Laws of Restitution and Justice
Exodus 22
This chapter continues the ordinances with laws of restitution for theft and damage to fields or property left in trust, and rules concerning borrowed goods and the seduction of an unbetrothed woman. It also commands justice and kindness toward strangers, widows, orphans, and the poor, along with instructions for offering the firstfruits and firstborn to the Lord.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonIf a thief be found in the act of breaking in and be struck and die, he who struck him is not liable to death;
BrentonAnd if the thief be found in the breach made by himself and be smitten and die, there shall not be blood shed for him.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἐν τῷ διορύγματι εὑρεθῇ ὁ κλέπτης, καὶ πληγεὶς ἀποθάνῃ, οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ φόνος.
KJVIf a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
JPSIf a thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.
2
Thomsonbut if the sun was risen upon him he is liable and may be put to death.
BrentonBut if the sun be risen upon him, he is guilty, he shall die instead; and if a thief have nothing, let him be sold in compensation for what he has stolen.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀνατείλῃ ὁ ἥλιος ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, ἔνοχός ἐστιν, ἀνταποθανεῖται· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ὑπάρχῃ αὐτῷ, πραθήτω ἀντὶ τοῦ κλέμματος.
KJVIf 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.
JPSIf the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him—he shall make restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
3
ThomsonIf a thief hath no property, let him be sold for the theft. If the thing stolen, whatever it be from an ass to a sheep, be left alive and found in his hand, he shall be fined double.
BrentonAnd if the thing stolen be left and be in his hand alive, whether ox or sheep, he shall restore them two-fold.
GreekἘὰν δὲ καταλειφθῇ καὶ εὑρεθῇ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ τὸ κλέμμα ἀπό τε ὄνου ἕως προβάτου ζῶντα, διπλᾶ αὐτὰ ἀποτίσει.
KJVIf the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
JPSIf the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double.
4
ThomsonIf any man cause a field or a vineyard to be eaten and shall send out his cattle to feed upon the field of another, with the produce of his own field he shall make restitution; and if he shall cause a whole field to be eaten up, with his choicest field or his choicest vineyard he shall make compensation.
BrentonAnd if any one should feed down a field or a vineyard, and should send in his beast to feed down another field, he shall make compensation of his own field according to his produce; and if he shall have fed down the whole field, he shall pay for compensation the best of his own field and the best of his vineyard.
GreekἘὰν δὲ καταβοσκήσῃ τις ἀγρὸν ἢ ἀμπελῶνα, καὶ ἀφῇ τὸ κτῆνος αὐτοῦ καταβοσκῆσαι ἀγρὸν ἕτερον, ἀποτίσει ἐκ τοῦ ἀγροῦ αὐτοῦ κατὰ τὸ γέννημα αὐτοῦ· ἐὰν δὲ πάντα τὸν ἀγρὸν καταβοσκήσῃ, τὰ βέλτιστα τοῦ ἀγροῦ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ βέλτιστα τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος αὐτοῦ ἀποτίσει.
KJVIf 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.
JPSIf a man cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it 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.
5
ThomsonIf a fire break out and catch in thorns and consume corn on the threshing floors or on the stalk, or in the field, he who kindled the fire shall make compensation.
BrentonAnd if fire have gone forth and caught thorns, and should also set on fire threshing-floors or ears of corn or a field, he that kindled the fire shall make compensation.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἐξελθὸν πῦρ εὕρῃ ἀκάνθας, καὶ προσεμπρήσῃ ἅλωνας ἢ στάχυς ἢ πεδίον, ἀποτίσει ὁ τὸ πῦρ ἐκκαύσας.
KJVIf fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
JPSIf fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
6
ThomsonIf any man deliver to his neighbour money or furniture to keep, and they be stolen out of the man’s house;
BrentonAnd if any one give to his neighbour money or goods to keep, and they be stolen out of the man's house, if the thief be found, he shall repay double.
GreekἘὰν δέ τις δῷ τῷ πλησίον ἀργύριον ἢ σκεύη φυλάξαι, καὶ κλαπῇ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, ἐὰν εὑρεθῇ ὁ κλέψας, ἀποτίσει τὸ διπλοῦν.
KJVIf a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.
JPSIf a man deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double.
7
Thomsonthe thief, if he be found, shall be fined double. But if the thief cannot be found, the owner of the house shall go before God and be examined on oath whether he may not in some manner have acted wrong touching the deposit of his neighbour.
