Exodus 22WEB
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Exodus22

World English Bible · Public Domain

1“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.

2If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.

3If the sun has risen on him, he is guilty of bloodshed. He shall make restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

4If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.

5“If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten by letting his animal loose, and it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field, and from the best of his own vineyard.

6“If fire breaks out, and catches in thorns so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

7“If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double.

8If the thief isn’t found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out whether or not he has put his hand on his neighbor’s goods.

9For every matter of trespass, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, about which one says, ‘This is mine,’ the cause of both parties shall come before God. He whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.

10“If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies or is injured, or driven away, no man seeing it;

11the oath of Yahweh shall be between them both, he has not put his hand on his neighbor’s goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.

12But if it is stolen from him, the one who stole shall make restitution to its owner.

13If it is torn in pieces, let him bring it for evidence. He shall not make good that which was torn.

14“If a man borrows anything of his neighbor’s, and it is injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.

15If its owner is with it, he shall not make it good. If it is a leased thing, it came for its lease.

16“If a man entices a virgin who isn’t pledged to be married, and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.

17If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

18“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.

19“Whoever has sex with an animal shall surely be put to death.

20“He who sacrifices to any god, except to Yahweh only, shall be utterly destroyed.

21“You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

22“You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.

23If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry;

24and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

25“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor. You shall not charge him interest.

26If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,

27for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What would he sleep in? It will happen, when he cries to me, that I will hear, for I am gracious.

28“You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

29“You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. “You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me.

30You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days, then on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

31“You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any meat that is torn by animals in the field. You 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