Exodus22
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.
3If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him; he shall make restitution: if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall pay double.
5If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
6If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7If a man shall deliver unto his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double.
8If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods.
9For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith, This is it, the cause of both parties shall come before God; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbor.
10If a man deliver unto his neighbor an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
11the oath of Jehovah shall be between them both, whether he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods; and the owner thereof shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
12But if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
13If it be torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness; he shall not make good that which was torn.
14And if a man borrow aught of his neighbor, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.
15If the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be a hired thing, it came for its hire.
16And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.
17If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live.
19Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
20He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto Jehovah only, shall be utterly destroyed.
21And a sojourner shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him: for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
22Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23If thou afflict them at all, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
24and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25If thou lend money to any of my people with thee that is poor, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor; neither shall ye lay upon him interest.
26If thou at all take thy neighbor’s garment to pledge, thou shalt restore it unto him before the sun goeth down:
27for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
28Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.
29Thou shalt not delay to offer of thy harvest, and of the outflow of thy presses. The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
30Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
31And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Exodus 22.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Judicial laws. (1-31).
vv1-31
The people of God should ever be ready to show mildness and mercy, according to the spirit of these laws. We must answer to God, not only for what we do maliciously, but for what we do heedlessly. Therefore, when we have done harm to our neighbour, we should make restitution, though not compelled by law. Let these scriptures lead our souls to remember, that if the grace of God has indeed appeared to us, then it has taught us, and enabled us so to conduct ourselves by its holy power, that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, Tit 2:12. And the grace of God teaches us, that as the Lord is our portion, there is enough in him to satisfy all the desires of our souls.
Key Words
אִם: used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אִישׁ: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
גָּנַב: to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive
שׁוֹר: a bullock (as a traveller)
שֶׂה: a member of a flock, i.e. a sheep or goat
טָבַח: to slaughter (animals or men)
מָכַר: to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender)
שָׁלַם: to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)
חָמֵשׁ: five
בָּקָר: beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd
Cross References
Exodus 22David invokes this exact fourfold restitution law for a stolen sheep in his judgment of the rich man.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Paul explicitly quotes Exodus 22:28 ("Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people").
Supported by JFB
Zacchaeus pledges fourfold restitution, reflecting the standard biblical penalty for stolen sheep and property.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels and expands the compassionate law regarding returning a poor neighbor's garment pledge before night.
Supported by JFB
Elaborates on the ceremonial defilement and purification laws for eating torn flesh or carcasses.
Supported by John Calvin
Poole contrasts the judicial double/fourfold restitution here with the proverbial 'sevenfold' restitution mentioned in Proverbs.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jacob references this exact customary law of bearing the loss for stolen animals vs torn beasts.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Parallel legislation requiring a man who entices/forces an unbetrothed virgin to marry her and pay her father.
Supported by John Calvin
Provides the specific legal details and monetary penalty for the enticed maid parallel law.
Supported by John Calvin
The explicit parallel penal law directing execution for bestiality, matching Exodus 22:19.
Supported by John Calvin
Prophetic warning of swift judgment against those who oppress strangers, widows, and orphans.
Supported by John Calvin
Repeats the command not to oppress strangers, emphasizing knowing the heart of a stranger.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the use of "gods" (elohim) to refer to appointed earthly rulers and judges.
Supported by JFB
Prohibits eating of anything that dieth of itself, linked to Israel's status as a holy people.
Supported by John Calvin
Poole highlights the high value of the ox due to its great labor in agriculture.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the judges/magistrates as 'elohim' (gods), demonstrating judicial authority as God's representatives.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Cites the divine principle of an oath for confirmation ending all civil strife/dispute.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
A primary parallel prohibiting witchcraft, sorcery, and mediumship under penalty of death.
Supported by John Calvin
Elaborates on being 'utterly destroyed' (cherem) for sacrificing to false gods or inciting apostasy.
Supported by John Calvin
Expresses the specific retributive judgment of widows and fatherless children mentioned in the law.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reiterates the prohibition of charging usury/interest to a poor brother in need.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Confirms the minimum of seven days with the mother before a newborn animal is acceptable for offering.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Alludes to the shepherd recovering pieces of a torn sheep as legal proof of its demise.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Lays down the moral prohibition against bestiality, which Exodus 22 attaches the death penalty to.
Supported by John Calvin
The foundational command requiring the consecration of the firstborn of both man and beast.
Supported by John Calvin
Illustrates the distinction in bloodguiltiness for killing a person under different legal circumstances.
Supported by Matthew Poole