Yes, the idea of “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” really is in the Bible: “If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him—fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him” (Lev. 24:19–20).
This law from the Old Testament strikes us as spiteful and vindictive (or “mean-spirited,” to use the now popular phrase). In the New Testament, Jesus taught a higher ethic: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matt. 5:38–39).
Isn’t that better—more “Christian”?
For the record, the Old Testament law was pretty compassionate.
“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth” was a limit. It meant “tit for tat”—but no more. The common custom (human nature never changes!) was (and is) to get more than even. But the enlightened law in Leviticus said, No, if you’re injured you can’t take two teeth because you lost one tooth. It was actually a progressive law. Jesus took it a step further.
How would the Bible authors view personal injury lawsuits today?
