What does 'an eye for an eye" mean?

Dionysus

I always thought it meant that if somebody harms/kills somebody else, he/she must be equally harmed/killed. This belief was not helped by John Hume constantly invoking Gandhi on our TV screens with 'an eye for an eye makes everyone blind".

The other day I was at a talk on redistributive justice and the speaker said that the expression in fact means that if somebody takes your eye, they must be your eye - not that you have some biblical right to physically take their eye. The example the speaker gave of this in operation in ancient societies was, interestingly, from the Ulster Cycle: when young Setanta killed the cú/hound of a smith named Culann, Culann lamented that he had lost his protector because of Setanta's action and that from now on, Setanta had an obligation to protect him. Hence Setanta became Cú Chulainn.

So, what do you think 'an eye for an eye' means?

FlutterinBantam

equal retribution for harm done.

MaybeLogic

That if somebody commits a wrong on you, they must compensate you for your loss

The speaker was wrong.

It means a punishment equal to the offence.

The poll options could equally be right, though. They must compensate you for the loss, equal to the damage done to them.

deathrider

Always thought of it as payback in form. Someone harms you, you return the favour.

Angron

That if somebody commits a wrong on you, they must compensate you for your loss

First time I've heard that phrase explained as they must be your eye..

Yakult

You take my eye, I have the right to take your eye.

Bloody Nipples

That if somebody commits a wrong on you, they must compensate you for your loss

Whatever the words origins common understanding would be that it's describing a like for like punishment. Interesting to know the etymology of it though.

Latchy

'' do harm onto me or my family and I'll return same in kind ''

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

MaybeLogic wrote: »

The speaker was wrong.

It means a punishment equal to the offence.

Says who??

Personally, I prefer the OP's story, so that's what it means.

Perhaps a better question would be, which would you LIKE it to mean?

MaybeLogic

That if somebody commits a wrong on you, they must compensate you for your loss

Bloody Nipples wrote: »

Interesting to know the etymology of it though.

T'is from the Bible...

http://www.topical-bible-studies.org/31-0016.htm

MistyCheese

This is a common mistake. It's actually "An i for an i", it's a common phrase among young hipsters. It means to compare Apple products, like this:

OMG, you have to come check out my new 500 tb ipod, it's so small you could wrap it in a stamp.

Loike wow, that's almost as cool as my new ipad cube. It's an ipad 4, cubed, so it's loike 4 times as good.

Yeah, but see my über iped. It's the latest. It's not like an ipad, which is like an ipod but a bit bigger and with an "a" instead of an "o", the iped is bigger again and with an "e" instead of an "a".

MaybeLogic

That if somebody commits a wrong on you, they must compensate you for your loss

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Says who??

Personally, I prefer the OP's story, so that's what it means.

Perhaps a better question would be, which would you LIKE it to mean?

In retaliation, I will not believe one of your posts.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

MaybeLogic wrote: »

In retaliation I will not believe one of your posts.

Good idea. Pick the one you quoted and we'll start a wrold-ending paradox

--LOS--

I'll show you mine if you show me yours

stovelid

The OP version so0unds all well and good but I'm with Charles Bronson on this one.

Red Hand

Anyone want a blue eye with navy flecks, hardly used, mint condition, one user, 27 years of age? Comes free with monocle.

I'm looking for a brown eye, preferably black, less than 30 years old, no cataracts or time wasters, please.

Not sure if this is the right thread...maybe adverts.ie would be better...

orourkeda

It really means i'll bleedin' batter you

TeddyTedson

Steve Jobs has the answer.

Nolanger

Chuck Norris movie.

Capt'n Midnight

The actual meaning is to LIMIT retribution to that which was originally caused.

So it should say, ONLY an eye for an eye.




Nowadays we try to rehabilitate offenders as punishment was considered par for the course for many repeat offenders.