Exodus 22KJV
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Exodus22

King James Version · Public Domain

1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

2If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.

3If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

4If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

5If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall 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 stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

7If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.

8If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.

9For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.

10If a man deliver unto his neighbour 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:

11Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.

12And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.

13If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.

14And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.

15But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.

16And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow 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 witch to live.

19Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.

20He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

21Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

22Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

23If thou afflict them in any wise, 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 that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

26If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:

27For that is his covering only, it is his raiment 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 the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

29Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn 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 his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

31And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye 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.

Full AI study →

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.

Cross References

Exodus 22
v12 Samuel 12:6thematic

David invokes this exact fourfold restitution law for a stolen sheep in his judgment of the rich man.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v28Acts 23:5quotation

Paul explicitly quotes Exodus 22:28 ("Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people").

Supported by JFB

v1Luke 19:8thematic

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

v31Leviticus 17:15thematic

Elaborates on the ceremonial defilement and purification laws for eating torn flesh or carcasses.

Supported by John Calvin

v1Proverbs 6:31contrast

Poole contrasts the judicial double/fourfold restitution here with the proverbial 'sevenfold' restitution mentioned in Proverbs.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Genesis 31:39thematic

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

v19Leviticus 20:15thematic

The explicit parallel penal law directing execution for bestiality, matching Exodus 22:19.

Supported by John Calvin

v21Malachi 3:5thematic

Prophetic warning of swift judgment against those who oppress strangers, widows, and orphans.

Supported by John Calvin

v21Exodus 23:9thematic

Repeats the command not to oppress strangers, emphasizing knowing the heart of a stranger.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v28Psalms 82:6thematic

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

v1Proverbs 14:4thematic

Poole highlights the high value of the ox due to its great labor in agriculture.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v8Exodus 21:6thematic

Identifies the judges/magistrates as 'elohim' (gods), demonstrating judicial authority as God's representatives.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v11Hebrews 6:16thematic

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

v24Psalms 109:9thematic

Expresses the specific retributive judgment of widows and fatherless children mentioned in the law.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v25Leviticus 25:35thematic

Reiterates the prohibition of charging usury/interest to a poor brother in need.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v30Leviticus 22:27thematic

Confirms the minimum of seven days with the mother before a newborn animal is acceptable for offering.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Amos 3:12thematic

Alludes to the shepherd recovering pieces of a torn sheep as legal proof of its demise.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v19Leviticus 18:23thematic

Lays down the moral prohibition against bestiality, which Exodus 22 attaches the death penalty to.

Supported by John Calvin

v29Exodus 13:2thematic

The foundational command requiring the consecration of the firstborn of both man and beast.

Supported by John Calvin

v2Numbers 35:27thematic

Illustrates the distinction in bloodguiltiness for killing a person under different legal circumstances.

Supported by Matthew Poole