Old Testament

Exodus 22

Restitution, Holiness, and the Neighbor

10 passages

Overview

Exodus 22 sets forth a broad collection of case laws from the Covenant Code addressing restitution for theft, straying livestock, and fire damage; the faithful custody of entrusted property; sexual accountability; capital offenses against covenant fidelity; the protection of the alien, widow, and orphan; merciful lending to the poor; and the consecration of firstfruits and firstborn — together revealing that Israel's entire social and ritual life is ordered by God's own holiness and answerable to His direct justice.

Passages

1–4The Measure of What Is Taken: Theft, Life, and the Demands of Justice 5–6The Duty to Make Right: Restitution and the Sanctity of the Neighbor's Good 7–13Sacred Trust: Justice, Oath, and the Neighbor's Goods 14–15Stewardship and Accountability: The Ethics of Borrowed Things 16–17The Obligation of Eros: Sexual Integrity and Covenantal Responsibility 18–20Capital Offenses Against the Covenant Order 21–24The Cry That Reaches Heaven: Justice for the Alien, Widow, and Orphan 25–27The Cloak of the Poor: God's Economy of Mercy 28Tongues Bound by Reverence: The Sanctity of God and Lawful Authority 29–31Firstfruits, Firstborn, and the Holiness of Israel

Study Resources

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Exodus 22

¹“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. ²If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him. ³If the sun has risen on him, he is guilty of bloodshed. He shall make restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. ⁴If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.

⁵“If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten by letting his animal loose, and it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field, and from the best of his own vineyard.

⁶“If fire breaks out, and catches in thorns so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

⁷“If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. ⁸If the thief isn’t found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out whether or not he has put his hand on his neighbor’s goods. ⁹For every matter of trespass, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, about which one says, ‘This is mine,’ the cause of both parties shall come before God. He whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.

¹⁰“If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies or is injured, or driven away, no man seeing it; ¹¹the oath of Yahweh shall be between them both, he has not put his hand on his neighbor’s goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution. ¹²But if it is stolen from him, the one who stole shall make restitution to its owner. ¹³If it is torn in pieces, let him bring it for evidence. He shall not make good that which was torn.

¹⁴“If a man borrows anything of his neighbor’s, and it is injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution. ¹⁵If its owner is with it, he shall not make it good. If it is a leased thing, it came for its lease.

¹⁶“If a man entices a virgin who isn’t pledged to be married, and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife. ¹⁷If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

¹⁸“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.

¹⁹“Whoever has sex with an animal shall surely be put to death.

²⁰“He who sacrifices to any god, except to Yahweh only, shall be utterly destroyed.

²¹“You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

²²“You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. ²³If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry; ²⁴and my wrath will grow 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 any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor. You shall not charge him interest. ²⁶If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down, ²⁷for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What would he sleep in? It will happen, when he cries to me, that I will hear, for I am gracious.

²⁸“You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

²⁹“You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. “You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me.

³⁰You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days, then on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

³¹“You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any meat that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.

Exodus 21 Exodus 23