Exodus 21:16

biblecontext

{ "verseID": "Exodus.21.16", "source": "וְגֹנֵב אִישׁ וּמְכָרוֹ וְנִמְצָא בְיָדוֹ מוֹת יוּמָת", "text": "*wə-gōnēb* *ʾîsh* *û-məkārô* *wə-nimṣāʾ* *bə-yādô* *môt* *yûmāt*", "grammar": { "*wə-gōnēb*": "conjunction *wə* + qal participle, masculine singular - and one who steals", "*ʾîsh*": "masculine singular noun - a man", "*û-məkārô*": "conjunction *wə* + qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - and sells him", "*wə-nimṣāʾ*": "conjunction *wə* + niphal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - and he is found", "*bə-yādô*": "preposition *bə* + feminine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - in his hand", "*môt yûmāt*": "infinitive absolute + hophal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - surely he shall be put to death" }, "variants": { "*gōnēb*": "one who steals/kidnaps", "*nimṣāʾ bə-yādô*": "is found in his hand/is found in his possession/is found with him", "*môt yûmāt*": "shall surely be put to death/must certainly be executed" } }

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְגֹנֵב אִישׁ וּמְכָרוֹ וְנִמְצָא בְיָדוֹ מוֹת יוּמָת

Transliteration

wə-gōnēb ʾîsh û-məkārô wə-nimṣāʾ bə-yādô môt yûmāt

Grammar Details

• *wə-gōnēb*: conjunction *wə* + qal participle, masculine singular - and one who steals
• *ʾîsh*: masculine singular noun - a man
• *û-məkārô*: conjunction *wə* + qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - and sells him
• *wə-nimṣāʾ*: conjunction *wə* + niphal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - and he is found
• *bə-yādô*: preposition *bə* + feminine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - in his hand
• *môt yûmāt*: infinitive absolute + hophal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - surely he shall be put to death

Word Meanings

• *gōnēb*: one who steals/kidnaps
• *nimṣāʾ bə-yādô*: is found in his hand/is found in his possession/is found with him
• *môt yûmāt*: shall surely be put to death/must certainly be executed

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Anyone who kidnaps another person, whether he sells him or the victim is still in his possession, shall surely be put to death.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  He who kidnaps a man, and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he that stealeth{H1589} a man,{H376} and selleth{H4376} him, or if he be found{H4672} in his hand,{H3027} he shall surely{H4191} be put to death.{H4191}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he that stealeth{H1589}{(H8802)} a man{H376}, and selleth{H4376}{(H8804)} him, or if he be found{H4672}{(H8738)} in his hand{H3027}, he shall surely{H4191}{(H8800)} be put to death{H4191}{(H8714)}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  He that stealeth a ma ad selleth him (yf it be proued vppon hym) shall be slayne for it.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, so that he be founde by him, the same shall dye the death.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if it be founde with him, shal die the death.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  He that stealeth a man, and selleth him, if he be proued vppon hym, shalbe slayne for it.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `And he who stealeth a man, and hath sold him, and he hath been found in his hand, is certainly put to death.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Any man who gets another into his power in order to get a price for him is to be put to death, if you take him in the act.

• World English Bible (2000)

  "Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “Whoever kidnaps someone and sells him, or is caught still holding him, must surely be put to death.

