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

16If 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.

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

18You must not allow a sorceress to live.

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

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

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

22You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.

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

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

25If 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.

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

27because 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.

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

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

30You 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.

31You 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

Ifוְכִֽי־H3588Conjunctiona manאִ֗ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularseducesיְפַתֶּ֣הH6601Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singulara virginבְּתוּלָ֛הH1330Noun - feminine singularwhoאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Pronoun - relativeis notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlepledged in marriageאֹרָ֖שָׂהH781Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person feminine singularand sleepsוְשָׁכַ֣בH7901Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularwith herעִמָּ֑הּH5973Preposition | third person feminine singularhe must pay the full dowryמָהֹ֛רH4117Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .יִמְהָרֶ֥נָּהH4117Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singularfor herלּ֖וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularto be his wifeלְאִשָּֽׁה׃H802Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionher fatherאָבִ֖יהָH1Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularabsolutely refusesמָאֵ֧ןH3985Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute. . .יְמָאֵ֛ןH3985Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto give herלְתִתָּ֣הּH5414Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularto himל֑וֹPreposition | third person masculine singular[the man] still must payיִשְׁקֹ֔לH8254Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularan amount comparableכֶּ֣סֶףH3701Noun - masculine singularto the bridal priceכְּמֹ֖הַרH4119Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructof a virginהַבְּתוּלֹֽת׃סH1330Article | Noun - feminine plural
Verse 18

Original words

You must notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleallow a sorceressמְכַשֵּׁפָ֖הH3784Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singularto liveתְחַיֶּֽה׃סH2421Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Whoeverכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructliesשֹׁכֵ֥בH7901Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwithעִם־H5973Prepositionan animalבְּהֵמָ֖הH929Noun - feminine singularmust surely be put to deathמ֥וֹתH4191Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .יוּמָֽת׃סH4191Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

[If] anyone sacrificesזֹבֵ֥חַH2076Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularto any godלָאֱלֹהִ֖יםH430Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine pluralother thanבִּלְתִּ֥יH1115Prepositionthe LORDלַיהוָ֖הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularaloneלְבַדּֽוֹ׃H905Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularhe must be set apart for destructionיָֽחֳרָ֑םH2763Verb - 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 notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleexploitתוֹנֶ֖הH3238Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singularorוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleoppressתִלְחָצֶ֑נּוּH3905Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singulara foreign residentוְגֵ֥רH1616Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularforכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyou [yourselves] wereהֱיִיתֶ֖םH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralforeignersגֵרִ֥יםH1616Noun - masculine pluralin the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץH776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃H4714Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 22

Original words

You must notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlemistreatתְעַנּֽוּן׃H6031Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunanyכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructwidowאַלְמָנָ֥הH490Noun - feminine singularor orphanוְיָת֖וֹםH3490Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 23

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionyou do mistreat themעַנֵּ֥הH6031Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute. . .תְעַנֶּ֖הH6031Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-אֹת֑וֹH853Direct object marker | third person masculine singular-כִּ֣יH3588Conjunction. . .אִם־H518Conjunction[and] they cry outצָעֹ֤קH6817Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteto Meאֵלַ֔יH413Preposition | first person common singularin distressיִצְעַק֙H6817Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularI will surely hearשָׁמֹ֥עַH8085Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .אֶשְׁמַ֖עH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singulartheir cryצַעֲקָתֽוֹ׃H6818Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

My angerאַפִּ֔יH639Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwill be kindledוְחָרָ֣הH2734Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularand I will killוְהָרַגְתִּ֥יH2026Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularyouאֶתְכֶ֖םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralwith the swordבֶּחָ֑רֶבH2719Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularthen your wivesנְשֵׁיכֶם֙H802Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine pluralwill becomeוְהָי֤וּH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralwidowsאַלְמָנ֔וֹתH490Noun - feminine pluraland your childrenוּבְנֵיכֶ֖םH1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural[will be] fatherlessיְתֹמִֽים׃פH3490Noun - masculine plural
Verse 25

