Exodus 22

Protection of Property

1 “Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.
2 “If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is struck a fatal blow, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed;
3 but if it happens after sunrise, the defender is guilty of bloodshed. “Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft.
4 If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.
5 “If anyone grazes their livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in someone else’s field, the offender must make restitution from the best of their own field or vineyard.
6 “If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.
7 “If anyone gives a neighbor silver or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.
8 But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must[a] determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property.
9 In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges.[b] The one whom the judges declare[c] guilty must pay back double to the other.
10 “If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking,
11 the issue between them will be settled by the taking of an oath before the LORD that the neighbor did not lay hands on the other person’s property. The owner is to accept this, and no restitution is required.
12 But if the animal was stolen from the neighbor, restitution must be made to the owner.
13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the neighbor shall bring in the remains as evidence and shall not be required to pay for the torn animal.
14 “If anyone borrows an animal from their neighbor and it is injured or dies while the owner is not present, they must make restitution.
15 But if the owner is with the animal, the borrower will not have to pay. If the animal was hired, the money paid for the hire covers the loss.

Social Responsibility

16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife.
17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.
18 “Do not allow a sorceress to live.
19 “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death.
20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed.[d]
21 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.
22 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.
23 If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.
24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.
25 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.
26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset,
27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
28 “Do not blaspheme God[e] or curse the ruler of your people.
29 “Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats.[f]“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.
30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.
31 “You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.

Exodus 22 Commentary

Chapter 22

Judicial laws.

- 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, ( Titus 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 45

  • 1. Leviticus 6:1-7; 2 Samuel 12:6; Proverbs 6:31; S Luke 19:8
  • 2. Job 24:16; Jeremiah 2:34; Hosea 7:1; Matthew 6:19-20; Matthew 24:43
  • 3. Numbers 35:27
  • 4. ver 1
  • 5. S Exodus 21:2; S Matthew 18:25
  • 6. 1 Samuel 12:5
  • 7. S Genesis 43:12
  • 8. ver 1
  • 9. Judges 15:5
  • 10. ver 1
  • 11. ver 10; Leviticus 6:2
  • 12. ver 4; S Genesis 43:12
  • 13. S Exodus 21:6; Deuteronomy 17:8-9; Deuteronomy 19:17
  • 14. ver 8; ver 28; Deuteronomy 25:1
  • 15. S ver 7
  • 16. Leviticus 6:3; 1 Kings 8:31; 2 Chronicles 6:22; Hebrews 6:16
  • 17. ver 1
  • 18. Genesis 31:39
  • 19. ver 1
  • 20. Leviticus 19:13; Job 17:5
  • 21. Deuteronomy 22:28
  • 22. S Genesis 34:12
  • 23. S Exodus 7:11; Leviticus 19:26,31; Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Samuel 28:3; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 57:3
  • 24. Leviticus 18:23; Leviticus 20:15; Deuteronomy 27:21
  • 25. S Exodus 20:23; Exodus 34:15; Leviticus 17:7; Numbers 25:2; Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalms 106:37
  • 26. Leviticus 27:29; Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 17:2-5; Deuteronomy 18:20; 1 Kings 18:40; 1 Kings 19:1; 2 Kings 10:25; 2 Kings 23:20; 2 Chronicles 15:13
  • 27. Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:33; Leviticus 24:22; Numbers 15:14; Deuteronomy 1:16; Deuteronomy 24:17; Ezekiel 22:29
  • 28. Deuteronomy 10:19; Deuteronomy 27:19; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5
  • 29. ver 26; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 24:6,10,12,17; Job 22:6,9; Job 24:3,21; Psalms 68:5; Psalms 146:9; Proverbs 23:10; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 7:5,6; Jeremiah 21:12; Jeremiah 22:3; Ezekiel 18:5-9,12; Zechariah 7:9-10; Malachi 3:5; James 1:27
  • 30. Luke 18:7
  • 31. Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 15:9; Deuteronomy 24:15; Job 34:28; Job 35:9; Psalms 10:14,17; Psalms 12:5; Psalms 18:6; Psalms 34:15; James 5:4
  • 32. Psalms 69:24; Psalms 109:9; Lamentations 5:3
  • 33. Leviticus 25:35-37; Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Deuteronomy 23:20; Nehemiah 5:7,10; Psalms 15:5; Ezekiel 18:8
  • 34. S ver 22; Proverbs 20:16; Ezekiel 33:15; Amos 2:8; Deuteronomy 24:6
  • 35. Deuteronomy 24:13,17; Job 22:6; Job 24:7; Job 29:11; Job 31:19-20; Ezekiel 18:12,16
  • 36. Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 4:31; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 99:8; Psalms 103:8; Psalms 116:5; Psalms 145:8; Joel 2:13; John 4:2
  • 37. S Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 24:11,16
  • 38. 2 Samuel 16:5,9; 2 Samuel 19:21; 1 Kings 21:10; 2 Kings 2:23; Psalms 102:8
  • 39. Ecclesiastes 10:20; Acts 23:5*
  • 40. Ex 23:15,16,19; Exodus 34:20,26; Leviticus 19:24; Leviticus 23:10; Numbers 18:13; Numbers 28:26; Deuteronomy 18:4; Deuteronomy 26:2,10; 1 Samuel 6:3; Nehemiah 10:35; Proverbs 3:9; Malachi 3:10
  • 41. S Exodus 13:2; Numbers 8:16-17; Luke 2:23
  • 42. Exodus 34:19; Exodus 13:12; Deuteronomy 15:19
  • 43. Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3; Leviticus 22:27
  • 44. Exodus 19:6; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 22:31; Ezra 9:2
  • 45. Leviticus 7:24; Leviticus 17:15; Leviticus 22:8; Deuteronomy 14:21; Ezekiel 4:14; Ezekiel 44:31

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Or "before God, and he will"
  • [b]. Or "before God"
  • [c]. Or "whom God declares"
  • [d]. The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  • [e]. Or "Do not revile the judges"
  • [f]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.

Chapter Summary

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.

Exodus 22 Commentaries

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