Exodus 22:4 BSB — MannaFest

Exodus 22:4

If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double.

KJV

If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

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Commentary

3 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

He shall restore double - In no case of theft was the life of the offender taken away; the utmost that the law says on this point is, that, if when found breaking into a house, he should be smitten so as to die, no blood should be shed for him; Exo 22:2. If he had stolen and sold the property, then he was to restore four or fivefold, Exo 22:1; but if the animal was found alive in his possession, he was to restore double.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Thus he must both satisfy for the wrong and suffer for the crime. But it was afterwards provided that if the thief were touched in conscience, and voluntarily confessed it, before it was discovered or enquired into by any other, then he should only make restitution of what he had stolen, and add to it a fifth part, Lev. vi.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The penalty for the theft of a sheep which was slain or sold, was fourfold; for an ox fivefold, because of its greater utility in labor; but, should the stolen animal have been recovered alive, a double compensation was all that was required, because it was presumable he (the thief) was not a practised adept in dishonesty.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

13 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
אִֽם־	'im-	if	H518 →
הִמָּצֵא֩	hi.ma.Tze'	actually <be found>	H4672 →
תִמָּצֵ֨א	ti.ma.Tze'	it will be found	H4672 →
בְיָד֜וֹ	ve.ya.Do	in hand his	H3027 →
הַגְּנֵבָ֗ה	ha.ge.ne.Vah	the thing stolen	H1591 →
מִשּׁ֧וֹר	mi.Shor	from an ox	H7794 →
עַד־	'ad-	unto	H5704 →
חֲמ֛וֹר	cha.Mor	a donkey	H2543 →
עַד־	'ad-	unto	H5704 →
שֶׂ֖ה	seh	a sheep	H7716 →
חַיִּ֑ים	chai.Yim	alive	H2416 →
שְׁנַ֖יִם	she.Na.yim	twofold	H8147 →
יְשַׁלֵּֽם׃ ס	ye.sha.Lem	he will make restitution	H7999 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Exodus 21:16
Whoever kidnaps another man must be put to death, whether he sells him or the man is found in his possession.
leads to
- Deuteronomy 24:7
  If a man is caught kidnapping one of his Israelite brothers, whether he treats him as a slave or sells him, the kidnapper must die. So you must purge the evil from among you.
- 1 Timothy 1:10
  for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching
Through
Revelation 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.
leads to
- Jeremiah 50:29
  Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has…
- Psalms 137:8
  O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us.
- Jeremiah 50:15
  Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD,…
Through
Exodus 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.
leads to
- 2 Samuel 12:6
  Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”
- Luke 19:8
  But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”
Through
Exodus 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.…
leads to
- Deuteronomy 25:1
  If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.