A parallelism in Exodus 21:12-17 connects murder with the battery of a parent and connects kidnapping with the cursing of a parent. God takes "Honor your father and mother" very seriously.

- A - V12-14 – Murder and manslaughter
--- B - V15 – Battery of a parent
- A - V16 – Kidnapping
--- B - V17 – Mortal cursing of a parent

Verse 15 applies to attempted patricide/matricide, not just physical abuse, and verse 17 applies to cursing with deadly intent, not to just bad mouthing or wishing ill against someone.

As with all other capital crimes, there must be two witnesses in order to convict the accused.
#mishpatim #torah #biblepatterns