Deuteronomy 22:4

4 If you see your fellow Israelite's donkey or ox fallen on the road, don't ignore it. Help the owner get it up.

Deuteronomy 22:4 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:4

Thou shall not see thy brother's ox or his ass fall down by the
way
And lie under his burden, not being able to rise with it of himself, nor with all the assistance about it, without further help:

and hide thyself from them;
cover thine eyes, or turn them another way, and make as if thou didst not see them in distress:

thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again;
that is, help the brother and owner of it, the ox and ass; assist him in getting them up again, and lay on their burden, and fasten them aright, which either were rolled off by the fall, or were obliged to be taken off in order to raise them up; and if this was to be done for an enemy, then much more for a brother, as is required, (See Gill on Exodus 23:5), or "lifting up, thou shall lift them up with him" F4; that is, most certainly do it, and lift with all his strength, and as often as there is occasion; if they fell down again after raised up, help is still to be continued, even, as Maimonides F5 says, though it was an hundred times.


FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Myqt Mqh) "erigendo eriges", Pagninus, Montanus.
F5 Hilchot Rotzeach, c. 13. sect. 5.

Deuteronomy 22:4 In-Context

2 If the owner does not live close to you, or if you do not know who the owner is, take the animal home with you. Keep it until the owner comes looking for it; then give it back.
3 Do the same thing if you find a donkey or coat or anything someone lost. Don't just ignore it.
4 If you see your fellow Israelite's donkey or ox fallen on the road, don't ignore it. Help the owner get it up.
5 A woman must not wear men's clothes, and a man must not wear women's clothes. The Lord your God hates anyone who does that.
6 If you find a bird's nest by the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother bird is sitting on the young birds or eggs, do not take the mother bird with the young birds.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.