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Protection of Property

22 [a]“If someone steals an ox[b] or sheep and then kills or sells it, the thief must pay back five oxen for each ox stolen, and four sheep for each sheep stolen.

[c]“If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder. But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder.

“A thief who is caught must pay in full for everything he stole. If he cannot pay, he must be sold as a slave to pay for his theft. If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is found in the thief’s possession, then the thief must pay double the value of the stolen animal.

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Footnotes

  1. 22:1a Verse 22:1 is numbered 21:37 in Hebrew text.
  2. 22:1b Or bull, or cow; also in 22:4, 9, 10.
  3. 22:2 Verses 22:2-31 are numbered 22:1-30 in Hebrew text.

22 [a] When someone steals an ox or a sheep and then slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay back five oxen for the one ox or four sheep for the one sheep.

[b] If the thief is caught breaking in and is beaten and dies, the one who killed him won’t be guilty of bloodshed. However, if this happens in broad daylight, then the one who killed him is guilty of bloodshed. For his part, the thief must make good on what he stole. If he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft. If an animal (whether ox, donkey, or sheep) is found alive in the thief’s possession, he must pay back double.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 22:1 21:37 in Heb
  2. Exodus 22:2 22:1 in Heb