Skeptics Misusing Exodus 21:21 to Vilify the Bible
Exodus 21:21 is a very tricky passage of the Bible. While I do normally use the King James Version (KJV) but there are times I tend to use either the English Standard Version (which I don't think is as good a Calvinist translation as KJV) or the New International Version (which I hardly use because I prefer the KJV and I still have issues with it) to try and understand it.
What does Exodus 21:21 say? Here is a bit of cross-referential translations that may help us understand what they mean:
KJV - Notwithstanding, if he (the slave) continue a day or two, he shall not be pushed: for he is his money.
NIV - but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.
ESV - But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.
To continue a day or two seems to suggest this one - that the slave after being hit doesn't die or recovers after a day or two. This would sound like chastising a slave for making a mistake but not to the point of getting a serious injury. The KJV's use of the term to continue a day or two seems more accurate than survives - that is the slave recovers after being struck.
What should be more interesting in the same chapter is the rule about injuries for slaves.
Exodus 21:26-27
And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. 27 And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
The whole eye for eye and tooth for tooth law has never been about revenge. Rather, it's all about punishing injuries accordingly. If you hurt your slave's eye or tooth or caused injury without otherwise resulting in grave injuries - you're commanded to let that servant go. If the striking caused injury then the slave master was to set them free from their obligation. This was probably a protection measure to prevent the master from becoming more abusive towards the slave.
In short, God doesn't condone to abusing one's slaves but rather to treat them well.
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