Focused Passage

Exodus 22:16-31

Restitution, Responsibility, Social Holiness, and Compassionate Justice

The chapter moves from restitution for theft and property loss, to responsibility for entrusted goods and borrowed animals, to sexual and worship-related offenses, to compassionate justice for foreigners, widows, orphans, and the poor, and finally to holiness in speech, offerings, firstborn dedication, and food practice.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

16 If 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.

17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.

18 You must not allow a sorceress to live.

19 Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.

20 If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.

21 You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

22 You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.

23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.

24 My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.

25 If 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.

26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,

27 because 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.

28 You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.

29 You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.

30 You 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.

31 You 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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 16

Original words

If וְכִֽי־ H3588 Conjunction a man אִ֗ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular seduces יְפַתֶּ֣ה H6601 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular a virgin בְּתוּלָ֛ה H1330 Noun - feminine singular who אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative is not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle pledged in marriage אֹרָ֖שָׂה H781 Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person feminine singular and sleeps וְשָׁכַ֣ב H7901 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular with her עִמָּ֑הּ H5973 Preposition | third person feminine singular he must pay the full dowry מָהֹ֛ר H4117 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יִמְהָרֶ֥נָּה H4117 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular for her לּ֖וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular to be his wife לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ H802 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction her father אָבִ֖יהָ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular absolutely refuses מָאֵ֧ן H3985 Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute . . . יְמָאֵ֛ן H3985 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular to give her לְתִתָּ֣הּ H5414 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular to him ל֑וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular [the man] still must pay יִשְׁקֹ֔ל H8254 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular an amount comparable כֶּ֣סֶף H3701 Noun - masculine singular to the bridal price כְּמֹ֖הַר H4119 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct of a virgin הַבְּתוּלֹֽת׃ס H1330 Article | Noun - feminine plural
Verse 18

Original words

You must not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle allow a sorceress מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה H3784 Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular to live תְחַיֶּֽה׃ס H2421 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Whoever כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct lies שֹׁכֵ֥ב H7901 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition an animal בְּהֵמָ֖ה H929 Noun - feminine singular must surely be put to death מ֥וֹת H4191 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יוּמָֽת׃ס H4191 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

[If] anyone sacrifices זֹבֵ֥חַ H2076 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular to any god לָאֱלֹהִ֖ים H430 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural other than בִּלְתִּ֥י H1115 Preposition the LORD לַיהוָ֖ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular alone לְבַדּֽוֹ׃ H905 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular he must be set apart for destruction יָֽחֳרָ֑ם H2763 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.
Verse 21

Original words

You must not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle exploit תוֹנֶ֖ה H3238 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular or וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle oppress תִלְחָצֶ֑נּוּ H3905 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular a foreign resident וְגֵ֥ר H1616 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction you [yourselves] were הֱיִיתֶ֖ם H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural foreigners גֵרִ֥ים H1616 Noun - masculine plural in the land בְּאֶ֥רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 22

Original words

You must not לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle mistreat תְעַנּֽוּן׃ H6031 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun any כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct widow אַלְמָנָ֥ה H490 Noun - feminine singular or orphan וְיָת֖וֹם H3490 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction you do mistreat them עַנֵּ֥ה H6031 Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute . . . תְעַנֶּ֖ה H6031 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֹת֑וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular - כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction . . . אִם־ H518 Conjunction [and] they cry out צָעֹ֤ק H6817 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute to Me אֵלַ֔י H413 Preposition | first person common singular in distress יִצְעַק֙ H6817 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular I will surely hear שָׁמֹ֥עַ H8085 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . אֶשְׁמַ֖ע H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular their cry צַעֲקָתֽוֹ׃ H6818 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

My anger אַפִּ֔י H639 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular will be kindled וְחָרָ֣ה H2734 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular and I will kill וְהָרַגְתִּ֥י H2026 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular you אֶתְכֶ֖ם H853 Direct object marker | second person masculine plural with the sword בֶּחָ֑רֶב H2719 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular then your wives נְשֵׁיכֶם֙ H802 Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural will become וְהָי֤וּ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural widows אַלְמָנ֔וֹת H490 Noun - feminine plural and your children וּבְנֵיכֶ֖ם H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural [will be] fatherless יְתֹמִֽים׃פ H3490 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 25

