Exodus 22:22

22 Ye shall hurt no widow or orphan.

Exodus 22:22 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 22:22

Ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.
] Who have no friends, husband, or father to be on their side and protect them, and are weak and helpless to defend themselves, and therefore it must be barbarous to do them any injury, either to their persons or property; no one ought to be afflicted and distressed by another, either in body or mind, or substance, and especially such as have no helper, not any to assist them and sympathize with them; for this is a law for every man, as Jarchi observes, is binding upon all; only the Scripture speaks of these, because of their weakness, and because they are more frequently afflicted than others, cruel and unmerciful men taking the advantage of their inability to defend themselves.

Exodus 22:22 In-Context

20 He that sacrifices to any gods but to the Lord alone, shall be destroyed by death.
21 And ye shall not hurt a stranger, nor afflict him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22 Ye shall hurt no widow or orphan.
23 And if ye should afflict them by ill-treatment, and they should cry aloud to me, I will surely hear their voice.
24 And I will be very angry, and will slay you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows and your children orphans.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.