What does the saying 'An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth' mean?

Answer 1

'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth' refers to the concept of revenge. In a nutshell, it means that if someone does something wrong to you, you have the right to do something wrong to them.

Or, if someone knocks your tooth out, knock theirs out as well.

(Exodus 21:24) Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

From the King James version of The Bible. It means that if a crime is committed against someone, the victim should be able to have retrobution equal to what he lost.

It was later revised by Christ as:

(Matthew 5:38-39) Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

But I prefer: An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind - Ghandi

The idea of taking an 'eye for an eye' is common retribution and revenge. This was the normal practice for people living at that time.

Jesus points out that this kind of revenge, will only make matters worse. He advocated moderation and 'turning the other cheek'.

This idea at the time was totally radical, but forms the basis of good Christian living today.

Answer 2

♥If you do something to some person, that person is going to pay you with the same thing...if you took his/her eye, you're going to give one of yours...it doesn't have to be one eye, if you ate some person's pizza, that person eats yours and you ask "why did you ate my pizza?" that person is going to say "an eye for an eye", or you took some one's pencil, then that some one is going to take one of your pencils, you went to the beach without one of your friends, then that friend is going to pay you an eye for an eye, taking you eye out? NO! going to the beach without you, get it?♥

-------♥a 15 years old girl answered this question♥ (me)------

Answer 3

The eye for eye law is when if one person back then kills someone they have to face the death sentence too but if they took a finger that persons finger who fell off they take one of your fingers so its like you take this i take the same thing kind of deal ok

Answer 4

This saying, often referred to as lex talionis, means that a punishment should be equivalent to the offense committed. In other words, it emphasizes the concept of proportional justice, where the punishment should match the crime. It is often associated with the idea of retaliation or revenge.

Answer 5

an eye for an eye means that what ever you do the person does it back to you

Answer 6

Revenge.