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Mat 5:38. Ὀφθαλμὸν, an eye) sc. Thou shalt require. In Exo 21:24, the LXX. have ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦ, ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The lex talionis was most suitable for punishments, as in the greater injury, murder, and in the less, theft, so also in that which stood midway between them. See Lev 24:20. Mutilation was frequent in punishments without reference to the principle of the lex talionis; why then should it not be used to carry out that principle itself? Cf. Jud 1:7.[222] Penalties would avail more, if human judgment did not depart so far from the wisdom, the equity, and the severity of the Divine law.
[222] What had been prescribed to the magistrate, that the Scribes allotted to private vengeance.-B. G. V.