Skip to main content
Psalmlog Logo

Exodus 22

Exodus 22 places property disputes, protection of vulnerable people, and exclusive worship under the authority of Israel’s holy God.

God’s laws for Israel turn to stolen livestock, damaged fields, and disputes over property entrusted to a neighbor. Restitution depends on what happened and who bears responsibility; a thief unable to repay may be sold. The laws then address sexual conduct, offenses carrying death penalties, and the treatment of people exposed to exploitation. God forbids oppression of foreigners, widows, and fatherless children, protects poor borrowers, and requires reverence, offerings, and holiness from his people.

sermon or Bible study notesinjustice and anger
Read
1“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.
3If the sun has risen on him, he is guilty of bloodshed. He shall make restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.
5“If a man causes a field or vineyard to be eaten by letting his animal loose, and it grazes in another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field, and from the best of his own vineyard.
6“If fire breaks out, and catches in thorns so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7“If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double.
8If the thief isn’t found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out whether or not he has put his hand on his neighbor’s goods.
9For every matter of trespass, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, about which one says, ‘This is mine,’ the cause of both parties shall come before God. He whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.
10“If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies or is injured, or driven away, no man seeing it;
11the oath of the LORD shall be between them both, he has not put his hand on his neighbor’s goods; and its owner shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
12But if it is stolen from him, the one who stole shall make restitution to its owner.
13If it is torn in pieces, let him bring it for evidence. He shall not make good that which was torn.
14“If a man borrows anything of his neighbor’s, and it is injured, or dies, its owner not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.
17If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
18“You shall not allow a sorceress to live.
19“Whoever has sex with an animal shall surely be put to death.
20“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.
21“You shall not wrong an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
22“You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.
23If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry;
24and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
25“If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be to him as a creditor. You shall not charge him interest.
26If you take your neighbor’s garment as collateral, you shall restore it to him before the sun goes down,
27for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What would he sleep in? It will happen, when he cries to me, that I will hear, for I am gracious.
28“You shall not blaspheme God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
29“You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. “You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me.
30You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days, then on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
31“You shall be holy men to me, therefore you shall not eat any meat that is torn by animals in the field. You shall cast it to the dogs.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Exodus 22:28This command places speech about God and Israel’s rulers within the chapter’s demands for reverence and order.
Exodus 22:29The command concerning harvest offerings and firstborn sons asserts God’s claim on Israel’s produce and households.
Exodus 22:21Israel’s experience as foreigners in Egypt becomes the stated reason for refusing to oppress foreigners among them.
Where this chapter reaches

Deuteronomy and Leviticus share laws concerning restitution, protection of foreigners, and limits on lending to poor people, placing these matters under God’s authority. Ezekiel shares the condemnation of oppression and taking interest, while Proverbs shares the warning that God defends vulnerable people against those who exploit them.

Exodus 22's chapter linksAll strongest linksHover or tap a book
Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What distinctions do these laws make between deliberate theft, careless harm, and loss beyond someone’s control?

Write on this

What does God’s promise to hear the oppressed reveal about the commands concerning loans and collateral?

Write on this

Questions people ask about Exodus 22

What does restitution mean in Exodus 22?

Restitution means repaying a person for theft or damage. The amount varies: stolen livestock found alive requires double repayment, while an ox killed or sold requires five oxen. Damage caused by grazing or fire also requires compensation. The laws distinguish responsibility from losses for which a keeper owes nothing.

Who is the alien in Exodus 22:21?

The alien is a foreigner living among Israel’s people. The command forbids wronging or oppressing that person and grounds the prohibition in Israel’s own experience as foreigners in Egypt. It stands beside protections for widows and fatherless children, people whose circumstances could leave them exposed to exploitation.

Why does Exodus 22:18 command death for a sorceress?

The verse treats sorcery as a capital offense within Israel’s covenant law. It appears beside death penalties for sex with animals and sacrifice to other gods, within commands requiring holiness and allegiance to YHWH. The verse gives no definition of the practice or procedure for trying an accusation.

Read it. Now write it.

Start an entry on Exodus 22. Your words go beside the text, and you get one next step for the week.

Exodus · 40 chapters
12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940
What the Bible says about anger →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).