Referenced Verses

• Deut 24:7 : 7 { "verseID": "Deuteronomy.24.7", "source": "כִּי־יִמָּצֵ֣א אִ֗ישׁ גֹּנֵ֨ב נֶ֤פֶשׁ מֵאֶחָיו֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהִתְעַמֶּר־בּ֖וֹ וּמְכָר֑וֹ וּמֵת֙ הַגַּנָּ֣ב הַה֔וּא וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥ הָרָ֖ע מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃", "text": "When *yimmāṣēʾ* *ʾîš* *gōnēb* *nepeš* from his brothers from *bənê* *Yiśrāʾēl* and *hitʿammer*-in him and *məkārô*; and *mēt* *haggannāb* *hahûʾ* and *biʿartā* *hāraʿ* from your midst.", "grammar": { "*yimmāṣēʾ*": "niphal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he is found", "*ʾîš*": "masculine singular noun - man", "*gōnēb*": "qal participle masculine singular - stealing", "*nepeš*": "feminine singular noun - soul/person/life", "*bənê*": "masculine plural construct - sons of", "*Yiśrāʾēl*": "proper name - Israel", "*hitʿammer*": "hithpael perfect 3rd masculine singular - he deals tyrannically", "*məkārô*": "qal perfect 3rd masculine singular with suffix - he sells him", "*mēt*": "qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - he dies", "*haggannāb*": "definite masculine singular noun - the thief", "*hahûʾ*": "definite demonstrative masculine singular - that", "*biʿartā*": "piel perfect 2nd masculine singular - you purge/remove", "*hāraʿ*": "definite adjective masculine singular - the evil" }, "variants": { "*gōnēb* *nepeš*": "kidnapping a person/stealing a soul", "*hitʿammer*": "deals tyrannically/enslaves/treats as merchandise", "*biʿartā* *hāraʿ*": "purge the evil/burn out the wickedness/remove the evil" } }
• Exod 22:4 : 4 { "verseID": "Exodus.22.4", "source": "כִּ֤י יַבְעֶר־אִישׁ֙ שָׂדֶ֣ה אוֹ־כֶ֔רֶם וְשִׁלַּח֙ אֶת־*בעירה **בְּעִיר֔וֹ וּבִעֵ֖ר בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה אַחֵ֑ר מֵיטַ֥ב שָׂדֵ֛הוּ וּמֵיטַ֥ב כַּרְמ֖וֹ יְשַׁלֵּֽם‪", "text": "When *yabʿer*-*ʾîš* *śādeh* or-*kerem* and *wĕšillaḥ* *ʾet*-*bĕʿîrô* and *ûbiʿēr* in *śādeh ʾaḥēr*, from *mêṭab śādēhû* and from *mêṭab karmô yĕšallēm*.", "grammar": { "*yabʿer*": "hiphil imperfect, 3rd masculine singular, 'causes to burn/consume'", "*ʾîš*": "masculine singular noun, 'man'", "*śādeh*": "masculine singular noun, 'field'", "*kerem*": "masculine singular noun, 'vineyard'", "*wĕšillaḥ*": "piel perfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine singular, 'and lets loose'", "*bĕʿîrô*": "feminine singular noun with 3rd masculine singular suffix, 'his cattle/beast'", "*ûbiʿēr*": "piel perfect with waw consecutive, 3rd masculine singular, 'and it grazes/consumes'", "*śādeh ʾaḥēr*": "masculine singular noun + masculine singular adjective, 'another field'", "*mêṭab*": "masculine singular construct, 'best of'", "*śādēhû*": "masculine singular noun with 3rd masculine singular suffix, 'his field'", "*karmô*": "masculine singular noun with 3rd masculine singular suffix, 'his vineyard'", "*yĕšallēm*": "piel imperfect, 3rd masculine singular, 'he shall repay'" }, "variants": { "*yabʿer*": "causes to burn/consumes/destroys", "*bĕʿîrô*": "his cattle/livestock/beast", "*ûbiʿēr*": "feeds upon/grazes/consumes" } }
