Exodus 22:22-31

22 "¹You shall not afflict any widow or orphan.

23 "If you afflict him at all, and ²if he does cry out to Me, ³I will surely hear his cry;

24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, ⁴and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 "⁵If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge * him ⁶interest.

26 "If you ever take your neighbor's cloak ⁷as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets,

27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about that ⁸when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for ⁹I am gracious.

28 "You shall not ¹⁰curse God, ¹¹nor curse a ruler of your people.

29 "¹²You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. ¹³The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.

30 "¹⁴You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; ¹⁵on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 "¹⁶You shall be holy men to Me, therefore ¹⁷you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you 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. Deuteronomy 24:17, 18; Proverbs 23:10, 11; Jeremiah 7:6, 7
• 2. Deuteronomy 15:9; Job 35:9; Luke 18:7
• 3. Deuteronomy 10:18; Job 34:28; Ps 10:14, 17, 18; Psalms 18:6; Psalms 68:5; James 5:4
• 4. Psalms 109:2, 9
• 5. Leviticus 25:35-37; Deuteronomy 15:7-11
• 6. Deuteronomy 23:19, 20; Nehemiah 5:7; Psalms 15:5; Ezekiel 18:8
• 7. Deut 24:6, 10-13; Job 24:3; Proverbs 20:16; Amos 2:8
• 8. Exodus 22:23
• 9. Exodus 34:6
• 10. Leviticus 24:15, 16
• 11. Ecclesiastes 10:20; Acts 23:5
• 12. Exodus 23:16, 19; Deuteronomy 26:2-11; Proverbs 3:9
• 13. Exodus 13:2, 12
• 14. Deuteronomy 15:19; Leviticus 22:27
• 15. Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3
• 16. Exodus 19:6; Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:2
• 17. Leviticus 7:24; Leviticus 17:15; Ezekiel 4:14

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "with"
• [b] Lit "be"
• [c] Lit "lay upon"
• [d] Lit "skin"
• [e] Or "revile"
• [f] Lit "your fullness and your tears"