Matthew 5:38 Meaning: What 'Eye for Eye' Was Meant
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
`Ye heard that it was said: Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth;
Ye have heard that it has been said, Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus quotes the ancient law of retaliation, but he challenges its misuse. Discover the original purpose of 'eye for eye' and what it means for your life today.
Context
This verse comes from the heart of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has been correcting the way religious teachers have twisted God's commands. Here he turns to an ancient law found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. That law, often called the law of retaliation, was never meant for private use. It was a guide for judges, ensuring that punishment stayed proportionate to the crime. It actually curbed vengeance by saying, “no more than an eye for an eye.” But the people had turned it into a permission slip for getting even. They thought they could settle scores however they wanted, as long as they didn't start the fight. Jesus will show them a different way, one that doesn't keep score at all.
Key Words
Two Greek words frame this verse. 'You have heard' (akouō) means more than just sound entering the ear. It suggests you have listened, received, and accepted a teaching as true. And 'it was said' (errethē) is in the passive voice, someone spoke these words to you. Jesus is showing that the tradition they have been taught is not the full picture. Then there is the little word 'for' (anti). It appears twice: 'eye for eye.' Anti means 'in place of' or 'instead of.' The law demanded a precise exchange: one eye in place of one eye, one tooth for one tooth. That was actually a restraint on revenge. Without the law, a person might take two eyes for one eye, or a life for an eye. The law said: stop at equal. That was always its purpose, to curb, not encourage, vengeance. The people had missed that. They heard the words but not the heart behind them. Jesus will now take them deeper.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions agree that the 'eye for eye' law was given to restrain vengeance, not to authorize it. Many early reformers, like Calvin, taught that it was a rule for magistrates, not for personal conduct. Others, like Adam Clarke, emphasized that the Jews had twisted it into a justification for private revenge. Today, different traditions apply Jesus' teaching in the following verses with varying emphasis. Some Christians take 'turn the other cheek' as a command for absolute non-violence, while others see it as a personal posture that does not remove the state's role in justice. Both views seek to honor Christ's call to release the right to personal retaliation.
A common misunderstanding
Many people hear this verse and think Jesus is saying the Old Testament law was wrong. 'An eye for an eye' sounds harsh, so they imagine Jesus came to replace it with something nicer. In fact, Jesus is not rejecting the law itself. He is rejecting the way people twisted it to justify private revenge. The law was always meant to limit vengeance, not encourage it. Jesus corrects the misuse and then calls his followers to a standard that goes beyond what the law required: not insisting on rights at all.
Living This Out
What does this mean on a Tuesday afternoon? Maybe your coworker took credit for your idea. The first instinct is to make sure everyone knows what happened. You want them to pay for it. But Jesus invites you to let it go. Not because it doesn't matter, but because you trust a bigger justice. You can speak the truth without demanding revenge. Or maybe you were cut off in traffic and you want to honk and gesture. Jesus says there is a different way. You can release the offense and choose not to keep score. That doesn't mean you allow yourself to be harmed. It means you refuse to let the wrong define your response. You let God be the judge.
Main takeaway: The law of 'eye for eye' was meant to limit revenge, not license it, and Jesus calls us to an even more generous way.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
When someone hurts you, it's normal to want to hurt them back. But Jesus says you can choose to be kind instead. That's the brave thing to do.
For ages 9, 12
The rule 'eye for eye' was given to make sure people didn't take too much revenge. But Jesus says his followers should go even further. Instead of trying to get even with someone who wrongs you, you can choose to forgive and trust God to make things right. That doesn't mean you let people walk all over you, but it means you don't live by the rule of payback.
Questions People Ask
What does 'an eye for an eye' mean in the Bible?
It was a legal principle for judges, ensuring the punishment matched the crime. It was never meant to justify personal revenge.
Did Jesus abolish the Old Testament law of retaliation?
No, he corrected its misuse and called for a higher standard of forgiveness. Jesus said he came to fulfill the law, not abolish it.
Is it wrong to defend yourself if someone attacks you?
Christians differ on how strictly to apply Jesus' words about not resisting evil. Many agree that personal revenge is not the same as lawful self-defense or protecting others.
How does this verse apply to the death penalty?
Some Christians see the death penalty as an extension of God's justice through government, while others see Jesus' teaching as a call to mercy that should influence all areas. There is no single Christian position.
What did Jesus mean by 'do not resist an evil person' in the next verse?
Many interpret this as not resisting with personal vengeance, not as a prohibition against all forms of resistance. The context is about giving up your right to personal retaliation.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study