Exodus 22
New American Standard Bible
Property Rights
22 “[a]If someone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and (A)four sheep for the sheep— 2 [b]If the (B)thief is [c]caught while [d]breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no guilt for bloodshed on his account. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there will be guilt for bloodshed on his account—A thief shall certainly make restitution; if he owns nothing, then he shall be (C)sold for his theft. 4 If what he stole is actually found alive in his [e]possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, (D)he shall pay double.
5 “If someone lets a field or vineyard be grazed bare and lets his animal loose so that it grazes in another person’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, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, the one who started the fire must make restitution.
7 “(E)If someone gives his neighbor money or goods to keep for him and it is stolen from the [f]neighbor’s house, if the thief is [g]caught, then the thief shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not [h]caught, then the owner of the house shall [i]appear before [j](F)the judges, to determine whether he [k]laid his hands on his neighbor’s property. 9 For every [l]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 [m]case of both parties shall come before [n](G)the judges; he whom [o]the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.
10 “If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking, 11 an (H)oath before the Lord shall be [p]taken by the two of them [q]that he has not [r]laid a hand on his neighbor’s property; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not be compelled to 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, have him bring it as evidence; he shall not be compelled to make restitution for what has been torn to pieces.
14 “And if someone [s]borrows an animal 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, the borrower shall not be compelled to make restitution. If it is hired, it [t]came by its hire.
Various Laws
16 “(I)If a man seduces a virgin who is not [u]betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a [v]dowry for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he shall [w]pay money equal to the (J)dowry for virgins.
18 “You shall not allow a (K)sorceress to live.
19 “(L)Whoever has sexual intercourse with an animal must be put to death.
20 “(M)He who sacrifices to [x]any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be [y]utterly destroyed.
21 “(N)You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 (O)You shall not oppress any widow or orphan. 23 If you oppress him at all, and (P)if he does cry out to Me, (Q)I will assuredly hear his cry; 24 and My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword, (R)and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
25 “(S)If you lend money to My people, to the poor [z]among you, you are not to [aa]act as a creditor to him; you shall not [ab]charge him (T)interest. 26 If you ever seize your neighbor’s cloak (U)as a pledge, you are to return it to him before the sun sets, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his [ac]body. What else is he to sleep in? And it will come about that (V)when he cries out to Me, I will listen to him, for (W)I am gracious.
28 “You shall not [ad](X)curse God, (Y)nor curse a ruler of your people.
29 “(Z)You shall not hold back the offering from your entire harvest and your [ae]wine. (AA)The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me. 30 (AB)You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; (AC)on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.
31 “(AD)You shall be holy people to Me, therefore (AE)you shall not eat any flesh torn to pieces in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Footnotes
- Exodus 22:1 Ch 21:37 in Heb
- Exodus 22:2 Ch 22:1 in Heb
- Exodus 22:2 Lit found
- Exodus 22:2 I.e., at night; cf. v 3
- Exodus 22:4 Lit hand
- Exodus 22:7 Lit man’s
- Exodus 22:7 Lit found
- Exodus 22:8 Lit found
- Exodus 22:8 Lit approach to
- Exodus 22:8 Or God
- Exodus 22:8 Lit stretched his hand
- Exodus 22:9 Or matter of wrongdoing
- Exodus 22:9 Lit matter
- Exodus 22:9 Or God
- Exodus 22:9 Or God
- Exodus 22:11 Lit between the two
- Exodus 22:11 Lit if
- Exodus 22:11 Lit reached out his hand
- Exodus 22:14 Lit asks
- Exodus 22:15 I.e., the fee covers the loss
- Exodus 22:16 A betrothed couple was considered legally married, but did not yet live together
- Exodus 22:16 I.e., bride-price
- Exodus 22:17 Lit weigh out silver
- Exodus 22:20 Lit the gods
- Exodus 22:20 Lit put under the ban
- Exodus 22:25 Lit with
- Exodus 22:25 Lit be
- Exodus 22:25 Lit lay upon
- Exodus 22:27 Lit skin
- Exodus 22:28 Or revile
- Exodus 22:29 Lit juice
Exodus 22
Amplified Bible
Property Rights
22 “If a man steals an ox or sheep and kills or sells it, he shall make restitution of five oxen for an ox or four sheep for a sheep.
2 “If a thief is caught breaking in [after dark] and is struck [by the owner] so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him. 3 But if the sun has risen, there will be bloodguilt for him. The thief [if he lives] must make [full] restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold [as a slave to make restitution] for his theft. 4 If the animal that he stole is found alive in his possession, whether it is ox or donkey or sheep, he shall pay double [for it].
5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed bare or lets his livestock 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 fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes so that the stacked grain or standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.
7 “If a man gives his neighbor money or [other] goods to keep [for him while he is away] and it is stolen from the neighbor’s house, then, if the thief is caught, he shall pay double [for it]. 8 If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall appear before the judges [who act in God’s name], to determine whether or not he had stolen his neighbor’s goods. 9 For every offense involving property, whether it concerns ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any piece of lost property, which another identifies as his, the case of both parties shall come before the judges [who act in God’s name]. Whomever the judges pronounce guilty shall pay double to his neighbor.
10 “If a man gives his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any [other] animal to keep [for him], and it dies or is injured or taken away while no one is looking, 11 then an oath before the Lord shall be made by the two of them that he has not taken his neighbor’s property; and the owner of it shall accept his word and not require him to make restitution. 12 But if it is actually stolen from him [when in his care], he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn to pieces [by some predator or by accident], let him bring the mangled carcass as evidence; he shall not make restitution for what was torn to pieces.
14 “And if a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it gets injured or dies while its owner is not with it, the borrower shall make full restitution. 15 But if the owner is with it [when the damage is done], the borrower shall not make restitution. If it was hired, the damage is included in [the price of] its fee.
Various Laws
16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he must pay a dowry (marriage price) for her to be his wife. 17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must [still] pay money equivalent to the dowry of virgins.
18 “You shall not allow a woman who practices sorcery to live.
19 “Whoever lies with an animal must be put to death.(A)
20 “He who sacrifices to any god, other than to the Lord alone, shall be put under a ban (designated) for destruction (execution).
21 “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 You shall not harm or oppress any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you harm or oppress them in any way, and they cry at all to Me [for help], I will most certainly hear their cry; 24 and My wrath shall be kindled and burn; I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
25 “If you lend money to any one of My people with you who is poor, you shall not act as a creditor (professional moneylender) to him; you shall not charge him interest. 26 If you ever take your [poor] neighbor’s robe in pledge, you must return it to him before sunset, 27 for that is his only covering; it is his clothing for his body. In what shall he sleep? And when he cries to Me [for help], I will hear him, for I am compassionate and gracious.
28 “You shall not curse God, nor curse the ruler of your people [since he administers God’s law].(B)
29 “You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. You shall give (consecrate, dedicate) to Me the firstborn of your sons.(C) 30 You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it [as an offering] to Me.
31 “You shall be [a]holy men to Me; therefore you shall not eat meat [from any animal] that has been torn to pieces [by predators] in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.
Footnotes
- Exodus 22:31 The commandments given to Israel by the Lord were designed in part to separate them from the world and identify them as His chosen people.
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