Exodus 22:4
2 If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
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.
If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
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.
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.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
- KJV
- If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
- WEB
- If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.
- ASV
- If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double.
- DARBY
- If the stolen thing be actually found alive in his hand, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall restore double.
- BLB
- If the theft is actually found in his hand alive—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he shall repay double.
- ÅB
- Dersom det han har stjålet, finnes levende hos ham, enten det er en okse eller et esel eller en sau, da skal han gi dobbelt igjen.
- OTB
- Hvis det stjålne elementet blir funnet i live i deres besittelse, enten det er en okse, et esel eller et får, må de betale dobbelt.
- B1930
- Dersom det han har stjålet, finnes levende hos ham, enten det er en okse eller et asen eller et får, da skal han gi dobbelt igjen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 22:7
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.
Read in contextExodus 22:1
“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.
Read in contextExodus 21:16
Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.
Read in contextExodus 22:9
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.
Read in contextProverbs 6:31
Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.
Read in contextRevelation 18:6
Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.
Read in contextJeremiah 16:18
And I will first repay them double their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and they have filled My inheritance with their abominations.”
Read in contextIsaiah 40:2
“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.”
Read in context