If you see your brother’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, you must not ignore it; you must help him lift it up.
Parallel translations
- WEB You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely help him to lift them up again.
- KJV Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
- NKJV “You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fall down along the road, and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him lift them up again.
- NASB You shall not see your countryman’s donkey or his ox fallen down on the road, and avoid them; you shall certainly help him raise them up.
- NLT “If you see that your neighbor’s donkey or ox has collapsed on the road, do not look the other way. Go and help your neighbor get it back on its feet!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
You must not ignore a neighbor's fallen animal but help him lift it up again. Compassion requires actively assisting others in trouble.
Overview
Beyond returning lost property, the law commands active help when a neighbor's animal collapses under its load. Passing by would violate covenant love. This anticipates Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan, who refused to pass by a man in need, and models the compassionate care God shows and calls His people to imitate.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Exod 23:4–5If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
- Matt 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- Heb 12:12–13Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
- 2 Cor 12:15And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
- Gal 6:1–2Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
- 1 Th 5:14And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
- Rom 15:1We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
- Luke 10:29–37But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 22:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.