Eye For An Eye In The King James Version Of The Bible

The Biblical phrase “eye for an eye” is found four times in the King James Version of the Bible with a little variation. The phrase occurs in Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21 and Matthew 5:38. George Robinson describes the passage of Exodus as one of the "most controversial in the Bible". It indeed is.

This principle is also known as the law of retaliation. The modern English word retaliation finds its roots in this term. Some people consider it to be the law of penalty or compensation. They say that the term means that one eye should be taken for the loss of one eye. They consider this law to be the one defining the limits of compensation for any harm caused. Going by the use of the phrase in the books of the Old Testament, it has two purposes- one to define that the harm of someone deserves compensation in the same measure and the other to limit the compensatory terms that it should not exceed this limit.

In this sense, the New Testament meaning of this phrase is very important. The New Testament records what Jesus had to say on this principle. He said “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:38-40) He proposed the benign value of forgiveness to his disciples. He said “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew