What exactly does this mean? I know that it came along in ancient history with Hammarubi's code, but why did it fade away in what we know call ancient history?
2007-10-18 15:47:16 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Think of it this way. If a man is on death row for murder and you kill him, you in turn are a murderer and should follow the same fate. You can't fight hate with hate, you will never win.
2007-10-18 15:51:31 · answer #1 · answered by Vintage Glamour 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋
If you look up that verse when it is first found in the Bible, you will discover that it is talking about how judges should fine people who damages another persons body or property. It states that if they do damage to a person's cattle, they are to pay the price of the cattle. If they do damage to a person's house, they are to pay the cost of repairing the house. If they do damage to a person's tooth, they are to pay the price of (repairing) the tooth. If they do damage to an eye, they are to pay the price of the eye. They are to pay "a cattle for a cattle, a house for a house, a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye". Nothing in the scripture even hints at knocking out a person's tooth or putting out their eye. Rather it means that the fine should cover the damage that was done.
By the time of Jesus, the verse was being misused as an excuse to do harm or take revenge on a person who had harmed you. It had taken on the "make the whole world blind" meaning. So Jesus had to correct them about it, stating that if someone sued you for a coat, to give them your cloak also (meaning pay for any damage, and then give them more as compensation). If they hit you on the one cheek, turn the other (don't take revenge into your own hands).
The idea of a person paying for the damage they do to another's property or person is still used in courts today, where you would pay to repair or replace something you damaged, or cover the medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses in the event of a bodily injury. So the actual principle being taught in the phrase "an eye for an eye" is still used in courts of law today.
2007-10-18 23:02:38 · answer #2 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What this bumper sticker is TRYING to say is "vengeance is bad". But the quote doesn't make any logical sense, when you examine it:
1) "An eye for an eye" is not, as commonly thought, a call for revenge. This quote from the Old Testament means "let the punishment fit the crime". Don't take an entire life for an eye; just take an eye for an eye.
2) The claim is that calling for justice or revenge is largely the source of the world's problems, and if we just didn't retaliate, we'd be OK. But revenge, by definition, is in response to somebody being irresponsible and causing unprovoked harm to somebody in the FIRST place. So it's not "an eye for an eye" that's the source of problems. It's people who don't mind their own business in the first place.
2007-10-18 22:50:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Hammarabi's Code was the first time that laws and punishments were organized and written down. It stated, "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." (If I poke out your eye, which is a crime, my eye is poked out as punishment.) Much much much later on when Ghandi was around he responded to this traditional rule of law by adding that "an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." It went along with his movement for peaceful resistance. He felt that by ending the cycle of violence, you take away the justification for you enemies to hurt you, and they'll eventually stop.
2007-10-18 23:03:26 · answer #4 · answered by Jennifer 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What a brilliant expression! I have never heard it before. Probably one of the wisest things ever said.
It's a metaphor meaning that if everyone got back at a person that wronged them in the same measure we all would be getting back at and having people get back at us all the time. No eyes left.
Hard to describe the meaning of a metaphor. Same as explaining a joke, It seems to lesson the impact.
2007-10-18 22:57:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
An eye for an eye, is essentially the same as "do on to others as they do to you." The words might have changed but the concept is still very much alive.
The 'whole world blind' part is following the concept to its ultimate result. If a person pokes your eye out, then you poke their eye out, then they poke your other eye out, then you poke their other eye out....ya both are blind. If everyone the world over practiced this, then eventually everyone would have their eye poked out.
Concepts like 'turn the other cheek' essentially ENDS the conflict from going on to the next phase.
2007-10-18 22:54:51 · answer #6 · answered by Lion Jester 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
An eye for and eye is justice but not a life for an eye .Better a few paraplegics then to surrender your life. When that actually applies is the question.Not as rhetoric for the rich to grow richer and freedom to suffer for the gullible . When the good do nothing evil flourishes.
2007-10-18 22:54:10 · answer #7 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It means that we should look at the motives and have compassion against those that have wronged us. It doesnt mean that people that do us wrong should never face any consequences though or that you have to put yourself in a position to be hurt by them again.
2007-10-18 22:51:35 · answer #8 · answered by cadisneygirl 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That came from Ghandi, not the Code of Hammurabi. It means to treat each other justly.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Mahatma_Gandhi/
2007-10-18 22:51:41 · answer #9 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
its in the bible that states, "an eye for an eye" so basically incites revenge, if you get hit then hit them back stuff.
And (i think this is Ghandis) this statement meant if everyone took revenge on each other the world could not have peace
2007-10-18 22:51:16 · answer #10 · answered by Yhoshua 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