I see alot of people who quote this and say we can seek revenge on others if they have done wrong to us.
2006-09-21 02:19:19 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ex. 21:22 says- If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the womans husband will lay upon him, and he shall pay as the judges determine.
Verse 23 says-And if mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
There next few verses after that then says eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, etc...
Now lets go over to the New Test.
1 Thessalonians 5:15- See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good both among yourselves and to all men.
An eye for and eye was only to the husband who lost a wife cause men made her lose the baby, and that was only if Mischief followed. Not sure what that would mean. We are to show love and compassion toward one another as saved people. And even us that are saved should show that toward those who are lost.
2006-09-21 02:36:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"An eye for an eye" was not a basis for punishment or retribution. it does not mean that if you hurt me, then I have the right to hurt you in an equal fashion.
In the time of Moses, if someone harmed another person, it was not uncommon for the harmed person to seek extraordinary revenge. If Sam made a suggestive remark towards Dave's wife, Dave would go over and beat the crap out of Sam. Or if Sam got in a fight with Dave's brother, then Dave would go and kill all of Sam's relatives.
The concept of "an eye for an eye" meant that you were to restrain yourself in your dealings with those who do you wrong. You have the right to confront the other person and demand restitution, but not seek extraordinary revenge.
As can be seen by the many responses to this question, people misunderstood this precept and used it to justify revenge. People still use it to justify revenge. When Jesus said that if someone hits you, you should turn the other cheek, He was trying to teach the people the original intent of the precept.
2006-09-21 09:55:29 · answer #2 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a *maximum* penalty exactly as we have maximum penalties in today's laws. The maximum penalty for murder (in some states) is death, but no one is put to death for causing an accident.
Have you read about the judges in the "Old Testament." God told Moses to appoint judges -- Moses couldn't do it all by himself. Do you think Solomon judged all crimes? The "Old Testament" is laws for the people of the day and the Talmud (oral law) is the law library. Reading and judging others entirely from the Constitution would be as ridiculous as Israelites judging only from the "Old Testament" without reviewing precedents in the Talmud.
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2006-09-21 10:34:12 · answer #3 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the Mosaic law in the Hebrew Scriptures, punishment had to be equal. As Christians, we are not under Mosaic law, but are instead under "the law of the Christ" which says we should "turn the other cheek". So if we've been wronged by someone we need to let it go and let God repay. In serious crimes, however, we can and should rely on the secular authorities to mete out punishment.
2006-09-21 09:26:33 · answer #4 · answered by Kelly L 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Eye for an eye means that if you wrong me, I'll wrong you back. It's basically just meaning that I'll get even with you. You've done something bad to me, I'll do something just as bad back to you. Like you said, it's just another expression of revenge.
2006-09-21 09:24:15 · answer #5 · answered by coachrosebud 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Long ago in the distant past ,that was the law,tooth for a tooth,eye for a eye,a life for life until Moses came and received the TEN COMMANDMENTS that law which was mankind's law ended,for vengeance is the LORDS not yours,It comes when the son of God summons the Almighty God.
2006-09-21 09:31:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Eye for eye really means that if someone does something to you that you can return the horrible thing to him. It's not something that Jesus teaches that we should do today. It was more of something they used in the old testament which is like history. It does not mean that today if someone does something to you, that is is ok to seek revenge on them.
2006-09-21 09:22:51 · answer #7 · answered by Dirty.Little.Secret. 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Simple!
If you cause a person to lose an eye, you eye will be also removed!
If you cause a tooth of a person to be lost, you same tooth will be removed!
Eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth!
2006-09-21 13:45:34 · answer #8 · answered by Grandreal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it was a term used long ago to lay out punishment for crimes, if you stabbed someone in the eye, he got to stab you in the eye. if you cut off his hand, he cuts off your hand etc.
and to quote the person above just because this is the greatest quote ever!!!
"in the old testament which is like history" not really the right place for a religious debate but who cares! the old testament is like history but isnt really history, its a made up story! its not real! its fake!
2006-09-21 09:23:03 · answer #9 · answered by Craig M 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Do unto others as they have done unto you.
That was old testament.
New Testament, Jesus said "turn the other cheek".
"do good to them that hate you".
"love your enemies".
2006-09-21 10:08:02 · answer #10 · answered by tim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