Season 3: Episode 111
Biblical Law—Was “Eye for an Eye” Really Enforced?
Date Aired: 5/12/2025
The laws and punishments meted out in the Bible sound pretty harsh. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth—not to mention all of the commandments that are punishable by death! Ancient law expert Bruce Wells joins Helen and Dave to answer the question: were biblical laws really enforced? How did they compare with other law codes from the ancient Near East like Hammurabi? And if they weren’t enforced, why do laws play such a central role in the Hebrew Bible?
Listen to the episode on the Biblical Time Machine website or wherever you get your podcasts.
Disclaimer: The Society of Biblical Literature is not responsible for the content of this podcast. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Society of Biblical Literature, its members, or its staff.
