Exodus 21:31
“Whether it has gored a son or has gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him.”
What does Exodus 21:31 mean?
This verse is part of ancient Israel's legal code about dangerous animals, specifically when an ox that's known to be aggressive injures or kills someone's child. The point is straightforward: the owner of such an animal bears the same responsibility whether the victim was a boy or girl, which was actually significant in that culture where legal protections sometimes differed by gender. God is establishing that a child's life has equal value and deserves equal justice regardless of sex. It's a reminder that protecting vulnerable people, especially children, matters to God and should matter to any community organized by His values.