Exodus 22:16-31

Regulations Regarding Various Offences

16 " 'If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged and he lies with her, he surely will give her bride price {to have her as his wife}.

17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he will weigh out money according to the bride price for the virgin.

18 " 'You will not let a witch live.

19 " 'Anyone lying with an animal will surely be put to death.

20 " 'Whoever sacrifices to the gods--not to Yahweh, to him alone--will be destroyed.

Regulations Regarding Foreigners and the Poor

21 " 'You will not mistreat an alien, and you will not oppress him, because you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

22 " 'You will not afflict any widow or orphan.

23 If you indeed afflict him, yes, if he cries out at all to me, I will certainly hear his cry of distress.

24 And {I will become angry}, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children orphans.

25 " 'If you lend money [to] my people, [to] the needy with you, you will not be to him as a creditor; you will not {charge him interest}.

26 If indeed you require the cloak of your neighbor as a pledge, you will return it to him at sundown,

27 because it is his only garment; it is his cloak for his skin. In what will he sleep? {And} when he cries out to me, I will hear, because I [am] gracious.

Regulations Regarding Tribute and Holiness

28 " 'You will not curse God, and you will not curse a leader among your people.

29 " 'You will not delay the fullness of your harvest and the juice from your press; you will give me the firstborn of your sons.

30 You will do likewise for your ox and for your sheep and goats; seven days it will be with its mother; on the eighth, you will give it to me.

31 And you will be men of holiness for me; and you will not eat meat [from] a carcass mangled in the field; you will throw it to the dog.

Exodus 22:16-31 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "for him for a woman"
• [b] Literally "my nose will burn"
• [c] Literally "put on him interest"
• [d] Literally "And it will be"
• [e] Or "a judge"