Exodus 22

Laws About Restitution

1 1 "If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and c four sheep for a sheep. 2 2 If a thief is found d breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, 3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then e he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the stolen beast f is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, g he shall pay double.

5 "If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets his beast loose and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best in his own field and in his own vineyard.

6 "If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.

7 "If a man gives to his neighbor money or goods to keep safe, and it is stolen from the man's house, then, if the thief is found, g he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. 9 For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, 'This is it,' the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.

10 "If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it, 11 h an oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution. 12 But if i it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner. 13 If it is torn by beasts, let him bring it as evidence. He shall not make restitution for what has been torn.

14 "If a man borrows anything of his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the owner not being with it, he shall make full restitution. 15 If the owner was with it, he shall not make restitution; if it was hired, it came for its hiring fee. 3

Laws About Social Justice

16 j "If a man seduces a virgin 4 who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price 5 for her and make her his wife. 17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, j he shall pay money equal to the k bride-price for virgins.

18 l "You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

19 m "Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.

20 n "Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction. 6

21 o "You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 22 p You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. 23 If you do mistreat them, and they q cry out to me, I will surely r hear their cry, 24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and s your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

25 t "If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. 26 u If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, 27 for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he q cries to me, I will hear, for I am v compassionate.

28 w "You shall not revile God, nor w curse a ruler of your people.

29 "You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. x The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. 30 y You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: z seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

31 a "You shall be consecrated to me. Therefore b you shall not eat any flesh that is torn by beasts in the field; c you shall throw it to the dogs.

  1. Cross References
    2 Samuel 12:6
    And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
    Proverbs 6:31
    But if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.
    Luke 19:8
    And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.
  2. Cross References
    Matthew 24:43
    But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 21:2
    When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 21:16
    Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 22:1
    If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 22:4
    If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
  7. Cross References
    Hebrews 6:16
    For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 31:39
    What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
  9. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 22:28 - 29
    If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 22:16
    If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 34:12
    Ask me for as great a bride price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.
    1 Samuel 18:25
    Then Saul said, "Thus shall you say to David, 'The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
  12. Cross References
    Leviticus 19:26
    You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in i...
    Leviticus 19:31
    Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not ...
    Leviticus 20:27
    "A man or a woman who is a medium or a necroman...
    Deuteronomy 18:10 - 11
    There shall not be found among you anyone who b...
    1 Samuel 28:3
    Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned...
    1 Samuel 28:9
    The woman said to him, "Surely you know what Sa...
  13. Cross References
    Leviticus 18:23
    And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.
    Leviticus 20:15
    If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal.
    Deuteronomy 27:21
    "'Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'
  14. Cross References
    Numbers 25:2
    These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
    Numbers 25:7 - 8
    When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand
    Joshua 23:16
    If you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.
    Deuteronomy 13:1 - 15
    If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder.
    Deuteronomy 17:2 - 5
    If there is found among you, within any of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, in transgressing his covenant.
  15. Cross References
    Exodus 23:9
    You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the...
    Leviticus 19:33
    When a stranger sojourns with you in your land,...
    Deuteronomy 10:18 - 19
    He executes justice for the fatherless and the ...
    Jeremiah 7:6
    If you do not oppress the sojourner, the father...
    Zechariah 7:10
    Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the s...
    Malachi 3:5
    Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I wi...
  16. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 24:17
    You shall not pervert the justice due to the so...
    Deuteronomy 27:19
    "'Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due...
    Psalms 94:6
    They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murd...
    Isaiah 1:17
    Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppress...
    Isaiah 1:23
    Your princes are rebels and companions of thiev...
    Isaiah 10:2
    To turn aside the needy from justice and to rob...
    Ezekiel 22:7
    Father and mother are treated with contempt in ...
    Zechariah 7:10
    Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the s...
    James 1:27
    Religion that is pure and undefiled before God,...
  17. Cross References
    Job 34:28
    So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted -
    Luke 18:7
    And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
  18. Cross References
    Psalms 18:6
    In my distress I called upon the Lord ; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.
    Psalms 145:19
    He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
    James 5:4
    Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
  19. Cross References
    Psalms 109:9
    May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow!
    Lamentations 5:3
    We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows.
  20. Cross References
    Leviticus 25:35 - 37
    If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintai...
    Deuteronomy 23:19 - 20
    You shall not charge interest on loans to your ...
    Nehemiah 5:7
    I took counsel with myself, and I brought charg...
    Psalms 15:5
    Who does not put out his money at interest and ...
    Proverbs 28:8
    Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and p...
    Ezekiel 18:8
    Does not lend at interest or take any profit, w...
    Ezekiel 18:13
    Lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he t...
    Ezekiel 18:17
    Withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no inte...
    Ezekiel 22:12
    In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take...
  21. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 24:13
    You shall restore to him the pledge as the sun ...
    Deuteronomy 24:17
    You shall not pervert the justice due to the so...
    Proverbs 20:16
    Take a man's garment when he has put up securit...
    Ezekiel 18:7
    Does not oppress anyone, but restores to the de...
    Ezekiel 18:16
    Does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, comm...
    Amos 2:8
    They lay themselves down beside every altar on ...
    Proverbs 22:27
    If you have nothing with which to pay, why shou...
  22. Cross References
    Exodus 22:23
    If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry.
  23. Cross References
    Exodus 34:6
    The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
    2 Chronicles 30:9
    For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.
    Nehemiah 9:17
    They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.
  24. Cross References
    Acts 23:5
    And Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'
    2 Samuel 19:21
    Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord 's anointed?
    Ecclesiastes 10:20
    Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
    Jude 1:8
    Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
  25. Cross References
    Acts 23:5
    And Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.
    2 Samuel 19:21
    Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered, "Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord 's anointed?
    Ecclesiastes 10:20
    Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
    Jude 1:8
    Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.
  26. Cross References
    Exodus 13:2
    "Consecrate to me all the firstborn. Whatever is the first to open the womb among the people of Israel, both of man and of beast, is mine."
  27. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 15:19
    All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the Lord your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
  28. Cross References
    Leviticus 22:27
    When an ox or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as a food offering to the Lord.
  29. Cross References
    Exodus 19:6
    And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.
    Leviticus 11:44 - 45
    For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground.
  30. Cross References
    Leviticus 22:8
    He shall not eat what dies of itself or is torn by beasts, and so make himself unclean by it: I am the Lord.
    Ezekiel 4:14
    Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I have never defiled myself. From my youth up till now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has tainted meat come into my mouth.
    Ezekiel 44:31
    The priests shall not eat of anything, whether bird or beast, that has died of itself or is torn by wild animals.
  31. Cross References
    Matthew 7:6
    Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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