Deuteronomy 19:21
And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Cross-references
In Deuteronomy 19:13, the command to execute a murderer without pity directly applies the 'life for life' principle stated here.
In Deuteronomy 7:16, the same 'your eye shall not pity' command applies to destroying nations, echoing the justice principle in holy war.
In Deuteronomy 25:12, the 'eye shall not pity' phrase is repeated for a different case of bodily punishment.
Exodus 21:23-25 contains the identical 'life for life, eye for eye' formula — the foundational lex talionis law.
Leviticus 24:17-21 similarly states the lex talionis principle, applying it to both homicide and injury.
In Matthew 5:38, Jesus quotes this very law before redefining it with non-retaliation.
Matthew 5:39 contrasts this law by instructing turning the other cheek instead of exacting revenge.
Exodus 21:24 contains the exact 'eye for eye, tooth for tooth' clause from the broader lex talionis passage.
Leviticus 24:19 states the principle of proportional retribution for injury — closely related to the formula here.
Leviticus 24:20 gives the same 'fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth' formula.
Exodus 21:20 applies life-for-life justice when a master kills a slave — a specific case of the proportional principle.