Exodus 22:4

THE MESSAGE

"If someone steals an ox or a lamb and slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay five cattle in place of the ox and four sheep in place of the lamb. If the thief is caught while breaking in and is hit hard and dies, there is no bloodguilt. But if it happens after daybreak, there is bloodguilt. "A thief must make full restitution for what is stolen. The thief who is unable to pay is to be sold for his thieving. If caught red-handed with the stolen goods, and the ox or donkey or lamb is still alive, the thief pays double.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.

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

Lexham English Bible
If indeed the stolen item is found in his possession alive, from ox to donkey to small livestock, he will make double restitution.

New English Translation
If the stolen item should in fact be found alive in his possession, whether it be an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he must pay back double.

Amplified Bible
"If the animal that he stole is found alive in his possession, whether it is ox or donkey or sheep, he shall pay double [for it].

New American Standard Bible
"If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.

Geneva Bible (1587)
If the theft bee founde with him, aliue, (whether it be oxe, asse, or sheepe) he shal restore the double.

Legacy Standard Bible
If what he stole is actually found alive in his hand, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.

Complete Jewish Bible
(iii) "If a person causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over or lets his animal loose to graze in someone else's field, he is to make restitution from the best produce of his own field and vineyard.

Darby Translation
If the stolen thing be actually found alive in his hand, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall restore double.

English Standard Version
If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.

George Lamsa Translation
If the animal is found in his possession alive, whether it is an ox or an ass, or a ewe, he shall restore double.

Christian Standard Bible®
If what was stolen—whether ox, donkey, or sheep—is actually found alive in his possession, he must repay double.

Literal Translation
If the stolen thing finding is found in his hand alive, from ox to ass to flock animal, he shall pay double.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But yf ye theft be founde by him alyue (from the oxe vnto the Asse or shepe) then shall he restore dubble.

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

Bible in Basic English
If he still has what he had taken, whatever it is, ox or ass or sheep, he is to give twice its value.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
If the theft be founde in his hande, aliue, whether it be oxe, asse, or sheepe, he shall restore double.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
If 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.

King James Version (1611)
If the theft be certainely found in his hand aliue, whether it bee oxe or asse, or sheepe, he shall restore double.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if the thing stolen be left and be in his hand alive, whether ox or sheep, he shall restore them two-fold.

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

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

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
if that thing that he staal, is foundun quyk at hym, ether oxe, ether asse, ether scheep, he schal restore the double.

Young's Literal Translation
if the theft is certainly found in his hand alive, whether ox, or ass, or sheep -- double he repayeth.

Update Bible Version
If the theft is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, or donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.

Webster's Bible Translation
If the theft shall be certainly found in his hand alive, whether an ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

World English Bible
If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.

New King James Version
If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.

New Living Translation
If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is found in the thief's possession, then the thief must pay double the value of the stolen animal.

New Life Bible
If the stolen bull or donkey or sheep is found alive with him, he must pay twice what it is worth.

New Revised Standard
When the animal, whether ox or donkey or sheep, is found alive in the thief's possession, the thief shall pay double. If a thief is found breaking in, and is beaten to death, no bloodguilt is incurred; but if it happens after sunrise, bloodguilt is incurred.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If the thing stolen is found in his hand - whether ox or ass or sheep, alive, with two, shall he make restitution.

Douay-Rheims Bible
If that which he stole be found with him, alive, either ox, or ass, or sheep: he shall restore double.

Revised Standard Version
but if the sun has risen upon him, there shall be bloodguilt for him.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.

Contextual Overview

¹"If someone steals an ox or a lamb and slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay five cattle in place of the ox and four sheep in place of the lamb. If the thief is caught while breaking in and is hit hard and dies, there is no bloodguilt. But if it happens after daybreak, there is bloodguilt. "A thief must make full restitution for what is stolen. The thief who is unable to pay is to be sold for his thieving. If caught red-handed with the stolen goods, and the ox or donkey or lamb is still alive, the thief pays double. "If someone grazes livestock in a field or vineyard but lets them loose so they graze in someone else's field, restitution must be made from the best of the owner's field or vineyard. "If fire breaks out and spreads to the brush so that the sheaves of grain or the standing grain or even the whole field is burned up, whoever started the fire must pay for the damages. "If someone gives a neighbor money or things for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double. If the thief is not caught, the owner must be brought before God to determine whether the owner was the one who took the neighbor's goods. "In all cases of stolen goods, whether oxen, donkeys, sheep, clothing, anything in fact missing of which someone says, ‘That's mine,' both parties must come before the judges. The one the judges pronounce guilty must pay double to the other. "If someone gives a donkey or ox or lamb or any kind of animal to another for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or lost and there is no witness, an oath before God must be made between them to decide whether one has laid hands on the property of the other. The owner must accept this and no damages are assessed. But if it turns out it was stolen, the owner must be compensated. If it has been torn by wild beasts, the torn animal must be brought in as evidence; no damages have to be paid. "If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it gets injured or dies while the owner is not present, he must pay for it. But if the owner was with it, he doesn't have to pay. If the animal was hired, the payment covers the loss. "If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the marriage price and marry her. If her father absolutely refuses to give her away, the man must still pay the marriage price for virgins. "Don't let a sorceress live. "Anyone who has sex with an animal gets the death penalty. "Anyone who sacrifices to a god other than God alone must be put to death. "Don't abuse or take advantage of strangers; you, remember, were once strangers in Egypt. "Don't mistreat widows or orphans. If you do and they cry out to me, you can be sure I'll take them most seriously; I'll show my anger and come raging among you with the sword, and your wives will end up widows and your children orphans. "If you lend money to my people, to any of the down-and-out among you, don't come down hard on them and gouge them with interest. "If you take your neighbor's coat as security, give it back before nightfall; it may be your neighbor's only covering—what else does the person have to sleep in? And if I hear the neighbor crying out from the cold, I'll step in—I'm compassionate. "Don't curse God; and don't damn your leaders. "Don't be stingy as your wine vats fill up. "Dedicate your firstborn sons to me. The same with your cattle and sheep—they are to stay for seven days with their mother, then give them to me. "Be holy for my sake. "Don't eat mutilated flesh you find in the fields; throw it to the dogs." ⁴ "If someone steals an ox or a lamb and slaughters or sells it, the thief must pay five cattle in place of the ox and four sheep in place of the lamb. If the thief is caught while breaking in and is hit hard and dies, there is no bloodguilt. But if it happens after daybreak, there is bloodguilt. "A thief must make full restitution for what is stolen. The thief who is unable to pay is to be sold for his thieving. If caught red-handed with the stolen goods, and the ox or donkey or lamb is still alive, the thief pays double. ⁵ "If someone grazes livestock in a field or vineyard but lets them loose so they graze in someone else's field, restitution must be made from the best of the owner's field or vineyard. ⁶ "If fire breaks out and spreads to the brush so that the sheaves of grain or the standing grain or even the whole field is burned up, whoever started the fire must pay for the damages.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

