Exodus 23:5

5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.

Exodus 23:5 in Other Translations

5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.

5 If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.

5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, don't walk off and leave it. Help it up.

5 "If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying [helpless] under its load, and you want to refrain from helping it, you must help with it.

Exodus 23:5 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 23:5

If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his
burden
Fallen down, and such a burden upon him that he cannot rise up again, but lies under it, and the owner of it is not able of himself to raise it up again:

and wouldst forbear to help him;
show an inclination to pass on without giving him any assistance to get up his beast again; or "wouldst thou forbear to help him?" ^F23 as Jarchi, and others, read with an interrogation, could it be in thine heart to forbear helping him? couldest thou go on, and take no notice of him and his case, and not join him in endeavouring to get up his beast again, that he may proceed its his journey? canst thou be so cruel and hardhearted, though he is thine enemy? but if thou art, know this,

thou shalt surely help with him;
to get up his ass again: hence the Jewish canon runs thus ^F24,

``if an ass is unloaded and loaded four or five times, a man is bound, i.e. to help, as it is said, "in helping thou shalt help"; if he (the owner) goes away, and sets himself down, seeing the command is upon thee, if it is thy will and pleasure to unload, unload, he is free; for it is said, with him; if he is an old man, or sick, he is bound, the command of the law is to unload, but not to load.''

The words may be rendered, "in leaving thou shalt leave with him" ^F25; either leave or forsake thine enmity to help him, as Onkelos; or leave thy business, thou art about, to lend him an hand to raise up his beast again.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 (bzem tldxw) "num desines sublevare eum?" some in Vatablus; "cessabis auxitiari ei?" Drusius; "desines auxiliari ei?" Pagninus.
F24 Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 2. sect. 10.
F25 "Deserendo deseres cum eo", Montanus; so Ainsworth.

Exodus 23:5 In-Context

3 and do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit.

4 “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.

5 If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.

6 “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.

7 Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 22:4