Exodus 22
22
Laws about Theft
1“When a man steals an ox or a sheep and butchers it or sells it, he must repay # 22:1 2Sm 12:6; Pr 6:31; Lk 19:8 five cattle for the ox or four sheep for the sheep. 2If a thief is caught in the act of breaking in, and he is beaten to death, no one is guilty of bloodshed. # 22:2 Nm 35:27; Mt 24:43 3But if this happens after sunrise, the householder is guilty of bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution. If he is unable, he is to be sold because of his theft. # 22:3 Ex 21:2,16 4If what was stolen — whether ox, donkey, or sheep — is actually found alive in his possession, he must repay double.
Laws about Crop Protection
5“When a man lets a field or vineyard be grazed in, and then allows his animals to go and graze in someone else’s field, he must repay # 22:5 LXX adds from his field according to its produce. But if someone lets his animals graze an entire field, he must repay; DSS, Sam also support this reading. with the best of his own field or vineyard.
6“When a fire gets out of control, spreads to thornbushes, and consumes stacks of cut grain, standing grain, or a field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution for what was burned.
Laws about Personal Property
7“When a man gives his neighbor valuables # 22:7 Lit silver or goods to keep, but they are stolen from that person’s house, the thief, if caught, must repay double. 8If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must present himself to the judges # 22:8 Or to God to determine # 22:8 LXX, Tg, Vg read swear whether or not he has taken his neighbor’s property. # 22:8 Dt 17:8–9 9In any case of wrongdoing involving an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or anything else lost, and someone claims, ‘That’s mine,’ # 22:9 Lit That is it the case between the two parties is to come before the judges. # 22:9 Or before God The one the judges condemn # 22:9 Or one whom God condemns must repay double to his neighbor.
10“When a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to care for, but it dies, is injured, or is stolen, while no one is watching, 11there must be an oath before the Lord between the two of them to determine whether or not he has taken his neighbor’s property. Its owner must accept the oath, and the other man does not have to make restitution. 12But if, in fact, the animal was stolen from his custody, he must make restitution to its owner. # 22:11–12 Gn 31:39; Heb 6:16 13If it was actually torn apart by a wild animal, he is to bring it as evidence; he does not have to make restitution for the torn carcass.
14“When a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies while its owner is not there with it, the man must make full restitution. 15If its owner is there with it, the man does not have to make restitution. If it was rented, the loss is covered by # 22:15 Lit rented, it comes with its rental price.
Laws about Seduction
16“If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged, and he sleeps with her, he must certainly pay the bridal price for her to be his wife. 17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must pay an amount in silver equal to the bridal price for virgins. # 22:16–17 Gn 34:12; Dt 22:28–29
Capital Offenses
18“Do not allow a sorceress # 22:18 Lv 20:27; Dt 18:11; 1Sm 28:3 to live.
19“Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal # 22:19 Lv 18:23; 20:15; Dt 27:21 must be put to death.
20“Whoever sacrifices to any gods, except the Lord alone, is to be set apart for destruction. # 22:20 Dt 17:2–5
Laws Protecting the Vulnerable
21“You must not exploit a resident alien # 22:21 Lv 19:33; Dt 10:19 or oppress him, since you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt.
22“You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. # 22:22 Dt 24:17; Jms 1:27 23If you do mistreat them, they will no doubt cry to me, and I will certainly hear their cry. # 22:23 Ps 18:6; Lk 18:7 24My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless. # 22:24 Ps 69:4; 109:9
25“If you lend silver to my people, to the poor person among you, you must not be like a creditor to him; you must not charge him interest. # 22:25 Lv 25:36–37; Dt 23:20; Ps 15:5
26“If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him before sunset. 27For it is his only covering; it is the clothing for his body. # 22:27 Lit skin What will he sleep in? And if he cries out to me, I will listen because I am gracious. # 22:26–27 Ex 34:6; Dt 24:6
Respect for God
28“You must not blaspheme God # 22:28 Or judges or curse a leader among your people. # 22:28 Ec 10:20; Ac 23:5
29“You must not hold back offerings # 22:29 Ex 13:2; 23:16 from your harvest or your vats. Give me the firstborn of your sons. 30Do the same with your cattle and your flock. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to me. # 22:30 Lv 22:27; Dt 15:19
31“Be my holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal # 22:31 Ex 19:2; Ezk 4:14 found in the field; throw it to the dogs.
