If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall not leave it helpless for its owner; you must arrange the load with him.
Parallel translations
- WEB If you see the donkey of him who hates you fallen down under his burden, don’t leave him, you shall surely help him with it.
- KJV If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
- BSB If you see the donkey of one who hates you fallen under its load, do not leave it there; you must help him with it.
- NKJV If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it.
- NLT If you see that the donkey of someone who hates you has collapsed under its load, do not walk by. Instead, stop and help.
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 your enemy's donkey collapses under its load, you must help rather than walk away. Compassion overrides personal hostility.
Overview
The law commands practical kindness even toward one who hates you, refusing to let enmity excuse neglect. It cultivates a heart that overcomes evil with good. This foreshadows the gospel ethic of mercy to enemies, perfectly displayed by Christ, who helped and saved those who were hostile to God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Deut 22:4You 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.
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 23:5 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
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