Exodus · 31 verses
Exodus 22
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
A cloak taken as collateral must be returned before sunset, because its owner has nothing else to sleep in; the law even asks, “What else will he sleep in?”
The cost of a missing beastvv. 1–15
An ox that has been stolen and slaughtered commands five oxen in return; a sheep, four. A thief caught breaking in by night may die without bloodguilt, but after sunrise the matter changes: restitution is due, and a penniless thief may be sold for the theft. The rules then follow damage through fields, fires, safekeeping, disputed property, unattended animals, borrowing, and rental. Evidence matters—a torn carcass will do—and sometimes an oath ends the quarrel with no payment at all.
A sharp turnvv. 16–20
A seduced virgin brings a dowry into the reckoning, even if her father refuses the marriage. Then the language becomes abruptly final: a sorceress must not live, a man lying with an animal must die, and sacrifice to any god but the LORD brings destruction.
The cloak, the cry, and the eighth dayvv. 21–31
The foreign resident, widow, orphan, and poor neighbour are placed under particular protection. A mistreated widow or orphan cries out, and the threatened reversal is wonderfully exact: the offenders’ wives become widows and their children fatherless. A borrowed cloak must come back by sunset, since it is the only covering available for the night. At the end, offerings are not to be held back: cattle and sheep remain seven days with their mothers, then arrive on the eighth.
The text
Read it
Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
Exod 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.
Exod 22:2If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
Exod 22:3But 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.
Exod 22:4If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
Exod 22:5If 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.
Exod 22:6If 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.
Exod 22:7If 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.
Exod 22:8If 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.
Exod 22:9In 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.
Exod 22:10If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to be cared for by his neighbor, but it dies or is injured or stolen while no one is watching,
Exod 22:11an 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.
Exod 22:12But if the animal was actually stolen from the neighbor, he must make restitution to the owner.
Exod 22:13If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.
Exod 22:14If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies while its owner is not present, he must make full restitution.
Exod 22:15If the owner was present, no restitution is required. If the animal was rented, the fee covers the loss.
Exod 22:16If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife.
Exod 22:17If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.
Exod 22:18You must not allow a sorceress to live.
Exod 22:19Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.
Exod 22:20If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
Exod 22:21You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
Exod 22:22You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.
Exod 22:23If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
Exod 22:24My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.
Exod 22:25If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
Exod 22:26If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
Exod 22:27because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
Exod 22:28You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
Exod 22:29You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
Exod 22:30You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.
Exod 22:31You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.’’
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 252 passages were voted onto 31 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 18Leviticus 20:27A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist must surely be put to death. They shall be stoned; their blood is upon them.’”
- 16Deuteronomy 22:28–29If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered,
- 18Deuteronomy 18:10–11Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,
- 2Matthew 24:43But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
- 181 Samuel 28:3Now by this time Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had removed the mediums and spiritists from the land.
- 18Leviticus 20:6Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists to prostitute himself with them, I will also set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.
- 25Leviticus 25:35–37Now if your countryman becomes destitute and cannot support himself among you, then you are to help him as you would a foreigner or stranger, so that he can continue to live among you.
- 25Psalms 15:5who lends his money without interest and refuses a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
- 12 Samuel 12:6Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”
- 1Luke 19:8But 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.”
- 28Ecclesiastes 10:20Do 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 speech.
- 28Acts 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.’”
- 30Leviticus 22:27“When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a food offering presented to the LORD.
- 9Deuteronomy 25:1If 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.
- 18Revelation 22:15But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
- 18Leviticus 19:31You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
Onward