Commentaries:
God uses this principle in His judgments—greater and lesser punishments for greater and lesser sins. Under "an eye for an eye" in the Bible, the punishment must match, but not exceed, the damage or harm done by the perpetrator. The law placed strict limits on the amount of damages anyone could collect. It permitted no one to "get rich quick" from another's mishap. Moreover, God intended this law to be a rule of thumb for judges, not an authorization of personal vendetta or private retaliation.
Martin G. Collins
Are Some Sins Worse Than Others?
To whom does the "lasting harm" refer, the mother, the fetus, or both? If it refers to the fetus or both, then the Word of God recognizes the personhood of the fetus. Regardless of its age, if the fetus dies as a result of the fight, its death becomes a capital crime, just as punishable as if the mother had been killed.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Murder?
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Exodus 21:24:
Exodus 20:13
Exodus 20:14
Obadiah 1:15-16
Matthew 5:38-40
Matthew 5:38-39
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