An eye for an eye

The phrase "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" expresses a form of retributive justice also known as lex talionis (Latin, 'law of retaliation'). It may have originated in ancient near-Eastern and Middle Eastern law, such as Babylonian law.

Related Topics:
Retributive justice - Lex talionis - Latin - Law - Babylonian law

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In societies not bound by the rule of law, if a person was hurt, then the injured person (or their relative) would take vengeful retribution on the person who caused the injury. Often the retribution would be much worse than the crime; it was often death. Babylonian law put a limit on such actions, restricting the retribution to be no worse than the crime.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the Hebrew Bible, God issues many denunciations of ancient near-Eastern morality and law; the Torah (Exodus 21:24) offers its own statement of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth". Read in context of the surrounding verses, this version is clearly intended to limit vengeance, though up to this limit it also clearly permits it and perhaps mandates it. Modern Jewish teaching, based upon a critical interpretation of the original Hebrew text, is that this biblical concept entails monetary compensation in tort cases. Christian interpretation of it has been heavily influenced by the quotation of this verse in Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, see "Criticisms" below.

Related Topics:
Hebrew Bible - Torah - Exodus - Christian - Jesus - Sermon on the Mount

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~