an eye for an eye

The now commonly-used English idiom “eye for an eye” (meaning revenge or retribution) was first coined in 1526 in the English New Testament translation of William Tyndale. (Source: Crystal 2010, p. 285)

Likewise in Mandarin Chinese, the phrasing that was coined to translate “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” — yǐyǎn huányǎn, yǐyá huányá (以眼还眼，以牙还牙 / 以眼還眼，以牙還牙) — has also become a Chinese proverb (see here ).

Other languages that have idioms based on the Hebrew that is translated “an eye for an eye” in English include:

In Alekano it is translated as “if someone gouges out your eye, gouge out his eye,” since in that language body parts need to have an obligatory possessive designator attached. (Source: Larson 1998, p. 42)

Translation commentary on Exod 21:23 - 21:25

If (ʾim) introduces the alternative situation, or case, to which the law of verse 22 applies. (See the discussion at verse 2.) If any harm follows, literally “And if there is harm,” uses the same word as in verse 22. This refers to additional harm to the pregnant woman other than the loss of her child. Good News Translation makes this clear: “But if the woman herself is injured.” Contemporary English Version has “But if she is seriously injured,” indicating more serious injuries than merely lacerations or bruises in the stomach area.

Then (Hebrew we-) introduces the main clause, which continues to the end of verse 25. You shall give life for life means that if the woman dies another life must be taken. In this case it implies that the man who inflicted the injury would have to be killed. The you is singular, addressed either to Moses or to Israel as an individual. The word for give also means to offer or surrender. Good News Translation has “the punishment shall be life for life,” and Contemporary English Version has “the payment will be life for life.” Both renderings are similar in meaning. In some languages one must say “If she dies, the man must pay [or, exchange] his life for her life” or “must give up [or, surrender] his own life in exchange for her life.”

Eye for eye means that if either of the woman’s eyes were injured or destroyed, the same injury shall be inflicted on the person who caused the injury. Tooth for tooth means that for every tooth that may have been knocked out, a tooth shall be removed from the one who caused the injury. Hand for hand evidently means that any injury to the woman’s hand shall be inflicted on the hand of the one who caused the injury. Foot for foot means the same thing.

Burn for burn uses a word that may also mean “scar,” or perhaps “burnt-scar” (Fox). It is not clear how a woman could have been burned in the situation stated in verse 22, but the list is simply describing various kinds of injuries. Wound for wound uses a word that may also mean “bruise.” Stripe for stripe describes a wound or bruise made by a rod or a whip, so Durham has “wale for wale,” and New Jerusalem Bible has “stroke for stroke.” Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version have “bruise for bruise.”

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 .