The big picture
Further laws reach Moses, the leader of Israel's freed people, from God for their shared life. The commands now cover stolen goods, damaged crops, entrusted animals, and disputed ownership. They also address sexual conduct, worship, outsiders, widows, children without fathers, and poor borrowers. Everyday dealings are placed before God. The chapter treats both taking property and taking advantage of a neighbour's weakness as matters that call for an answer.
In this chapter
- Theft and Damage Require Repayment Exodus 22:1-6
Stealing and selling or killing an animal requires repayment several times its value.
- Entrusted Goods Need Fair Judgment Exodus 22:7-15
When property left with a neighbour disappears, a caught thief pays double.
- Marriage Duties and Worship Have Boundaries Exodus 22:16-20
Seducing an unmarried woman means the man must pay the marriage payment and marry her.
- God Hears People Without Protection Exodus 22:21-27
Mistreatment of outsiders is forbidden to Israel, which knows that life from its time in Egypt.
- Holy Belonging Shapes Ordinary Duties Exodus 22:28-31
The people are warned against reviling sacred authority and cursing their ruler.
Central truth
God requires losses to be repaid and forbids exploiting people whose poverty or lack of protection makes them vulnerable.
Scripture beside the summary
Exodus · King James Version · 31Exodus 22:1-6
Theft and Damage Require Repayment
Stealing and selling or killing an animal requires repayment several times its value. Finding the stolen animal alive brings double repayment. The law distinguishes killing a thief during a night break-in from killing in daylight, when blood guilt applies. A thief unable to repay can be sold for the theft. Owners must also repay damage when their animals graze another's field or their fire spreads into crops. The best produce answers damage caused by grazing. Property loss is not left for the victim to absorb while the responsible person walks away.
In everyday life
A bonfire builder watches sparks cross the fence and burn a neighbour's stored fencing panels. He had meant to clear his own garden, but the damage is now next door. He brings replacement panels from his own stock. Intention does not remove the loss. Exodus also sets penalties for theft and bloodshed that this accident does not cover.
Notice
Exodus 22:5 Repayment for grazing damage comes from the offender's best produce. The injured neighbour is not to receive only whatever poor leftovers the owner prefers to surrender.
Exodus 22:1-6
King James Version1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
3If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
5If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
6If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
Exodus 22:7-15
Entrusted Goods Need Fair Judgment
When property left with a neighbour disappears, a caught thief pays double. If no thief is found, judges examine whether the keeper took it. Disputed ownership also goes before judges. For an unwitnessed loss of an animal, an oath before the LORD can settle the keeper's innocence. Theft, an attack by wild animals, borrowing, and hiring receive different rules. Evidence of a torn animal matters. A borrower generally repays loss when the owner is absent. The law does not assume every loss proves dishonesty, but it does require an answer.
In everyday life
A camera borrower brings the cracked equipment and rental papers to the owner. A witness explains that the owner was operating it when it fell. They check who had custody and what the agreement covered before deciding payment. Loss alone does not settle responsibility. Israel's judgments include an oath before the LORD as a binding means of resolution.
Notice
Exodus 22:13 The remains of an animal attacked by a predator count as evidence. A keeper can show that a loss occurred without theft or secret use.
Exodus 22:7-15
King James Version7If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.
8If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
9For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
10If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
11Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
12And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
13If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.
14And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.
15But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.
Exodus 22:16-20
Marriage Duties and Worship Have Boundaries
Seducing an unmarried woman means the man must pay the marriage payment and marry her. Her father can refuse the marriage, but payment is still required. The law then prescribes death for a witch, death for sexual relations with an animal, and destruction for sacrifice to another god. These commands treat sexual conduct and worship as public responsibilities with severe consequences. The woman's father has authority in the marriage decision, reflecting the household structure assumed here. The account states these rules without giving a modern court procedure or softening their penalties.
In everyday life
The registrar stops a hurried couple over an unsigned legal obligation from an earlier agreement. One wants to proceed as if personal desire settles every claim. She points to responsibilities that remain even when a proposed arrangement is refused. Choices have consequences for others. This limited comparison does not match the death penalties or ancient family authority stated here.
Notice
Exodus 22:17 The father can refuse the proposed marriage without cancelling payment. The man's act creates an obligation even when the marriage does not go ahead.
Exodus 22:16-20
King James Version16And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
17If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
19Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
20He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Exodus 22:21-27
God Hears People Without Protection
Mistreatment of outsiders is forbidden to Israel, which knows that life from its time in Egypt. Widows and children without fathers must not be harmed. God warns that he will hear their cries and answer with deadly judgment, leaving the offenders' own families bereaved. Loans to poor people must not carry interest. A neighbour's cloak taken as security must be returned by sunset because it is needed for sleeping. God identifies himself as gracious. Legal possession of a pledge does not excuse leaving a person cold through the night.
In everyday life
The pawnbroker reaches closing time with a labourer's only winter coat behind the counter. He knows the man has nowhere warm to sleep, so he hands it back despite the unpaid loan. Holding security does not erase the borrower's bodily need. God's command includes his promise to hear the poor, not only a lender's compassion.
Notice
Exodus 22:27 God asks what the borrower will sleep in. The law attends to a body's need for warmth, not only the lender's right to security.
Exodus 22:21-27
King James Version21Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
24And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
26If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
27For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
Exodus 22:28-31
Holy Belonging Shapes Ordinary Duties
The people are warned against reviling sacred authority and cursing their ruler. They must not delay giving first produce and firstborns to God. Young cattle and sheep remain with their mothers seven days and are given on the eighth. The claim on firstborn sons belongs with the redemption already required, not an instruction to kill children. The people must be holy to God and must not eat meat torn by wild animals; it goes to dogs. Speech, offerings, timing, and food all belong within their life before him.
In everyday life
Each fishing-boat partner sets aside the agreed first share of the catch before selling the rest. One checks the date and the ledger instead of postponing the obligation until little remains. The regular act shows that the whole catch is not his alone. Israel's offerings mark holy belonging to God, not a partnership's division of income.
Notice
Exodus 22:30 The newborn animal stays with its mother for seven days. The offering has a stated time, so God's claim does not mean immediate removal at birth.
Exodus 22:28-31
King James Version28Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
29Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
30Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
31And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Exodus 22:1 begins with “If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.”
Where the chapter turns
Exodus 22:15 forms a natural hinge: “But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.”
The final note
Exodus 22:31 leaves the reader with “And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words sheep, field, surely, good, neighbour, owner help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- restitution
- Repayment or replacement that makes good another person's loss.
- usury
- Interest charged on a loan, forbidden here when lending to the poor.
- pledge
- An item held as security until a debt is repaid.
- dam
- The mother of a young animal, especially livestock.
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
