Exodus 22:8
in Exodus 22If 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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbor’s goods.
KJV
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
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This verse in Exodus 22
Commentary
5 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping
on Exodus 22:7-9
Goods left with a neighbour for safekeeping go missing, and when no thief can be found the keeper himself is brought before the judges. The double penalty falls on whichever party the court condemns, which puts a false claim at the same price as a theft.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
If the thief be not found,....
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 Nineteenth Century2 voices
Unto the judges - See Clarke’s note on Exo 21:6.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
It would appear that if the master of the house would clear himself of imputation, the loss of the pledged article fell upon its owner.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אִם־ | ʾim- | if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לֹ֤א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יִמָּצֵא֙ | yimatze' | he will be found | H4672 → | 455 times |
| הַגַּנָּ֔ב | haganav | the thief | H1590 → | 17 times |
| וְנִקְרַ֥ב | venikrav | and he will be brought near | H7126 → | 280 times |
| בַּֽעַל־ | baal- | [the] master of | H1167 → | 84 times |
| הַבַּ֖יִת | habayit | the house | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים | haelohim | the judges | H430 → | 2601 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 |
| בִּמְלֶ֥אכֶת | bimlekhet | on [the] property of | H4399 → | 167 times |
| רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ | reehu | neighbor his | H7453 → | 188 times |
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
לֹ֤אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יִמָּצֵא֙he will be found
yimatze'H4672 →455 times
הַגַּנָּ֔בthe thief
haganavH1590 →17 times
וְנִקְרַ֥בand he will be brought near
venikravH7126 →280 times
בַּֽעַל־[the] master of
baal-H1167 →84 times
הַבַּ֖יִתthe house
habayitH1004 →2046 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑יםthe judges
haelohimH430 →2601 times
אִם־if
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
שָׁלַ֛חhe had stretched out
shalachH7971 →845 times
יָד֖וֹhand his
yadoH3027 →1618 times
בִּמְלֶ֥אכֶתon [the] property of
bimlekhetH4399 →167 times
רֵעֵֽהוּ׃neighbor his
reehuH7453 →188 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
Psalms 82:1God presides in the divine assembly; He renders judgment among the gods:
it leads to
- John 10:35
If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
- 2 Chronicles 19:6–7
Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.
- Psalms 82:6–7
I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’
- Isaiah 3:13
The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8
If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished at the matter; for one official is watched by a superior, and…
- John 10:35
Through
Exodus 22:28You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 10:20
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your…
- Acts 23:5
“Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
- Jude 1:8
Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings.
- Ecclesiastes 10:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
On this verse
About Exodus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.