But if uses the secondary “if” (ʾim) to introduce an exception to verse 28. (See verse 2.) If the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past is literally “And if the bull is a gorer before yesterday three days ago.” This means “if the bull has been in the habit of attacking people” (Good News Translation) or “is habitually belligerent” (Durham).

And its owner has been warned is the first of three more “and” clauses that continue the idea of “if” from the opening clause. These clauses specify the exact conditions to which the penalty will apply. The text does not specify by whom “its owner had been warned” (Good News Translation), but one may say “and people have warned the owner.” But has not kept it in is literally “and he did not watch it.” In this context, of course, it means that the owner “has not restrained it” (New Revised Standard Version), “did not keep it penned up” (Good News Translation), or “refused to keep it fenced in” (Contemporary English Version). And it kills a man or a woman uses the verb “to die” in the sense of “causing to die.”

The ox shall be stoned is the main clause, meaning that the “bull” must be killed by stoning. But the main clause continues: and its owner also shall be put to death. Literally it says “and also its owner shall die,” without indicating how he is to be killed.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .