Deuteronomy 19:21

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And thine eyes shall not pity; life [shall go] for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְלֹ֥א תָח֖וֹס עֵינֶ֑ךָ נֶ֣פֶשׁ בְּנֶ֗פֶשׁ עַ֤יִן בְּעַ֙יִן֙ שֵׁ֣ן בְּשֵׁ֔ן יָ֥ד בְּיָ֖ד רֶ֥גֶל בְּרָֽגֶל

Transliteration

And-not tāḥōs ʿēnĕkhā nefesh for-nefesh ʿayin for-ʿayin shēn for-shēn yād for-yād regel for-regel

Grammar Details

*tāḥōs*: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular - 'you shall pity'
*ʿēnĕkhā*: common noun feminine singular with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - 'your eye'
*nefesh*: common noun feminine singular - 'life/person'
*ʿayin*: common noun feminine singular - 'eye'
*shēn*: common noun feminine singular - 'tooth'
*yād*: common noun feminine singular - 'hand'
*regel*: common noun feminine singular - 'foot'

Word Meanings

*tāḥōs*: you shall pity/you shall spare/you shall show mercy
*ʿēnĕkhā*: your eye (idiom for showing pity/compassion)
*nefesh*: life/person/soul
*ʿayin*: eye/sight
*shēn*: tooth
*yād*: hand/arm
*regel*: foot/leg

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Deut 19:13 : 13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
Matt 5:38-39 : 38 Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Exod 21:23-25 : 23 But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Lev 24:17-21 : 17 And he that smiteth any man mortally shall surely be put to death. 18 And he that smiteth a beast mortally shall make it good, life for life. 19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him: 20 breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be rendered unto him. 21 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good: and he that killeth a man shall be put to death.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Exod 21:23-27
5 verses
90%
23But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
24eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
25burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
26And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.
27And if he smite out his man-servant's tooth, or his maid-servant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
Lev 24:17-21
5 verses
84%
17And he that smiteth any man mortally shall surely be put to death.
18And he that smiteth a beast mortally shall make it good, life for life.
19And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him:
20breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be rendered unto him.
21And he that killeth a beast shall make it good: and he that killeth a man shall be put to death.
Deut 25:12
82%
12then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall have no pity.
Deut 19:19-20
2 verses
82%
19then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to do unto his brother: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
20And those that remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of thee.
Matt 5:38-39
2 verses
81%
38Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Deut 19:12-13
2 verses
80%
12then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.
13Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.
Ezek 9:10
75%
10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way upon their head.
Deut 13:8-9
2 verses
75%
8you shall not consent unto him, nor listen unto him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him:
9but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
Exod 21:12
75%
12He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death.
Ezek 7:9
74%
9And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will bring upon thee according to thy ways; and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, do smite.
Ezek 7:4
74%
4And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity; but I will bring thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
Num 35:21
74%
21or in enmity smote him with his hand, so that he died; he that smote him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meeteth him.
Ezek 9:5
73%
5And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;
Lev 19:18
73%
18Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am Jehovah.
Matt 18:8-9
2 verses
73%
8And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from you: it is good for you to enter into life crippled or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
9And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from you: it is good for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.
Num 35:19
73%
19The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death: when he meeteth him, he shall put him to death.
Num 35:31
72%
31Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.
Job 19:29
72%
29Be ye afraid of the sword: For wrath [bringeth] the punishments of the sword, That ye may know there is a judgment.
Deut 19:10
72%
10that innocent blood be not shed in the midst of thy land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.
Deut 17:7
72%
7The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee.
Exod 21:15
72%
15And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
Deut 28:31
71%
31Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to save thee.
Matt 5:21
71%
21Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
Deut 7:16
71%
16And thou shalt consume all the peoples that Jehovah thy God shall deliver unto thee; thine eye shall not pity them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.
Matt 5:29-30
2 verses
71%
29And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.
30And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.
Exod 22:24
71%
24and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
Jer 18:21
71%
21Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and widows; and let their men be slain of death, [and] their young men smitten of the sword in battle.
Deut 13:11
71%
11And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do not more any such wickedness as this is in the middle of you.
Gen 9:6
71%
6Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made he man.
Prov 24:29
71%
29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
Rom 12:19
71%
19Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [of God]: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.
Exod 21:31
70%
31Whether it have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
Ezek 35:6
70%
6therefore, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: since thou hast not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue thee.
Deut 19:6
70%
6lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.
Exod 22:1
70%
1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
Lev 19:15
70%
15Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.