Exodus 22:11
in Exodus 22an 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
the oath of Jehovah shall be between them both, whether he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods; and the owner thereof shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Exodus 22
Commentary
5 notes on this verseAn oath of the Lord be between them - So solemn and awful were all appeals to God considered in those ancient times, that it was taken for granted that the man was innocent who could by an oath appeal to the omniscient God that he had not put his hand to his neighbor’s goods. Since oaths have become multiplied, and since they have been administered on the most trifling occasions, their solemnity is gone, and their importance little regarded.
This site's exposition
If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass
on Exodus 22:10-11
An animal in a herdsman's care dies or is hurt or is driven off with no man seeing it, which leaves a case that no evidence can decide. The law closes it with an oath of the LORD, and the owner is required to accept it and take no payment. Hebrews 6:16 states the same working rule, that an oath for confirmation is to men an end of all strife, and Adam Clarke notes how much weight an appeal to God carried before oaths became common.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both,....
It is unjust and base, and that which all the world cries shame on, to betray a trust. That there is such a general failing of truth and justice upon earth as gives too much occasion to suspect men's honesty whenever it is their interest to be dishonest.
The religion of an oath is very ancient, and a plain indication of the universal belief of a God, and a providence, and a judgment to come. That magistracy is an ordinance of God, designed, among other intentions, to assist men both in discovering rights disputed and recovering rights denied; and great respect ought to be paid to the determination of the judges.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
IF IT BE TORN IN PIECES — “by a wild beast. ‘Y’VIEIHU EID’ — let him bring witnesses that it has been torn in pieces by accident, and then he will be free from paying.” This is the language of Rashi. But one may wonder.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| שְׁבֻעַ֣ת | shevuat | [the] oath of | H7621 → | |
| יְהוָ֗ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| תִּהְיֶה֙ | tihyeh | it will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בֵּ֣ין | bein | between | H996 → | 407 times |
| שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם | sheneihem | [the] two of them | H8147 → | 768 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| שָׁלַ֛ח | shalach | he had stretched out | H7971 → | 845 times |
| יָד֖וֹ | yado | hand his | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| בִּמְלֶ֣אכֶת | bimlekhet | on [the] property of | H4399 → | 167 times |
| רֵעֵ֑הוּ | reehu | neighbor his | H7453 → | 188 times |
| וְלָקַ֥ח | velakach | and he will accept [it] | H3947 → | 966 times |
| בְּעָלָ֖יו | bealav | owner<s> its | H1167 → | 84 times |
| וְלֹ֥א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ | yeshalem | he will make compensation | H7999 → | 116 times |
שְׁבֻעַ֣ת[the] oath of
shevuatH7621 →
יְהוָ֗הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
תִּהְיֶה֙it will be
tihyehH1961 →3559 times
בֵּ֣יןbetween
beinH996 →407 times
שְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם[the] two of them
sheneihemH8147 →768 times
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
שָׁלַ֛חhe had stretched out
shalachH7971 →845 times
יָד֖וֹhand his
yadoH3027 →1618 times
בִּמְלֶ֣אכֶתon [the] property of
bimlekhetH4399 →167 times
רֵעֵ֑הוּneighbor his
reehuH7453 →188 times
וְלָקַ֥חand he will accept [it]
velakachH3947 →966 times
בְּעָלָ֖יוowner<s> its
bealavH1167 →84 times
וְלֹ֥אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃he will make compensation
yeshalemH7999 →116 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 30:9Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
it leads to
- Hosea 13:6
When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
- Deuteronomy 31:20
When I have brought them into the land that I swore to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat their fill and prosper. Then they will turn to…
- Ezekiel 16:49–50
Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy.
- Deuteronomy 8:10–14
When you eat and are satisfied, you are to bless the LORD your God for the good land that He has given you.
- Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.
- Hosea 13:6
Through
Exodus 23:1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.
it leads to
- Psalms 101:5
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure.
- Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
- Deuteronomy 19:16–21
If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime,
- Psalms 101:5
Where this verse is studied
About Exodus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.