1. Leviticus 24:20 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How should we interpret the legislation of verse 20?

Leviticus 24:20 (ESV)

20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.

It seems likely that the phrase fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth is being used in a formulaic way. It would seem unreasonable to literally remove one’s eye or tooth as a form of payment or retribution. Rather, the verse teaches that compensation must be appropriate to the loss incurred.