Exodus22
New American Standard
1“If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep—
2If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no guilt for bloodshed on his account.
3If the sun has risen on him, there will be guilt for bloodshed on his account—A thief shall certainly make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
5“If someone lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another person’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.
6“If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, the one who started the fire must make restitution.
7“If someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the neighbor’s house, if the thief is caught, then the thief shall pay double.
8If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property.
9For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.
10“If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking,
11an oath before the Lord shall be taken by the two of them that he has not laid a hand on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not be compelled to make restitution.
12But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.
13If it is all torn to pieces, have him bring it as evidence; he shall not be compelled to make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.
14“And if someone borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution.
15If its owner is with it, the borrower shall not be compelled to make restitution. If it is hired, it came by its hire.
16“If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a dowry for her to be his wife.
17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the dowry for virgins.
18“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.
19“Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.
20“He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be utterly destroyed.
21“You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22You shall not oppress any widow or orphan.
23If you oppress him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will assuredly hear his cry;
24and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
25“If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest.
26If you ever seize your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets,
27for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body. What else is he to sleep in? And it will come about that when he cries out to Me, I will listen to him, for I am gracious.
28“You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
29“You shall not hold back the offering from your entire harvest and your wine. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.
30You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
31“You shall be holy people to Me, therefore you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw 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