BrentonBut if the thief be not found, the master of the house shall come forward before God, and shall swear that surely he has not wrought wickedly in regard of any part of his neighbour's deposit,
GreekἘὰν δὲ μὴ εὑρεθῇ ὁ κλέψας, προσελεύσεται ὁ κύριος τῆς οἰκίας ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ὀμεῖται ἦ μὴν μὴ αὐτὸν πεπονηρεῦσθαι ἐφʼ ὅλης τῆς παρακαταθήκης τοῦ πλησίον,
KJVIf 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.
JPSIf 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 neighbour’s goods.
8
ThomsonOn every supposed act of injustice touching an ox or an ass or a sheep or raiment or any kind of deposit which is lost, whatever it may be, the cause of both parties shall come before God, and he whom God pointeth out shall pay his neighbour twofold.
Brentonaccording to every injury alleged, both concerning a calf, and an ass, and a sheep, and a garment, and every alleged loss, whatsoever in fact it may be,—the judgment of both shall proceed before God, and he that is convicted by God shall repay to his neighbour double.
Greekκατὰ πᾶν ῥητὸν ἀδίκημα, περί τε μόσχου, καὶ ὑποζυγίου, καὶ προβάτου, καὶ ἱματίου, καὶ πάσης ἀπωλίας τῆς ἐνκαλουμένης· ὅ, τι οὖν ἂν ᾖ, ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐλεύσεται ἡ κρίσις ἀμφοτέρων, καὶ ὁ ἁλοὺς διὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀποτίσει διπλοῦν τῷ πλησίον.
KJV—
JPSFor every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith: 'This is it,' the cause of both parties shall come before God; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbour.
9
ThomsonAnd if a man deliver to his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast to keep, and it be hurt or die, or be carried off by an enemy unknown to anyone,
BrentonAnd if any one give to his neighbour to keep a calf or sheep or any beast, and it be wounded or die or be taken, and no one know,
GreekἘὰν δέ τις δῷ τῷ πλησίον ὑποζύγιον ἢ μόσχον ἢ πρόβατον ἢ πᾶν κτῆνος φυλάξαι, καὶ συντριβῇ ἢ τελευτήσῃ ἢ αἰχμάλωτον γένηται, καὶ μηδεὶς γνῷ,
KJVIf a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
JPSIf a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep, and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it;
10
Thomsonthere shall be an oath of God between the parties, that he hath not in any manner acted wrong touching the deposit of his neighbour; and the owner shall thus be satisfied; and the other shall not make it good.
Brentonan oath of God shall be between both, each swearing that he has surely not at all been guilty in the matter of his neighbour's deposit; and so his master shall hold him guiltless, and he shall not make compensation.
Greekὅρκος ἔσται τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀνὰ μέσον ἀμφοτέρων, ἦ μὴν μὴ αὐτὸν πεπονηρεῦσθαι καθόλου τῆς παρακαταθήκης τοῦ πλησίον· καὶ οὕτως προσδέξεται ὁ κύριος αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐκ ἀποτίσει.
KJVThen shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
JPSthe oath of the LORD shall be between them both, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner thereof shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.
11
ThomsonBut if it be stolen from him he shall make restitution to the owner;
BrentonAnd if it be stolen from him, he shall make compensation to the owner.
GreekἘὰν δὲ κλαπῇ παρʼ αὐτοῦ, ἀποτίσει τῷ κυρίῳ·
KJVAnd if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
JPSBut if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
12
Thomsonand if it be torn by wild beasts he shall bring the owner to the prey and shall not make compensation.
BrentonAnd if it be seized of beasts, he shall bring him to witness the prey, and he shall not make compensation.
GreekἘὰν δὲ θηριάλωτον γένηται, ἄξει αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὴν θήραν, καὶ οὐκ ἀποτίσει.
KJVIf it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.
JPSIf it be torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness; he shall not make good that which was torn.
13
ThomsonBut if anyone borrow of his neighbour and that which was borrowed be hurt or die or be carried off by an enemy and the owner be not with it, he shall make compensation;
BrentonAnd if any one borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be wounded or die or be carried away, and the owner of it be not with it, he shall make compensation.
GreekἘὰν δὲ αἰτήσῃ τις παρὰ τοῦ πλησίον, καὶ συντριβῇ ἢ ἀποθάνῃ ἢ αἰχμάλωτον γένηται, ὁ δὲ κύριος μὴ ᾖ μετʼ αὐτοῦ, ἀποτίσει.
