Exodus 21:32
If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
Exodus 21:32 (KJV)
Context
This verse belongs to the Book of the Covenant, a collection of civil and social laws given to Israel after the exodus. In ancient farming life, oxen were strong working animals, but they could become dangerous. The law therefore set clear rules when an ox killed a servant. These rules protected even the weakest members of society.
Meaning
The owner had to pay thirty shekels of silver to the servant’s master. In Hebrew culture, thirty shekels was the standard price of a slave, so this was a modest sum. The ox itself was to be stoned, removing the threat and warning other owners to guard their animals. This payment was not a full value of a life, but it provided restitution and justice under the old covenant.
Biblical connections
The amount of thirty shekels appears again in Zechariah 11:12-13, where the prophet is paid thirty pieces of silver, a price the Lord calls “the magnificent price at which I was valued by them.” Matthew 26:15 and Matthew 27:3-10 show Judas betraying Jesus for the same sum, later thrown into the temple and used to buy the potter’s field. This link is direct: the price of a slave becomes the price at which the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was valued and sold. He was treated as a common slave, yet His worth is far greater than any amount. The law’s compensation for a servant’s death points forward to the ultimate redemption price paid by Christ.
Application
God’s law provided justice even for servants, showing that every person has worth and protection. Believers today are called to care for the vulnerable and to take responsibility for anything under their care. The law also points to Christ, who gave His life as a ransom for many, paying a price that no silver could measure.
Reflection
This verse reminds us that God values every life and holds people accountable for harm. It also humbles us, for the Son of God was valued at the price of a slave. Yet His sacrifice brings redemption beyond all earthly value.
