Explore the Bible Online

Exodus 22:1-5

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

1. If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. 2. If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, [there shall] no blood [be shed] for him. 3. If the sun be risen upon him, [there shall be] blood [shed] for him; [for] he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4. If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double. 5. If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.

Exodus 22:1-5 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Exodus 22:1

Theological / Devotional

Steal an ox. Verses 1-15 continue the laws relating to the rights of property. The first section, vs. 1-5, has to do with theft. The general principle is set forth that theft is to be punished, if possible, by a fine. In the wilderness the chief property the Israelites possessed was cattle. Since it took more boldness for a thief to carry off an ox than a sheep, the crime bore a heavier penalty.

And kill it. This was considered worse than ordinary stealing, which carried the penalty of a double restoration (see v. 4), for it indicated persistence in wrongdoing. Therefore the offender was to pay more as shown here.

By SdaBc