Exodus 21:12

12 Whoever strikes a person mortally shall be put to death.

Exodus 21:12 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 21:12

He that smiteth a man, so that he die
The Targum of Jonathan is, that smites a man or daughter of Israel with the sword; but there is no need to restrain the words either to persons of any certain nation, nor to any instrument with which a person may be smitten as to die: but any human person, man, woman, or child, of whatsoever nation, and they smitten with anything whatever, that issues in their death:

shall surely be put to death;
by the order of the civil magistrate, and by the hand of such as shall be appointed by him; for this is the original law of God, ( Genesis 9:6 ) .

Exodus 21:12 In-Context

10 If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish the food, clothing, or marital rights of the first wife.
11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out without debt, without payment of money.
12 Whoever strikes a person mortally shall be put to death.
13 If it was not premeditated, but came about by an act of God, then I will appoint for you a place to which the killer may flee.
14 But if someone willfully attacks and kills another by treachery, you shall take the killer from my altar for execution.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.