A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Exodus 22
Chapter summary coming soon.
Verse 1. “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
Verse 2. If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
Verse 3. But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft.
Verse 4. If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
Verse 5. If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray so that they graze in someone else’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.
Verse 6. If a fire breaks out and spreads to thornbushes so that it consumes stacked or standing grain, or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution.
Verse 7. If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.
Verse 8. If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property.
Verse 9. In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, ‘This is mine,’ both parties shall bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.
Verse 10. If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to be cared for by his neighbor, but it dies or is injured or stolen while no one is watching,
Verse 11. an oath before the LORD shall be made between the parties to determine whether or not the man has taken his neighbor’s property. The owner must accept the oath and require no restitution.
Verse 12. But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.
Verse 13. If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.
Verse 14. If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while its owner is not present, he must make full restitution.
Verse 15. If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.
Verse 16. If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife.
Verse 17. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.
Verse 18. You must not allow a sorceress to live.
Verse 19. Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
Verse 20. If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
Verse 21. You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Verse 22. You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.
Verse 23. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
Verse 24. My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.
Verse 25. If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
Verse 26. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
Verse 27. because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
Verse 28. You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
Verse 29. You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
Verse 30. You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.
Verse 31. You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.