Shoftim 19:21 · unit 1

TT #271 · Parashas Shoftim · Sixth Aliyah · Passuk 19:21

The Complete Passuk

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

And your eye shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Torah Temimah points to Makkot 5b / Bava Kamma.

TT lemma: נֶפֶשׁ בְּנֶפֶשׁ.

Core Text

נֶפֶשׁ בְּנֶפֶשׁ – וְלֹא נֶפֶשׁ וְעַיִן בְּנֶפֶשׁ.

English: ‘Life for life’ – and not life and an eye for life.

On the daf / in context: The reciprocity is exact; one does not add extra penalties.

Derash on exact reciprocity (Bavli) — the measure is strictly corresponding.

The penalty imposed on the zomemim is exactly the measure they plotted: life for life, and not more.