KJVAnd if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.
JPSAnd if a man borrow aught of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.
14
Thomsonbut if the owner be with it he shall not make it good, and if it be hired he shall have it for the hire of it.
BrentonBut if the owner be with it, he shall not make compensation: but if it be a hired thing, there shall be a compensation to him instead of his hire.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ὁ κύριος ᾖ μετʼ αὐτοῦ, οὐκ ἀποτίσει· ἐὰν δὲ μισθωτὸς ᾖ, ἔσται αὐτῷ ἀντὶ τοῦ μισθοῦ αὐτοῦ.
KJVBut if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.
JPSIf the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good; if it be a hireling, he loseth his hire.
15
ThomsonIf any man delude an unmarried virgin and lie with her, he shall by paying a dowry purchase her for a wife:
BrentonAnd if any one deceive a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her for a wife to himself.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀπατήσῃ τις παρθένον ἀμνήστευτον, καὶ κοιμηθῇ μετʼ αὐτῆς, φερνῇ φερνιεῖ αὐτὴν αὐτῷ γυναῖκα.
KJVAnd if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
JPSAnd if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.
16
Thomsonbut if her father absolutely refuse and will not consent to give her to him for a wife, he shall pay the father in money to the amount of the dowry paid for virgins.
BrentonAnd if her father positively refuse, and will not consent to give her to him for a wife, he shall pay compensation to her father according to the amount of the dowry of virgins.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀνανεύων ἀνανεύσῃ, καὶ μὴ βούληται ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς δοῦναι αὐτὴν αὐτῷ γυναῖκα, ἀργύριον ἀποτίσει τῷ πατρὶ καθʼ ὅσον ἐστὶν ἡ φερνὴ τῶν παρθένων.
KJVIf her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
JPSIf her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
17
ThomsonYou shall not protect sorcerers.
BrentonYe shall not save the lives of sorcerers.
GreekΦαρμακοὺς οὐ περιποιήσετε.
KJV—
JPS—
18
ThomsonEvery act of bestiality you shall punish with death.
BrentonEvery one that lies with a beast ye shall surely put to death.
GreekΠᾶν κοιμώμενον μετὰ κτήνους θανάτῳ ἀποκτενεῖτε αὐτούς.
KJVWhosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
JPSWhosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
19
ThomsonHe who sacrificeth to any god save to the Lord alone shall be destroyed by death.
BrentonHe that sacrifices to any gods but to the Lord alone, shall be destroyed by death.
GreekὉ θυσιάζων θεοῖς θανάτῳ ἐξολοθρευθήσεται, πλὴν Κυρίῳ μόνῳ.
KJVHe that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
JPSHe that sacrificeth unto the gods, save unto the LORD only, shall be utterly destroyed.
20
ThomsonA stranger you shall not injure; nor shall you afflict him; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
BrentonAnd ye shall not hurt a stranger, nor afflict him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
GreekΚαὶ προσήλυτον οὐ κακώσετε, οὐδὲ μὴ θλίψητε αὐτόν· ἦτε γάρ προσήλυτοι ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ.
KJVThou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
JPSAnd a stranger shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
21
ThomsonA widow and an orphan you shall not afflict.
BrentonYe shall hurt no widow or orphan.
GreekΠᾶσαν χήραν καὶ ὀρφανὸν οὐ κακώσετε.
KJVYe shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
JPSYe shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
22
ThomsonIf you in anywise afflict them and they cry to Me, I will hear their voice
BrentonAnd if ye should afflict them by ill-treatment, and they should cry aloud to me, I will surely hear their voice.
GreekἘὰν δὲ κακίᾳ κακώσητε αὐτοὺς, καὶ κεκράξαντες καταβοήσωσι πρός με, ἀκοῇ εἰσακούσομαι τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῶν,
KJVIf thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
JPSIf thou afflict them in any wise—for if they cry at all unto Me, I will surely hear their cry—
23
Thomsonand my wrath will be kindled, and I will slay you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless.
BrentonAnd I will be very angry, and will slay you with the sword, and your wives shall be widows and your children orphans.
Greekκαὶ ὀργισθήσομαι θυμῷ, καὶ ἀποκτενῶ ὑμᾶς μαχαίρᾳ, καὶ ἔσονται αἱ γυναῖκες ὑμῶν χῆραι, καὶ τὰ παιδία ὑμῶν ὀρφανά.
