Exodus22
New King James Version
1“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
2If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.
3If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.
5“If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.
6“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7“If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double.
8If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods.
9“For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.
10If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it,
11then an oath of the Lord shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good.
12But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it.
13If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn.
14“And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good.
15If its owner was with it, he shall not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire.
16“If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife.
17If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the bride-price of virgins.
18“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.
19“Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.
20“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
21“You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.
23If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry;
24and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25“If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest.
26If you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down.
27For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.
28“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
29“You shall not delay to offer the first of your ripe produce and your juices. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.
30Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
31“And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts 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