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Exodus 22: CSB
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© 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Exodus 22
22
Property laws
The LORD said:
1If you steal an ox and slaughter or sell it, you must replace it with five oxen; if you steal a sheep and slaughter it or sell it, you must replace it with four sheep. 2-4But if you cannot afford to replace the animals, you must be sold as a slave to pay for what you have stolen. If you steal an ox, donkey, or sheep, and are caught with it still alive, you must pay the owner double.
If you happen to kill a burglar who breaks into your home after dark, you are not guilty. But if you kill someone who breaks in during the day, you are guilty of murder.
5If you allow any of your animals to stray from your property and graze#22.5 graze: Or “eat everything”. in someone else's field or vineyard, you must repay the damage from the best part of your own harvest of grapes and grain.
6If you carelessly let a fire spread from your property to someone else's, you must pay the owner for any crops or fields destroyed by the fire.
7Suppose a neighbour asks you to keep some silver or other valuables, and they are stolen from your house. If the thief is caught, the thief must repay double. 8But if the thief isn't caught, some judges#22.8 some judges: Or “I”. will decide if you are the guilty one.
9Suppose two people claim to own the same ox or donkey or sheep or piece of clothing. Then the judges#22.9 the judges: Or “I”. must decide the case, and the guilty person will pay the owner double.
10Suppose a neighbour who is going to be away asks you to keep a donkey or an ox or a sheep or some other animal, and it dies or gets injured or is stolen while no one is looking. 11If you swear with me as your witness that you did not harm the animal, you do not have to replace it. Your word is enough. 12But if the animal was stolen while in your care, you must replace it. 13If the animal was attacked and killed by a wild animal, and you can show the remains of the dead animal to its owner, you do not have to replace it.
14Suppose you borrow an animal from a neighbour, and it gets injured or dies while the neighbour isn't around. Then you must replace it. 15But if something happens to the animal while the owner is present, you do not have to replace it. If you had leased the animal, the money you paid the owner will cover any harm done to it.
Laws for everyday life
The LORD said:
16Suppose a young woman has never been married and isn't engaged. If a man talks her into having sex, he must pay the bride price#22.16 bride price: It was the custom for a man to pay his wife's family a bride price before the actual wedding ceremony took place. and marry her.#Dt 22.28,29. 17But if her father refuses to let her marry the man, the bride price must still be paid.
18Death is the punishment for witchcraft.#Dt 18.10,11.
19Death is the punishment for having sex with an animal.#Lv 18.23; 20.15,16; Dt 27.21.
20Death is the punishment for offering sacrifices to any god except me.#Dt 17.2-7.
21Do not ill-treat or abuse foreigners who live among you. Remember, you were foreigners in Egypt.#Ex 23.9; Lv 19.33,34; Dt 24.17,18; 27.19.
22Do not ill-treat widows or orphans. 23If you do, they will beg for my help, and I will come to their rescue. 24In fact, I will get so angry that I will kill your men and make widows of their wives and orphans of their children.
25Don't charge interest when you lend money to any of my people who are in need.#Lv 25.35-38; Dt 15.7-11; 23.19,20. 26Before sunset you must return any coat taken as security for a loan,#Dt 24.10-13. 27because that is the only cover the poor have when they sleep at night. I am a merciful God, and when they call out to me, I will come to help them.
28Don't speak evil of me#22.28 me: Or “your judges”. or of the ruler of your people.#Ac 23.5.
29Don't fail to give me the offerings of grain and wine that belong to me.#22.29 Don't fail…me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
Dedicate to me your firstborn sons 30and the firstborn of your cattle and sheep. Let the animals stay with their mothers for seven days, then on the eighth day give them to me, your God.
31You are my chosen people, so don't eat the meat of any of your livestock that was killed by a wild animal. Instead, feed the meat to dogs.#Lv 17.15.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012