Exodus 22:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "If a man gives to his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep safe, and it dies or is injured or is driven away, without anyone seeing it,

NIV: "If anyone gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep or any other animal to their neighbor for safekeeping and it dies or is injured or is taken away while no one is looking,

NASB: If someone gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep for him, and it dies or is injured or is driven away while no one is looking,

CSB: "When a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to care for, but it dies, is injured, or is stolen, while no one is watching,

NLT: Now suppose someone leaves a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal with a neighbor for safekeeping, but it dies or is injured or is taken away, and no one sees what happened.

KJV: If 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:

NKJV: If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it,

Exodus 22:1–15 establishes laws about livestock and property. Thieves are required to pay back multiple times the value of animals they steal. Disputes over property may require arbitration. Those who negligently damage property must compensate for those losses.

God's laws for Israel enforced protections for property, including livestock. Thieves were required to compensate their victims. For parallel reasons, men who seduced young women were obliged to marry or at least compensate them. Negligent destruction of property is forbidden. Israel is not to take advantage of foreign travelers or the poor. Other laws in this chapter cover sins related to the pagan worship of ancient nations. This includes idolatry, bestiality, defiance of authority, and resistance to proper worship. Israel is not to eat animals killed by other wild animals.

Exodus 20 introduced the Mosaic covenant by declaring the Ten Commandments. What follows are a series of rules which establish the ancient nation of Israel. Among these are further details about marriage, theft, negligence, care for the poor, and respect for God. The following chapter continues this discussion by addressing other subjects. In chapter 24, the people will confirm this covenant with the Lord.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.