Exodus 21:27 Meaning and Explanation
“And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A master who knocks out a servant's tooth must free that servant as compensation for the permanent injury.
The Context of Exodus 21:27
Loss of a tooth results in a servant's release
What Does Exodus 21:27 Mean?
Like blindness, the loss of a tooth is a permanent visible injury. If a master strikes out a servant's tooth, the law requires the servant's release. The tooth becomes the symbolic and actual ransom for freedom, showing that even dental harm triggers liberation.
This provision extends the logic of bodily autonomy even to servants. A master's power to possess a servant's labor does not extend to inflicting permanent disfigurement without consequence. The visible loss of a tooth marks both the harm done and the servant's newly restored freedom.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 21:27
What does Exodus 21:27 mean?
A master who knocks out a servant's tooth must free that servant as compensation for the permanent injury.
What is the context of Exodus 21:27?
Loss of a tooth results in a servant's release