1 If a man H376 shall steal H1589 an ox, H7794 or a sheep, H7716 and kill H2873 it, or sell H4376 it; he shall restore H7999 five H2568 oxen H1241 for an ox, H7794 and four H702 sheep H6629 for a sheep. H7716
2 If a thief H1590 be found H4672 breaking up, H4290 and be smitten H5221 that he die, H4191 there shall no blood H1818 be shed for him.
3 If the sun H8121 be risen H2224 upon him, there shall be blood H1818 shed for him; for he should make full H7999 restitution; H7999 if he have nothing, then he shall be sold H4376 for his theft. H1591
4 If the theft H1591 be certainly H4672 found H4672 in his hand H3027 alive, H2416 whether it be ox, H7794 or ass, H2543 or sheep; H7716 he shall restore H7999 double. H8147
5 If a man H376 shall cause a field H7704 or vineyard H3754 to be eaten, H1197 and shall put H7971 in his beast, H1165 and shall feed H1197 in another man's H312 field; H7704 of the best H4315 of his own field, H7704 and of the best H4315 of his own vineyard, H3754 shall he make restitution. H7999
6 If fire H784 break out, H3318 and catch H4672 in thorns, H6975 so that the stacks of corn, H1430 or the standing corn, H7054 or the field, H7704 be consumed H398 therewith; he that kindled H1197 the fire H1200 shall surely H7999 make restitution. H7999
7 If a man H376 shall deliver H5414 unto his neighbour H7453 money H3701 or stuff H3627 to keep, H8104 and it be stolen H1589 out of the man's H376 house; H1004 if the thief H1590 be found, H4672 let him pay H7999 double. H8147
8 If the thief H1590 be not H3808 found, H4672 then the master H1167 of the house H1004 shall be brought H7126 unto the judges, H430 to see whether he have put H7971 his hand H3027 unto his neighbour's H7453 goods. H4399
9 For all manner H1697 of trespass, H6588 whether it be for ox, H7794 for ass, H2543 for sheep, H7716 for raiment, H8008 or for any manner of lost thing, H9 which another challengeth H559 to be his, the cause H1697 of both parties H8147 shall come H935 before the judges; H430 and whom the judges H430 shall condemn, H7561 he shall pay H7999 double H8147 unto his neighbour. H7453
10 If a man H376 deliver H5414 unto his neighbour H7453 an ass, H2543 or an ox, H7794 or a sheep, H7716 or any beast, H929 to keep; H8104 and it die, H4191 or be hurt, H7665 or driven away, H7617 no man seeing H7200 it:
11 Then shall an oath H7621 of the LORD H3068 be between them both, H8147 that he hath not put H7971 his hand H3027 unto his neighbour's H7453 goods; H4399 and the owner H1167 of it shall accept H3947 thereof, and he shall not make it good. H7999
12 And if it be stolen H1589 H1589 from him, he shall make restitution H7999 unto the owner H1167 thereof.
13 If it be torn in pieces, H2963 H2963 then let him bring H935 it for witness, H5707 and he shall not make good H7999 that which was torn. H2966
14 And if a man H376 borrow H7592 ought of his neighbour, H7453 and it be hurt, H7665 or die, H4191 the owner H1167 thereof being not with it, H5973 he shall surely H7999 make it good. H7999
15 But if the owner H1167 thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: H7999 if it be an hired H7916 thing, it came H935 for his hire. H7939
16 And if a man H376 entice H6601 a maid H1330 that is not betrothed, H781 and lie H7901 with her, he shall surely H4117 endow H4117 her to be his wife. H802
17 If her father H1 utterly H3985 refuse H3985 to give H5414 her unto him, he shall pay H8254 money H3701 according to the dowry H4119 of virgins. H1330
18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch H3784 to live. H2421
19 Whosoever lieth H7901 with a beast H929 shall surely H4191 be put to death. H4191
20 He that sacrificeth H2076 unto any god, H430 save H1115 unto the LORD H3068 only, he shall be utterly destroyed. H2763
21 Thou shalt neither vex H3238 a stranger, H1616 nor oppress H3905 him: for ye were strangers H1616 in the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
22 Ye shall not afflict H6031 any widow, H490 or fatherless child. H3490
23 If H518 thou afflict H6031 them in any wise, H6031 and they cry H6817 at all H6817 unto me, I will surely H8085 hear H8085 their cry; H6818
24 And my wrath H639 shall wax hot, H2734 and I will kill H2026 you with the sword; H2719 and your wives H802 shall be widows, H490 and your children H1121 fatherless. H3490
25 If thou lend H3867 money H3701 to any of my people H5971 that is poor H6041 by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, H5383 neither shalt thou lay H7760 upon him usury. H5392
26 If thou at all H2254 take H2254 thy neighbour's H7453 raiment H8008 to pledge, H2254 thou shalt deliver H7725 it unto him by H5704 that the sun H8121 goeth down: H935
27 For that is his covering H3682 only, it is his raiment H8071 for his skin: H5785 wherein shall he sleep? H7901 and it shall come to pass, when he crieth H6817 unto me, that I will hear; H8085 for I am gracious. H2587
28 Thou shalt not revile H7043 the gods, H430 nor curse H779 the ruler H5387 of thy people. H5971
29 Thou shalt not delay H309 to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, H4395 and of thy liquors: H1831 the firstborn H1060 of thy sons H1121 shalt thou give H5414 unto me.
30 Likewise H3651 shalt thou do H6213 with thine oxen, H7794 and with thy sheep: H6629 seven H7651 days H3117 it shall be with his dam; H517 on the eighth H8066 day H3117 thou shalt give H5414 it me.
31 And ye shall be holy H6944 men H582 unto me: neither shall ye eat H398 any flesh H1320 that is torn of beasts H2966 in the field; H7704 ye shall cast H7993 it to the dogs. H3611
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 22
Commentary on Exodus 22 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 22
Ex 22:1-31. Laws concerning Theft.
1-4. If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep—The law respects the theft of cattle which constituted the chief part of their property. The penalty for the theft of a sheep which was slain or sold, was fourfold; for an ox fivefold, because of its greater utility in labor; but, should the stolen animal have been recovered alive, a double compensation was all that was required, because it was presumable he (the thief) was not a practised adept in dishonesty. A robber breaking into a house at midnight might, in self-defense, be slain with impunity; but if he was slain after sunrise, it would be considered murder, for it was not thought likely an assault would then be made upon the lives of the occupants. In every case where a thief could not make restitution, he was sold as a slave for the usual term.
6. If fire break out, and catch in thorns—This refers to the common practice in the East of setting fire to the dry grass before the fall of the autumnal rains, which prevents the ravages of vermin, and is considered a good preparation of the ground for the next crop. The very parched state of the herbage and the long droughts of summer, make the kindling of a fire an operation often dangerous, and always requiring caution from its liability to spread rapidly.
stacks—or as it is rendered "shocks" (Jud 15:5; Job 5:26), means simply a bundle of loose sheaves.
26, 27. If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, &c.—From the nature of the case, this is the description of a poor man. No Orientals undress, but, merely throwing off their turbans and some of their heavy outer garments, they sleep in the clothes which they wear during the day. The bed of the poor is usually nothing else than a mat; and, in winter, they cover themselves with a cloak—a practice which forms the ground or reason of the humane and merciful law respecting the pawned coat.
28. gods—a word which is several times in this chapter rendered "judges" or magistrates.
the ruler of thy people—and the chief magistrate who was also the high priest, at least in the time of Paul (Ac 23:1-5).