God’s Word Translation
Exodus 22:9
9If there is a dispute over the ownership of a bull, a donkey, a sheep, an article of clothing, or any ⌞other⌟ lost property which two people claim as their own, both people must bring their case to God. The one whom God declares guilty must make up for his neighbor’s loss with double the amount.
Exodus 22:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
- New International Version (NIV)In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any other lost property about which somebody says, ‘This is mine,’ both parties are to bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges declare guilty must pay back double to the other.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, 'This is it,' the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.
Context of Exodus 22:9
7“This is what you must do whenever someone gives his neighbor silver or ⌞other⌟ valuables to keep for him, and they are stolen from that person’s house: If the thief is caught, he must make up for the loss with double the amount. 8If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must be brought to God to find out whether or not he took his neighbor’s valuables. If there is a dispute over the ownership of a bull, a donkey, a sheep, an article of clothing, or any ⌞other⌟ lost property which two people claim as their own, both people must bring their case to God. The one whom God declares guilty must make up for his neighbor’s loss with double the amount. 10“This is what you must do whenever someone gives his neighbor a donkey, a bull, a sheep, or any other kind of animal to keep for him, and it dies, is injured, or is captured in war, and there are no witnesses. 11The case between them must be settled by swearing an oath to the Lord that the neighbor did not take the other person’s animal. The owner must accept the oath. The neighbor doesn’t have to make up for the loss.
Read all of Exodus 22Exodus 22:9 word by word
עַֽל־כָּל־דְּבַר־פֶּ֡שַׁע עַל־שׁ֡וֹר עַל־חֲ֠מוֹר עַל־שֶׂ֨ה עַל־שַׂלְמָ֜ה עַל־כָּל־אֲבֵדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֹאמַר֙ כִּי־ה֣וּא זֶ֔ה עַ֚ד הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים יָבֹ֖א דְּבַר־שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַרְשִׁיעֻן֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים יְשַׁלֵּ֥ם שְׁנַ֖יִם לְרֵעֵֽהוּ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For all mannerדָּבָרdâbâr · word: caseH1697
- of trespassפֶּ֫שַׁעpesha‛ · transgressionH6588
- for oxשׁוֹרshôr · cattleH7794
- for assחֲמוֹרchămôr chămôr · donkeyH2543
- for sheepשֶׂהώeh ώêy · sheepH7716
- for raimentשַׂלְמָהώalmâh · garmentH8008
- for any manner of lost thingאֲבֵדָה'ăbêdâh · something lostH9
- challengethאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- of both partiesשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
- shall comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- before the judgesאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- shall condemnרָשַׁעrâsha‛ · be wickedH7561
- he shall payשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
- unto his neighbourרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
Cross-references for Exodus 22:9
- Numbers 5:6“Tell the Israelites: If you do something wrong to another person, you have been unfaithful to the Lord. When you realize your guilt,
- 1 Kings 8:31“If anyone sins against another person and is required to take an oath and comes to take the oath in front of your altar in this temple,
- Matthew 6:14“If you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
- Matthew 18:15“If a believer does something wrong, go, confront him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won back that believer.
- Luke 17:3So watch yourselves! “If a believer sins, correct him. If he changes the way he thinks and acts, forgive him.
- Exodus 18:21“But choose capable men from all the people, men who fear God, men you can trust, men who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people.
- Exodus 23:6“Never deny justice to poor people in court.
- Deuteronomy 16:18Appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every city that the Lord your God is giving you. They are to judge the people fairly.
- Deuteronomy 25:1This is what you must do whenever ⌞two⌟ people have a disagreement that is brought into court. The judges will hear the case and decide who’s right and who’s wrong.
- 2 Chronicles 19:10Warn your relatives living in other cities about every case they bring to you, even if the case involves bloodshed or commands, rules, or regulations derived from Moses’ Teachings. Then your relatives will not become guilty in front of the Lord. Otherwise, he will become angry with you and your relatives. Do this, and you won’t be guilty ⌞of anything⌟.
- Exodus 22:4But if the stolen animal is found alive in his possession, whether it’s a bull, donkey, or a sheep, he must make up for the loss with double the amount.
Commentaries on Exodus 22:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Challengeth to be his - It was necessary that such a matter should come before the judges, because the person in whose possession the goods were found might have had them by a fair and honest purchase; and, by sifting the business, the thief might be found out, and if found, be obliged to pay double to his neighbor.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9All manner of trespass - He who was accused, and he who had lost the stolen property, were both to appear before the judges Exodus 18:25-26.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-15In cases involving loss of property, the responsible person had to pay compensation equal to the value of what was lost. If the person had actually stolen the property, the compensation was multiplied (22:1, 4, 7). Where there was a question of responsibility, the parties were to appear before God for adjudication (22:8). The means by which the judgment was reached is not reported.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-311-4. If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep--The law respects the theft of cattle which constituted the chief part of their property. The penalty for the theft of a sheep which was slain or sold, was fourfold; for an ox fivefold, because of its greater utility in labor; but, should the stolen animal have been recovered alive, a double compensation was all that was required, because it was presumable he (the thief) was not a practised adept in dishonesty…Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 22:9
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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