If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is found in the thief’s possession, then the thief must pay double the value of the stolen animal.
Parallel translations
- WEB If the stolen property is found in his hand alive, whether it is ox, donkey, or sheep, he shall pay double.
- KJV If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
- BSB If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
- NKJV If the theft is certainlyfound alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.
- NASB If what he stole is actually found alive in his possession, whether an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he shall pay double.
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
If the stolen animal is found alive in the thief's possession, he repays double. Restitution is proportioned to the actual loss.
Overview
When the property is recovered intact, the lighter twofold penalty applies, distinct from the heavier penalty when the animal is killed or sold. This graded justice fits the punishment to the degree of harm. It displays the fairness of God's law, which never punishes beyond what is just.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Exod 22:7“If a man delivers to his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief is found, he shall pay double.
- Exod 22:1“If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it, or sells it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
- Exod 22:9For every matter of trespass, whether it is for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for clothing, or for any kind of lost thing, about which one says, ‘This is mine,’ the cause of both parties shall come before God. He whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor.
- Exod 21:16“Anyone who kidnaps someone and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
- Prov 6:31but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
- Rev 18:6Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double.
- Jer 16:18First I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable things, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations.”
- Isa 40:2“Speak comfortably to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Yahweh’s hand double for all her sins.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 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.