"עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן" – An Eye for an Eye/2

"עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן" – An Eye for an Eye

Exegetical Approaches

THIS TOPIC IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT AND, IY"H, WILL BE UPDATED SOON

Overview

Commentators disagree over whether the literal talionic meaning of "עַיִן תַּחַת עַיִן" is also the simple meaning of the verse when viewed in context. While early sources going back to the time of the second Beit HaMikdash, such as Jubilees and Philo, render the verse literally, later Rabbinic sources almost unanimously reject this option and interpret the verse metaphorically. This leads medieval and modern exegetes to struggle valiantly to reduce the tension between the literal retributive understanding of the verse and its Rabbinic interpretation. Some, like R. Saadia, go to great lengths to demonstrate how the Midrash is really the verse's simple meaning. Others, like Ibn Ezra and the Rambam view the verse as presenting an ideal which must be converted and translated when applied to real life. Finally, the Hoil Moshe differentiates between the generation of former slaves to which the Torah was originally given and future, more civilized, generations.

Physical Punishment

Sources: JubileesChapter 4:43-45About Jubilees, PhiloThe Special Laws III:XXXI:173-175The Special Laws III:XXXIII:182The Special Laws III:XXXV:195About Philo, Boethusians cited in Megillat TaanitScholion 4 TamuzAbout Megillat Taanit, R. Eliezer in Bavli Bava KammaBava Kamma 83b-84aAbout the Bavli, Ben Zuta (the Karaite) cited by Ibn EzraShemot Long Commentary 21:23-24About R. Avraham ibn Ezra¹

Monetary Compensation

Sources: Mishna Bava KammaBava Kamma 8:1About the Mishna, MekhiltaMishpatim Nezikin 8About the Mekhilta, Mekhilta DeRashbiShemot 21:25About Mekhilta DeRashbi, SifraEmor 14:20:7About Sifra, SifreShofetim 190Ki Teitze 293About Sifre, Yerushalmi Bava KammaBava Kamma 8:1About the Yerushalmi, Talmud BavliChagigah 11aKetubot 33bBava Kamma 83b-84aSanhedrin 79a-bSanhedrin 87bAbout the Bavli, Targum Pseudo-JonathanShemot 21:22-25Vayikra 24:17-21Devarim 19:15-21About Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Targum YerushalmiVayikra 24:20About Targum Yerushalmi, Midrash Aggadah (Buber)Shemot 21:22About Midrash Aggadah (Buber), R. Saadia GaonTafsir Shemot 21:24Tafsir Vayikra 24:20Tafsir Devarim 19:21quoted in Ibn Ezra Shemot Long Commentary 21:23-24quoted in Ibn Ezra Vayikra 24:19About R. Saadia Gaon, R. ChananelCited by R. Bachya Shemot 21:24About R. Chananel, RashiShemot 21:23-24Vayikra 24:20Devarim 19:21Devarim 25:12About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, R. Yehuda HaLeviKuzari 3:46-47About R. Yehuda HaLevi, RashbamShemot 21:24About R. Shemuel b. Meir, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorShemot 21:24-25Vayikra 24:21About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RambamIntroduction to the MishnaSefer HaMitzvot, Aseh 236Hilkhot Chovel UMazzik 1:2-5,9-10Hilkhot Rotzeach 1:7-8About R. Moshe Maimonides, RalbagBeiur Divrei HaParashah Shemot 21:24-25Shemot 21 Toelet 5Beiur Divrei HaParashah Vayikra 24:19-21Beiur Divrei HaParashah Devarim 19:21About R. Levi b. Gershon, Akeidat YitzchakShemot #46Vayikra #86Devarim #97About R. Yitzchak Arama,

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Two Tracks

Ideal vs. Reality

Sources: Ibn EzraShemot Long Commentary 21:23-24Shemot Short Commentary 21:25Vayikra 24:19About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RambamMoreh Nevukhim 3:41About R. Moshe Maimonides, SefornoShemot 21:24Vayikra 24:17About R. Ovadyah Seforno

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Evolving Halakhah

Sources: Hoil MosheShemot 21:24Vayikra 24:19About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi

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Case Dependent

Sources: JosephusAntiquities 4:8:15Antiquities 4:8:33-35About Josephus, RambanShemot 21:24Vayikra 24:18About R. Moshe Nachmanides, ShadalShemot 21:21Devarim 25:12About R. S.D. Luzzatto, R. D"Z HoffmannShemot 21:18Shemot 21:22-25Vayikra 24:18-20Devarim 19:21Devarim 25:11-12About R. D"Z Hoffmann

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¹ See also the Karaite commentaries of Yefet b. Ali in MGWJ (1897): 205 and Aharon b. Eliyahu in Keter Torah, Shemot p. 143.