found: Exodus 21:16

he shall restore double: Exodus 22:1, Exodus 22:7, Exodus 22:9, Proverbs 6:31, Isaiah 40:2, Jeremiah 16:18, Revelation 18:6

Reciprocal: Leviticus 5:16 - make Leviticus 6:5 - restore 1 Samuel 12:3 - I will 1 Samuel 12:5 - in my hand

Cross-References

Exodus 5:3
They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can worship our God lest he strike us with either disease or death."

Exodus 15:22
Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. They got to Marah, but they couldn't drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That's why they called the place Marah (Bitter). And the people complained to Moses, "So what are we supposed to drink?"

Numbers 10:33
And so off they marched. From the Mountain of God they marched three days with the Chest of the Covenant of God in the lead to scout out a campsite. The Cloud of God was above them by day when they marched from the camp. With the Chest leading the way, Moses would say, Get up, God ! Put down your enemies! Chase those who hate you to the hills! And when the Chest was set down, he would say, Rest with us, God , Stay with the many, Many thousands of Israel.

Numbers 31:19
"Now here's what you are to do: Pitch tents outside the camp. All who have killed anyone or touched a corpse must stay outside the camp for seven days. Purify yourselves and your captives on the third and seventh days. Purify every piece of clothing and every utensil—everything made of leather, goat hair, or wood."

1 Samuel 26:13
Then David went across to the opposite hill and stood far away on the top of the mountain. With this safe distance between them, he shouted across to the army and Abner son of Ner, "Hey, Abner! How long do I have to wait for you to wake up and answer me?" Abner said, "Who's calling?"

Esther 5:1
Three days later Esther dressed in her royal robes and took up a position in the inner court of the palace in front of the king's throne room. The king was on his throne facing the entrance. When he noticed Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased to see her; the king extended the gold scepter in his hand. Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. The king asked, "And what's your desire, Queen Esther? What do you want? Ask and it's yours—even if it's half my kingdom!"

Luke 13:32
Jesus said, "Tell that fox that I've no time for him right now. Today and tomorrow I'm busy clearing out the demons and healing the sick; the third day I'm wrapping things up. Besides, it's not proper for a prophet to come to a bad end outside Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets, abuser of the messengers of God! How often I've longed to gather your children, gather your children like a hen, Her brood safe under her wings— but you refused and turned away! And now it's too late: You won't see me again until the day you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of God.'"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive,.... Or, "in finding be found" i, be plainly and evidently found upon him, before witnesses, as the Targum of Jonathan; so that there is no doubt of the theft; and it is a clear case that he had neither as yet killed nor sold the creature he had stolen, and to could be had again directly, and without any damage well as it would appear by this that he was not an old expert thief, and used to such practices, since he would soon have made away with this theft in some way or another:

whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, or any other creature; and even, as Jarchi thinks, anything else, as raiment, goods, c.

he shall restore double two oxen for an ox, two asses for an ass, and two sheep for a sheep: and, as the same commentator observes, two living ones, and not dead ones, or the price of two living ones: so Solon made theft, by his law, punishable with death, but with a double restitution k; and the reason why here only a double restitution and not fourfold is insisted on, as in Exodus 22:1 is, because there the theft is persisted in, here not; but either the thief being convicted in his own conscience of his evil, makes confession, or, however, the creatures are found with alive, and so more useful being restored, and, being had again sooner, the loss is not quite so great.

i המצא תמצא "inveniendo inventum fuerit", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator. k A. Gell, l. 11. c. 18.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

If a thief, in breaking into a dwelling in the night, was slain, the person who slew him did not incur the guilt of blood; but if the same occurred in daylight, the slayer was guilty in accordance with Exodus 21:12. The distinction may have been based on the fact that in the light of day there was a fair chance of identifying and apprehending the thief.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 22:4. 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; Exodus 22:2. If he had stolen and sold the property, then he was to restore four or fivefold, Exodus 22:1; but if the animal was found alive in his possession, he was to restore double.