Footnote

c The legal precedent codified by Moses in referring to the mode of payment for infractions of the Law​—“life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth”—​reflects the guiding principle applied by God himself in solving the question of man’s salvation. (Deuteronomy 19:21) A perfect man, Adam, had been responsible for the condemnation of the human race, so another perfect man was needed to atone for this loss by surrendering his life. Thus his death would perfectly atone for Adam’s sin and its consequences for mankind. Only the coming of the promised “seed,” whose life would be offered as a legal ransom, could fully bring about such a release. (Genesis 3:15, JP) For a fuller discussion of this aspect of the Seed in God’s purpose, see the section “Who Will Lead the Nations to Peace?,” paragraphs 17 to 20.