Exodus 22:22-31

22 ¹You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.

23 If you do mistreat them, and they ²cry out to me, I will surely ³hear their cry,

24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and ⁴your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 ⁵“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.

26 ⁶If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down,

27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he ⁷cries to me, I will hear, for I am ⁸compassionate.

28 ⁹“You shall not revile God, nor ¹⁰curse a ruler of your people.

29 “You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. ¹¹The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me.

30 ¹²You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: ¹³seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

31 ¹⁴“You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore ¹⁵you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; ¹⁶you shall throw it to the dogs.

Exodus 22:22-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 22

This chapter contains various laws concerning theft, Ex 22:1-4, concerning damage done to fields and vineyards by beasts, and to corn in stacks or standing, by fire, Ex 22:5,6, concerning anything or creature deposited in the hands of a neighbour, and they be stolen or lost by one means or another, Ex 22:7-13, concerning anything borrowed, and it comes to any damage, Ex 22:14,15, concerning fornication, Ex 22:16,17 concerning witchcraft, bestiality, and idolatry, Ex 22:18-20 concerning oppression, and affliction of the stranger, fatherless, and widow, Ex 22:21-24 concerning taking usury and pledges, Ex 22:25-27, concerning irreverence to magistrates, Ex 22:28, concerning the offering of firstfruits to God, Ex 22:29,30 and the chapter is concluded with a prohibition of eating anything torn by beasts, Ex 22:31.

Cross References

• 1. 22:22 Deut. 24:17; 27:19; Ps. 94:6; Isa. 1:17, 23; 10:2; Ezek. 22:7; Zech. 7:10; James 1:27
• 2. 22:23 Job 34:28; Luke 18:7
• 3. 22:23 Ps. 18:6; 145:19; [James 5:4]
• 4. 22:24 Ps. 109:9; Lam. 5:3
• 5. 22:25 Lev. 25:35-37; Deut. 23:19, 20; Neh. 5:7; Ps. 15:5; Prov. 28:8; Ezek. 18:8, 13, 17; 22:12
• 6. 22:26 Deut. 24:13, 17; Prov. 20:16; Ezek. 18:7, 16; Amos 2:8; [Prov. 22:27]
• 7. 22:27 [See ver. 23 above]
• 8. 22:27 ch. 34:6; 2 Chr. 30:9; Neh. 9:17
• 9. 22:28 Cited Acts 23:5; [2 Sam. 19:21; Eccles. 10:20; Jude 8]
• 10. 22:28 Cited Acts 23:5; [2 Sam. 19:21; Eccles. 10:20; Jude 8]
• 11. 22:29 See ch. 13:2
• 12. 22:30 Deut. 15:19
• 13. 22:30 Lev. 22:27
• 14. 22:31 ch. 19:6; Lev. 11:44, 45
• 15. 22:31 Lev. 22:8; Ezek. 4:14; 44:31
• 16. 22:31 [Matt. 7:6]