cases, reflecting the principle of fairness in monetary restitution.
Q: Does Exodus 21:32 apply today if an animal harms someone?
A: While the specific laws of animal liability are part of Torah law, today's application is handled through halachic (Jewish legal) authorities. The Rambam (Hilchot Nizkei Mamon 10:1-2) discusses how damages are assessed in Jewish courts, but practical cases would require rabbinic guidance.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Exodus 21:32 about responsibility?
A: This verse teaches that owners are responsible for their animals' actions (Exodus 21:32). The Talmud (Bava Kama 23b) explains that this reinforces the broader Torah principle of accountability—people must take precautions to prevent harm caused by their property.
Q: Why does the ox have to be stoned if it kills a servant?
A: The stoning of the ox (Exodus 21:32) serves as a public deterrent and a reminder of the sanctity of human life. Rashi explains that this punishment highlights the severity of the incident, even though the ox is not morally culpable—it emphasizes the consequences of negligence in guarding dangerous animals.