KJVAnd my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
JPSMy wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
24
ThomsonIf thou lend money to thy brother, who is near thee and in want; thou shalt not be rigorous with him, nor charge him interest.
BrentonAnd if thou shouldest lend money to thy poor brother who is by thee, thou shalt not be hard upon him, thou shalt not exact usury of him.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀργύριον ἐκδανείσῃς τῷ ἀδελφῷ τῷ πενιχρῷ παρὰ σοὶ, οὐκ ἔσῃ αὐτὸν κατεπείγων, οὐκ ἐπιθήσεις αὐτῷ τόκον.
KJVIf thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
JPSIf thou lend money to any of My people, even to the poor with thee, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor; neither shall ye lay upon him interest.
25
ThomsonAnd if thou hast taken the mantle of thy neighbour as a pledge, thou shalt restore it to him before the setting of the sun;
BrentonAnd if thou take thy neighbour's garment for a pledge, thou shalt restore it to him before sunset.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἐνεχύρασμα ἐνεχυράσῃς τὸ ἱμάτιον τοῦ πλησίον, πρὸ δυσμῶν ἡλίου ἀποδώσεις αὐτῷ·
KJVIf thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
JPSIf thou at all take thy neighbour’s garment to pledge, thou shalt restore it unto him by that the sun goeth down;
26
Thomsonfor it is his covering. This mantle is the only covering of his nakedness. In what can he sleep? If therefore he cry to me, I will hear him; for I am merciful.
BrentonFor this is his clothing, this is the only covering of his nakedness; wherein shall he sleep? If then he shall cry to me, I will hearken to him, for I am merciful.
GreekἜστι γὰρ τοῦτο περιβόλαιον αὐτοῦ, μόνον τοῦτο τὸ ἱμάτιον ἀσχημοσύνης αὐτοῦ· ἐν τίνι κοιμηθήσεται; Ἐὰν οὖν καταβοήσῃ πρός μέ, εἰσακούσομαι αὐτοῦ· ἐλεήμων γάρ εἰμι.
KJVFor that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
JPSfor that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin; wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto Me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
27
ThomsonThou shalt not revile gods, nor speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
BrentonThou shalt not revile the gods, nor speak ill of the ruler of thy people.
GreekΘεοὺς οὐ κακολογήσεις, καὶ ἄρχοντα τοῦ λαοῦ σου οὐ κακῶς ἐρεῖς.
KJVThou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
JPSThou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.
28
ThomsonThe first fruits of thy threshing floor and of thy press thou shalt not withhold. The first-born of thy sons thou shalt give to Me.
BrentonThou shalt not keep back the first-fruits of thy threshing floor and press. The first-born of thy sons thou shalt give to me.
GreekἈπαρχὰς ἅλωνος καὶ ληνοῦ σου οὐ καθυστερήσεις· τὰ πρωτότοκα τῶν υἱῶν σου δώσεις ἐμοί.
KJVThou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
JPSThou shalt not delay to offer of the fulness of thy harvest, and of the outflow of thy presses. The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto Me.
29
ThomsonThou shalt do the same with thy calf, thy sheep and thy ass. Seven days it shall be with the dam and on the eighth day thou shalt dedicate it to me.
BrentonSo shalt thou do with thy calf and thy sheep and thine ass; seven days shall it be under the mother, and the eighth day thou shalt give it to me.
GreekΟὕτω ποιήσεις τὸν μόσχον σου καὶ τὸ πρόβατόν σου καὶ τὸ ὑποζύγιόν σου· ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἔσται ὑπὸ τὴν μητέρα, τῇ δὲ ὀγδόῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀποδώσεις μοι αὐτό.
KJVLikewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
JPSLikewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep; seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it Me.
30
ThomsonYou shall be men holy to me, and you shall not eat what is torn by wild beasts. You shall throw it to the dogs.
BrentonAnd ye shall be holy men to me; and ye shall not eat flesh taken of beasts, ye shall cast it to the dog.
GreekΚαὶ ἄνδρες ἅγιοι ἔσεσθέ μοι· καὶ κρέας θηριάλωτον οὐκ ἔδεσθε, τῷ κυνὶ ἀποῤῥίψατε αὐτό.
KJVAnd ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.
JPSAnd ye shall be holy men unto Me; therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.