• 1 Tim 1:10 : 10 { "verseID": "1 Timothy.1.10", "source": "Πόρνοις, ἀρσενοκοίταις, ἀνδραποδισταῖς, ψεύσταις, ἐπιόρκοις, καὶ εἴ τι ἕτερον τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ διδασκαλίᾳ ἀντίκειται·", "text": "For *pornois*, *arsenokoitais*, *andrapodistais*, *pseustais*, *epiorkois*, and if any *heteron* to the *hygiainousē* *didaskalia* *antikeitai*;", "grammar": { "*pornois*": "dative, masculine, plural - indirect object (continuation from v.9)", "*arsenokoitais*": "dative, masculine, plural - indirect object", "*andrapodistais*": "dative, masculine, plural - indirect object", "*pseustais*": "dative, masculine, plural - indirect object", "*epiorkois*": "dative, masculine, plural - indirect object", "*kai*": "conjunction - and", "*ei*": "conditional particle - if", "*ti*": "nominative, neuter, singular, indefinite pronoun - anything", "*heteron*": "nominative, neuter, singular - adjective", "*tē hygiainousē*": "dative, feminine, singular - indirect object with article", "*didaskalia*": "dative, feminine, singular - indirect object", "*antikeitai*": "present middle/passive indicative, 3rd person singular - opposes/is contrary to" }, "variants": { "*pornois*": "sexually immoral/fornicators", "*arsenokoitais*": "homosexuals/men who lie with males", "*andrapodistais*": "slave traders/kidnappers", "*pseustais*": "liars/falsifiers", "*epiorkois*": "perjurers/oath-breakers", "*heteron*": "other/different", "*hygiainousē*": "sound/healthy/wholesome", "*didaskalia*": "teaching/doctrine/instruction", "*antikeitai*": "opposes/is contrary to/is set against" } }
• Gen 37:28 : 28 { "verseID": "Genesis.37.28", "source": "וַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים מִדְיָנִ֜ים סֹֽחֲרִ֗ים וַֽיִּמְשְׁכוּ֙ וַיַּֽעֲל֤וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִן־הַבּ֔וֹר וַיִּמְכְּר֧וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֛ף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים כָּ֑סֶף וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃", "text": "And *wə-yaʿaḇrû* *ʾănāšîm* *miḏyānîm* *sōḥărîm*, and *wə-yimšəḵû* and *wə-yaʿălû* *ʾeṯ*-*yôsēp̄* from-the *min-ha-bbôr* and *wə-yimkərû* *ʾeṯ*-*yôsēp̄* to the *la-yyišməʿēlîm* for twenty *kāsep̄*; and *wə-yāḇîʾû* *ʾeṯ*-*yôsēp̄* *miṣrāyəmâ*", "grammar": { "*wə-yaʿaḇrû*": "waw-consecutive with qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they passed by'", "*ʾănāšîm*": "noun, masculine plural - 'men'", "*miḏyānîm*": "proper noun, masculine plural - 'Midianites'", "*sōḥărîm*": "qal participle, masculine plural - 'merchants/traders'", "*wə-yimšəḵû*": "waw-consecutive with qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they drew up'", "*wə-yaʿălû*": "waw-consecutive with hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they brought up'", "*min-ha-bbôr*": "preposition with definite article and noun, masculine singular - 'from the pit'", "*wə-yimkərû*": "waw-consecutive with qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they sold'", "*la-yyišməʿēlîm*": "preposition with definite article and proper noun, masculine plural - 'to the Ishmaelites'", "*kāsep̄*": "noun, masculine singular - 'silver/money'", "*wə-yāḇîʾû*": "waw-consecutive with hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they brought'", "*miṣrāyəmâ*": "proper noun with directional heh - 'to Egypt'" }, "variants": { "*yaʿaḇrû*": "passed by/crossed over", "*yimšəḵû*": "drew/pulled/dragged" } }
