Exodus 22:1-15

Property Rights

1 "If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and ¹four sheep for the sheep.

2 "If the ²thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account.

3 "But if the sun has risen on him, there will be bloodguiltiness on his account. He shall surely make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be ³sold for his theft.

4 "If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, ⁴he shall pay double.

5 "If a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.

6 "If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, he who started the fire shall surely make restitution.

7 "⁵If a man gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the man's house, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double.

8 "If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before ⁶the judges, to determine whether * he laid his hands on his neighbor's property.

9 "For every breach of trust, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any lost thing about which one says, 'This is it,' the case of both parties shall come before ⁷the judges; he whom the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 "If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is hurt or is driven away while no one is looking,

11 an ⁸oath before the LORD shall be made by the two of them that he has not laid hands on his neighbor's property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.

12 "But if it is actually stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.

13 "If it is all torn to pieces, let him bring it as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.

14 "If a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not with it, he shall make full restitution.

15 "If its owner is with it, he shall not make restitution; if it is hired, it came for its hire.

Exodus 22:1-15 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. 2 Samuel 12:6; Luke 19:8
• 2. Matthew 6:19; Matthew 24:43; 1 Peter 4:15
• 3. Matthew 18:25
• 4. Exodus 22:7
• 5. Leviticus 6:1-7
• 6. Exodus 22:9; Deuteronomy 17:8, 9; Deuteronomy 19:17
• 7. Exodus 22:8, 28; Deuteronomy 25:1
• 8. Hebrews 6:16

Footnotes

• [a]. Ch 21:37 in Heb
• [b]. Ch 22:1 in Heb
• [c]. Lit "found"
• [d]. Lit "hand"
• [e]. Lit "found"
• [f]. Lit "found"
• [g]. Lit "approach to"
• [h]. Or "God"
• [i]. Lit "stretched his hand"
• [j]. Or "matter of transgression"
• [k]. Lit "matter"
• [l]. Or "God"
• [m]. Or "God"
• [n]. Lit "whether"
• [o]. Lit "stretched his hand"
• [p]. Lit "asks"