Exodus22
English Standard Version
1 a an or a , and it or it, he shall for an , and for a .
2 a is and is that he , there shall be for him,
3but the has on him, there shall be for him. He shall . he has , then he shall be for his .
4 the in his , it is an or a or a , he shall .
5 a causes a or to be , his and it in , he shall from the in his own in his own .
6 and in so that the stacked or the or the is , he who the make full .
7 a to his or to , and it is from the , then, the is , he shall .
8 the is , the of the shall come to to show or he has his to his .
9 breach of , whether it is an , a , a , a , or any of , of one , is , the of shall . The one whom shall to his .
10 a to his a or an or a or any to , and it or is or is , anyone it,
11an by the Lord shall be them to see or he has his to his . The shall the oath, and he shall .
12But it is from him, he shall to its .
13 it is by , let him it as . He shall for what has been .
14 a of his , and it is , the being with , make full .
15 the was with it, he shall ; it was , it for its .
16 a a is not and with her, he shall the for her and make her his .
17 her to her to him, he shall equal to the for .
18You shall permit a to .
19 with an be .
20Whoever any , other the Lord , shall be devoted to .
21You shall a or him, you were in the of .
22You shall or .
23 you do , and they to me, I will their ,
24and my will , and I will you with the , and your shall and your .
25 you to any of my with you who is , you shall be like a to him, and you shall not from him.
26 ever you your in , you shall it to him the ,
27for that is his , and it is his for his ; in what else shall he ? And he to me, I will , for I am .
28You shall , nor a of your .
29You shall to offer from the fullness of your and from the outflow of your . The of your you shall to me.
30You shall the with your and with your : it shall be with its ; on the you shall it to me.
31 shall be to me. Therefore you shall any that is torn by in the ; you shall it to the .
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