If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
Parallel translations
- WEB “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
- KJV If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
- NKJV “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
- NASB “If you encounter your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you must return it to him.
- NLT “If you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner.
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 you find your enemy's stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him. Love and integrity extend even to those who oppose you.
Overview
This remarkable command requires active good toward an enemy, returning his lost property rather than gloating or profiting. It anticipates the call to love one's enemies that Jesus made central to kingdom living (Matthew 5:44). Such selfless goodness toward foes reflects the heart of God, who loved us while we were still His enemies (Romans 5:10).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Deut 22:1–4If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, you must not ignore it; be sure to return it to your brother.
- 1 Th 5:15Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
- Matt 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- Luke 6:27–28But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- Prov 25:21If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
- Rom 12:17–21Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Prov 24:17–18Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
- Job 31:29–30If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 23:4 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.