CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Exodus 22
Chapter 22 of 40
Chapter Overview
What happens in Exodus 22
God gives laws about theft, property damage, and social responsibility. These laws protect the poor, the stranger, the widow, and the orphan, showing that justice and mercy are at the heart of God's character.
Scripture
Exodus 22
Laws About Theft and Property
Study note
These laws covered everyday situations involving stolen animals, accidental damage to crops, fire spreading to a neighbor's field, and items left in someone's care that were lost or stolen. The penalties were designed to be fair. A thief who stole an ox had to pay back five oxen. If stolen property was found alive, the thief paid double. If someone's animals damaged a neighbor's field, the offender had to repay from the best of his own field. Disputes were settled before judges.
1 "Someone might steal an ox or sheep. They might kill it or sell it. The thief must pay back five oxen for each ox. He must pay four sheep for each sheep." 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.
2 "If a thief is caught breaking in during the night and someone strikes and kills the thief, the one who killed him is not guilty of murder." If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
3 "But if this happens in broad daylight, then the person who killed the thief is guilty. A thief must pay full compensation for whatever was stolen. If the thief owns nothing, then the thief must be sold into servitude to pay for the theft." If 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.
4 "If the stolen animal — whether ox, donkey, or sheep — is found alive and still with the thief, the thief must pay back double." If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
5 "If someone lets their livestock wander into another person's field or vineyard and it feeds there, the owner of the animals must pay back the damage. They must pay using the best produce from their own field or vineyard." If 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.
6 "Someone starts a fire and it gets out of hand. It may spread through thorny bushes. It may destroy cut grain, growing grain, or a whole field. The one who started the fire must pay for all the damage." If 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.
7 "Someone gives money or valuables to a neighbor to keep safe. Those items are stolen from the neighbor's house. If the thief is caught, the thief pays back double." If 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.
8 "If the thief is never found, the homeowner must go before the judges. The judges will decide whether the homeowner took the items." If 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.
9 "When two people argue over who owns something — whether it is an ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or anything else that is lost — both sides must go before the judges. The one the judges say is wrong must pay the other person double." For 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.
10 "Someone puts a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal in a neighbor's care. The animal dies, gets hurt, or goes missing when no one is watching." If 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:
11 "the caretaker must take an oath before the Lord, swearing that they did not steal the animal. The owner must accept this sworn statement, and no payment is owed." Then 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.
12 "But what if the animal was stolen while the caretaker had it? Then the caretaker must pay the owner back." And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
13 "If a wild animal killed it, the caretaker should bring the torn remains as proof. No payment is required for an animal killed by wild beasts." If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.
14 "Someone borrows an animal from a neighbor. The animal gets hurt or dies while the owner is away. The one who borrowed it must pay the full value." And 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.
15 "But if the owner was there at the time, no payment is necessary. If the animal was rented, the rental fee is considered sufficient to cover the loss." 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.
Laws About Social and Moral Responsibility
Study note
These laws showed God's deep concern for vulnerable people. Foreigners were not to be mistreated because the Israelites had been foreigners in Egypt. Widows and orphans were under God's special protection. Lending money to the poor with interest was forbidden. If someone took a neighbor's coat as security for a loan, it had to be returned by nightfall because the poor person needed it for warmth. God warned that He would hear the cries of the oppressed and respond with fierce anger. The people were also to give their firstfruits to God and live as holy people.
16 "If a man persuades an unmarried, unengaged young woman to sleep with him, he must pay the full bride price and marry her." And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
17 "If her father will not let her marry the man, the man must still pay. He must pay an amount equal to the usual bride price." If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18 "A woman who practices sorcery must not be allowed to live." Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
19 "Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal must be put to death." Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
20 "Anyone who offers gifts to any god other than the Lord must be fully destroyed." He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
21 "Do not mistreat or push around foreigners. Remember — you were once foreigners yourselves, living in Egypt." Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
22 "Never take advantage of widows or children who have lost their parents." Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
23 "If you do mistreat them and they cry out to me for help, you can be sure I will hear them." If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
24 "My anger will blaze against you, and I will destroy you in battle. Then your own wives will become widows and your own children will be left without a father." And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25 "If you lend money to one of my people who is poor, do not act like a loan shark. Do not charge them interest." If 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.
26 "If you take someone's coat as a guarantee that they will repay a loan, give the coat back before the sun goes down." If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
27 "That coat might be the only thing your neighbor has to stay warm at night. What else would they sleep under? If they cry out to me, I will hear them — because I am a compassionate God." For 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.
28 "Do not insult God, and do not curse the leader of your people." Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
29 "Do not hold back your harvest offerings or your wine. Give me your firstborn sons." Thou 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.
30 "Do the same with your cattle and sheep. Let the young animal stay with its mother for seven days. On the eighth day, give it to me." Likewise 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.
31 "I want you to be my holy people. Do not eat meat from an animal that has been killed by wild beasts in the field. Throw it to the dogs instead." 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.
Key Themes
Themes in Exodus 22
Responsibility for personal propertyProtection of the vulnerable: widows, orphans, and foreignersHonest dealings in community lifeGod's compassion for the poor and needy
Prophetic Connections
How this chapter points to Christ
Exodus 21-24 James 1:27
James echoes the concern for widows and orphans, calling care for them the essence of pure religion.
Apply This Today
Living Exodus 22
God's law consistently shows special concern for widows, orphans, and foreigners — those who had no one to protect them. This tells us something essential about God's character: He stands with the vulnerable. We honor God when we look out for those who are easily overlooked or mistreated in our communities.
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