Exodus 21

This chapter begins to detail the specific social laws that regulate the life of the new Hebrew nation. It covers laws concerning the rights of Hebrew servants (servitude is limited to six years), penalties for violence (including "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" for specific injuries), and laws concerning the treatment of property damage and animals. These laws ensure justice, protect the vulnerable, and establish a structured society based on responsibility and reparation, reflecting the standard of justice God demands.