• Gen 40:15 : 15 { "verseID": "Genesis.40.15", "source": "כִּֽי־גֻנֹּ֣ב גֻּנַּ֔בְתִּי מֵאֶ֖רֶץ הָעִבְרִ֑ים וְגַם־פֹּה֙ לֹא־עָשִׂ֣יתִֽי מְא֔וּמָה כִּֽי־שָׂמ֥וּ אֹתִ֖י בַּבּֽוֹר׃", "text": "For-*gunnōḇ* *gunnaḇtî* from-*'ereṣ* the-*'iḇrîm* and-also-here not-*'āśîtî* *mə'ûmâ* for-*śāmû* me in-the-*bôr*", "grammar": { "*gunnōḇ*": "infinitive absolute - to be stolen", "*gunnaḇtî*": "pual perfect 1st person common singular - I was stolen/kidnapped", "*'ereṣ*": "feminine singular construct - land/country", "*'iḇrîm*": "masculine plural - Hebrews", "*'āśîtî*": "qal perfect 1st person common singular - I did/made", "*mə'ûmâ*": "masculine singular - anything/something", "*śāmû*": "qal perfect 3rd person common plural - they put/placed", "*bôr*": "masculine singular - pit/dungeon/cistern" }, "variants": { "*gunnōḇ gunnaḇtî*": "I was surely stolen/kidnapped/taken by force", "*'ereṣ*": "land/country/territory", "*'iḇrîm*": "Hebrews/Hebrew people", "*'āśîtî*": "I did/made/committed", "*mə'ûmâ*": "anything/something/nothing", "*śāmû*": "they put/placed/set", "*bôr*": "pit/dungeon/cistern/prison" } }
• Rev 18:12 : 12 { "verseID": "Revelation.18.12", "source": "Γόμον χρυσοῦ, καὶ ἀργύρου, καὶ λίθου τιμίου, καὶ μαργαριτῶν, καὶ βύσσου, καὶ πορφύρας, καὶ σηρικοῦ, καὶ κοκκίνου, καὶ πᾶν ξύλον θύϊνον, καὶ πᾶν σκεῦος ἐλεφάντινον, καὶ πᾶν σκεῦος ἐκ ξύλου τιμιωτάτου, καὶ χαλκοῦ, καὶ σιδήρου, καὶ μαρμάρου,", "text": "*Gomon* of *chrysou*, and of *argyrou*, and of *lithou timiou*, and of *margaritōn*, and of *byssou*, and of *porphyras*, and of *sērikou*, and of *kokkinou*, and every *xylon thyïnon*, and every *skeuos elephantinon*, and every *skeuos* of *xylou timiōtatou*, and of *chalkou*, and of *sidērou*, and of *marmarou*,", "grammar": { "*gomon*": "noun, accusative, masculine, singular - cargo/merchandise", "*chrysou*": "noun, genitive, masculine, singular - gold", "*argyrou*": "noun, genitive, masculine, singular - silver", "*lithou timiou*": "noun + adjective, genitive, masculine, singular - precious stone", "*margaritōn*": "noun, genitive, masculine, plural - pearls", "*byssou*": "noun, genitive, feminine, singular - fine linen", "*porphyras*": "noun, genitive, feminine, singular - purple cloth", "*sērikou*": "noun, genitive, neuter, singular - silk", "*kokkinou*": "adjective used as noun, genitive, neuter, singular - scarlet cloth", "*pan*": "adjective, nominative, neuter, singular - every/all", "*xylon thyïnon*": "noun + adjective, nominative, neuter, singular - citron/thyine wood", "*skeuos*": "noun, nominative, neuter, singular - vessel/article", "*elephantinon*": "adjective, nominative, neuter, singular - of ivory", "*ek*": "preposition + genitive - from/of", "*xylou timiōtatou*": "noun + adjective, genitive, neuter, singular - most costly/precious wood", "*chalkou*": "noun, genitive, masculine, singular - bronze/copper", "*sidērou*": "noun, genitive, masculine, singular - iron", "*marmarou*": "noun, genitive, masculine, singular - marble" }, "variants": { "*gomon*": "cargo/merchandise/freight", "*chrysou*": "gold", "*argyrou*": "silver", "*lithou timiou*": "precious stone/gemstone", "*margaritōn*": "pearls", "*byssou*": "fine linen/expensive cloth", "*porphyras*": "purple cloth/purple-dyed material", "*sērikou*": "silk/silken fabric", "*kokkinou*": "scarlet cloth/red fabric", "*xylon thyïnon*": "citron wood/thyine wood/scented wood", "*skeuos*": "vessel/article/container/object", "*elephantinon*": "of ivory/ivory-made", "*xylou timiōtatou*": "most costly wood/most precious wood", "*chalkou*": "bronze/copper/brass", "*sidērou*": "iron", "*marmarou*": "marble" } }