Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth?

omnom | 12:42 Sat 06th Feb 2010 | Phrases & Sayings

9 Answers

What's the meaning of this? My knowledge of this is that it comes from the Old Testament if I'm not mistaken.
And was it Gandhi who said this isn't true?
Eye for an eye turns the world blind.

I'm confused as to what it means.

omnom

Going Garrity

in every parting there is an----- of death George Eliot

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ChuckFickens

"And was it Gandhi who said this isn't true?
Eye for an eye turns the world blind. "

I thought it was Martin Luther King.

jno

It was a sort of maximum penalty: you shouldn't take more than an eye for an eye (so if someone knocked your eye out, you shouldn't knock both of his out). Gandhi was suggesting (as does the law of the land) that there is a case for more measured responses.

omnom

Question Author

Oh right.
No ChuckFickens, I'm pretty sure it was Gandhi.

omnom

jno

actually, I'm wrong; they aren't presented as maximums but as the correct response

http://bible.oremus.o...-19:21&version=nrsvae

I think it was Gandhi but haven't found an actual source.

ChuckFickens

it seems they have both used that quote, though I should imagine that Gandhi was the first.

http://thinkexist.com...ye-leaves/146484.html

omnom

Question Author

I checked that website out, so it means show no pity?
Fight back if someone hurts you?

omnom

jno

Apparently

http://net.bible.org/...assage=Lev%2024:19-21

http://www.biblegatew...1%3A22-25&version=NIV

You didn't mess around with those Hebrews. However, those quotes are from the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Jesus is much more placatory, suggesting that only someone without sin should cast the first stone (when stoning someone to death). I imagine he'd be much more comfortable in Gandhi's company than his father would.

omnom

Question Author

I see.
Thanks for the websites.

omnom

chakka35

It meant a punishment or a response to match the original affront. Supporters of capital punishment have used it to justify killing murderers.

Presumably they are not Christians because, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus rejects this and says that, on the contrary, if someone smites you on the cheek you should turn the other one to be smitten also.

Which makes one wonder why Jesus is considered a wise man. Just imagine it...

"Oh, you've stolen a tenner from me? Hang on, there's another tenner in the other pocket."

"You've raped my daughter? Well, I've another daughter here. Would you like to rape her?"

Isn't religion wonderful?

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