Exode 23:4

4 Si tu rencontres le bœuf de ton ennemi, ou son âne, égaré, tu ne manqueras point de le lui ramener

Exode 23:4 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 23:4

If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray
Or any other beast, as the Samaritan version adds; for these are only mentioned for instances, as being more common, and creatures subject to go astray; now when such as these are met going astray, so as to be in danger of being lost to the owner, though he is an enemy; or as the Targum of Jonathan,

``whom thou hatest because of a sin, which thou alone knowest in him;''

yet this was not so far to prejudice the finder of his beasts against him, as to be careless about them, to suffer them to go on without acquainting him with them, or returning them to him, as follows:

thou shalt surely bring it back to him again;
whether it be an ox, or an ass, or any other beast, the law is very strong and binding upon the finder to return it to his neighbour, though an enemy, and bring it either to his field or to his farm.

Exode 23:4 In-Context

2 Tu ne suivras point la multitude pour faire le mal; et lorsque tu témoigneras dans un procès, tu ne te détourneras point pour suivre le plus grand nombre et pervertir le droit.

3 Tu ne favoriseras point le pauvre en son procès.

4 Si tu rencontres le bœuf de ton ennemi, ou son âne, égaré, tu ne manqueras point de le lui ramener

5 Si tu vois l'âne de celui qui te hait abattu sous son fardeau, tu te garderas de l'abandonner; tu devras le dégager avec lui.

6 Tu ne pervertiras point dans son procès le droit de l'indigent qui est au milieu de toi.