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction you lend תַּלְוֶ֣ה H3867 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker money כֶּ֣סֶף׀ H3701 Noun - masculine singular to [one of] My people עַמִּ֗י H5971 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular among you עִמָּ֔ךְ H5973 Preposition | second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker [who is] poor הֶֽעָנִי֙ H6041 Article | Adjective - masculine singular you must not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle act תִהְיֶ֥ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular as a creditor כְּנֹשֶׁ֑ה H5383 Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular to him ל֖וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular you are not to charge תְשִׂימ֥וּן H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun . . . לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle him עָלָ֖יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular interest נֶֽשֶׁךְ׃ H5392 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 26

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction you take your neighbor’s רֵעֶ֑ךָ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular cloak שַׂלְמַ֣ת H8008 Noun - feminine singular construct as collateral חָבֹ֥ל H2254 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תַּחְבֹּ֖ל H2254 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular return it תְּשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ H7725 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular to him לֽוֹ׃ Preposition | third person masculine singular by עַד־ H5704 Preposition sunset בֹּ֥א H935 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct . . . הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁ H8121 Article | Noun - common singular
Verse 27

Original words

because כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction [his cloak] הִ֤וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular is the only לְבַדָּ֔הּ H905 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular covering כְסוּתָה H3682 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular he has הִ֥וא H1931 Pronoun - third person feminine singular [for] שִׂמְלָת֖וֹ H8071 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular his body לְעֹר֑וֹ H5785 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular What else בַּמֶּ֣ה H4100 Preposition-b | Interrogative will he sleep in יִשְׁכָּ֔ב H7901 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . וְהָיָה֙ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular And if כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction he cries out יִצְעַ֣ק H6817 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular to Me אֵלַ֔י H413 Preposition | first person common singular I will hear וְשָׁמַעְתִּ֖י H8085 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular for כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction I אָֽנִי׃ס H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am compassionate חַנּ֥וּן H2587 Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 28

Original words

You must not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle blaspheme תְקַלֵּ֑ל H7043 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular God אֱלֹהִ֖ים H430 Noun - masculine plural or curse תָאֹֽר׃ H779 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular the ruler וְנָשִׂ֥יא H5387 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular of your people בְעַמְּךָ֖ H5971 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular . . . לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle

BSB notes

  • LXX or speak evil about the ruler of your people; cited in Acts 23:5
Verse 29

Original words

You must not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle hold back תְאַחֵ֑ר H309 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular [offerings] from your granaries מְלֵאָתְךָ֥ H4395 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular or vats וְדִמְעֲךָ֖ H1831 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular You are to give תִּתֶּן־ H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Me לִּֽי׃ Preposition | first person common singular the firstborn בְּכ֥וֹר H1060 Noun - masculine singular construct of your sons בָּנֶ֖יךָ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

You shall do תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular likewise כֵּֽן־ H3651 Adverb with your cattle לְשֹׁרְךָ֖ H7794 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular and your sheep לְצֹאנֶ֑ךָ H6629 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular Let them stay יִהְיֶ֣ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular with עִם־ H5973 Preposition their mothers אִמּ֔וֹ H517 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular for seven שִׁבְעַ֤ת H7651 Number - masculine singular construct days יָמִים֙ H3117 Noun - masculine plural but on the eighth הַשְּׁמִינִ֖י H8066 Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular day בַּיּ֥וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular you are to give them תִּתְּנוֹ־ H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular to Me לִֽי׃ Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 31

Original words

You are to be תִּהְי֣וּן H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun My לִ֑י Preposition | first person common singular holy קֹ֖דֶשׁ H6944 Noun - masculine singular people וְאַנְשֵׁי־ H376 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct You must not לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle eat תֹאכֵ֔לוּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural the meat וּבָשָׂ֨ר H1320 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular of a mauled animal טְרֵפָה֙ H2966 Noun - feminine singular found in the field בַּשָּׂדֶ֤ה H7704 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular you are to throw תַּשְׁלִכ֥וּן H7993 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun it אֹתֽוֹ׃ס H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular to the dogs לַכֶּ֖לֶב H3611 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.