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionyou lendתַּלְוֶ֣הH3867Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markermoneyכֶּ֣סֶף׀H3701Noun - masculine singularto [one of] My peopleעַמִּ֗יH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularamong youעִמָּ֔ךְH5973Preposition | second person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker[who is] poorהֶֽעָנִי֙H6041Article | Adjective - masculine singularyou must notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleactתִהְיֶ֥הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularas a creditorכְּנֹשֶׁ֑הH5383Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularto himל֖וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularyou are not to chargeתְשִׂימ֥וּןH7760Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun. . .לֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlehimעָלָ֖יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularinterestנֶֽשֶׁךְ׃H5392Noun - masculine singular
Verse 26

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionyou take your neighbor’sרֵעֶ֑ךָH7453Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularcloakשַׂלְמַ֣תH8008Noun - feminine singular constructas collateralחָבֹ֥לH2254Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .תַּחְבֹּ֖לH2254Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularreturn itתְּשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּH7725Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singularto himלֽוֹ׃Preposition | third person masculine singularbyעַד־H5704Prepositionsunsetבֹּ֥אH935Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct. . .הַשֶּׁ֖מֶשׁH8121Article | Noun - common singular
Verse 27

Original words

becauseכִּ֣יH3588Conjunction[his cloak]הִ֤ואH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singularis the onlyלְבַדָּ֔הּH905Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singularcoveringכְסוּתָהH3682Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularhe hasהִ֥ואH1931Pronoun - third person feminine singular[for]שִׂמְלָת֖וֹH8071Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularhis bodyלְעֹר֑וֹH5785Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularWhat elseבַּמֶּ֣הH4100Preposition-b | Interrogativewill he sleep inיִשְׁכָּ֔בH7901Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .וְהָיָה֙H1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularAnd ifכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionhe cries outיִצְעַ֣קH6817Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularto Meאֵלַ֔יH413Preposition | first person common singularI will hearוְשָׁמַעְתִּ֖יH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularforכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionIאָֽנִי׃סH589Pronoun - first person common singularam compassionateחַנּ֥וּןH2587Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 28

Original words

You must notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleblasphemeתְקַלֵּ֑לH7043Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singularGodאֱלֹהִ֖יםH430Noun - masculine pluralor curseתָאֹֽר׃H779Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularthe rulerוְנָשִׂ֥יאH5387Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularof your peopleבְעַמְּךָ֖H5971Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular. . .לֹ֥אH3808Adverb - 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 notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlehold backתְאַחֵ֑רH309Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular[offerings] from your granariesמְלֵאָתְךָ֥H4395Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularor vatsוְדִמְעֲךָ֖H1831Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularYou are to giveתִּתֶּן־H5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularMeלִּֽי׃Preposition | first person common singularthe firstbornבְּכ֥וֹרH1060Noun - masculine singular constructof your sonsבָּנֶ֖יךָH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

You shall doתַּעֲשֶׂ֥הH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularlikewiseכֵּֽן־H3651Adverbwith your cattleלְשֹׁרְךָ֖H7794Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularand your sheepלְצֹאנֶ֑ךָH6629Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularLet them stayיִהְיֶ֣הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwithעִם־H5973Prepositiontheir mothersאִמּ֔וֹH517Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularfor sevenשִׁבְעַ֤תH7651Number - masculine singular constructdaysיָמִים֙H3117Noun - masculine pluralbut on the eighthהַשְּׁמִינִ֖יH8066Article | Number - ordinal masculine singulardayבַּיּ֥וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularyou are to give themתִּתְּנוֹ־H5414Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singularto Meלִֽי׃Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 31

Original words

You are to beתִּהְי֣וּןH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunMyלִ֑יPreposition | first person common singularholyקֹ֖דֶשׁH6944Noun - masculine singularpeopleוְאַנְשֵׁי־H376Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructYou must notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particleeatתֹאכֵ֔לוּH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralthe meatוּבָשָׂ֨רH1320Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularof a mauled animalטְרֵפָה֙H2966Noun - feminine singularfound in the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֤הH7704Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularyou are to throwתַּשְׁלִכ֥וּןH7993Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunitאֹתֽוֹ׃סH853Direct object marker | third person masculine singularto the dogsלַכֶּ֖לֶבH3611Preposition-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.