28 Thou shalt not revile H7043 the gods, H430 nor curse H779 the ruler H5387 of thy people. H5971
If the thief H1590 be not H3808 found, H4672 then the master H1167 of the house H1004 shall be brought H7126 unto the judges, H430 to see whether he have put H7971 his hand H3027 unto his neighbour's H7453 goods. H4399 For all manner H1697 of trespass, H6588 whether it be for ox, H7794 for ass, H2543 for sheep, H7716 for raiment, H8008 or for any manner of lost thing, H9 which another challengeth H559 to be his, the cause H1697 of both parties H8147 shall come H935 before the judges; H430 and whom the judges H430 shall condemn, H7561 he shall pay H7999 double H8147 unto his neighbour. H7453
Whosoever therefore G5620 resisteth G498 the power, G1849 resisteth G436 the ordinance G1296 of God: G2316 and G1161 they that resist G436 shall receive G2983 to themselves G1438 damnation. G2917 For G1063 rulers G758 are G1526 not G3756 a terror G5401 to good G18 works, G2041 but G235 to the evil. G2556 Wilt thou G2309 then G1161 not G3361 be afraid G5399 of the power? G1849 do G4160 that which is good, G18 and G2532 thou shalt have G2192 praise G1868 of G1537 the same: G846 For G1063 he is G2076 the minister G1249 of God G2316 to thee G4671 for G1519 good. G18 But G1161 if G1437 thou do G4160 that which is evil, G2556 be afraid; G5399 for G1063 he beareth G5409 not G3756 the sword G3162 in vain: G1500 for G1063 he is G2076 the minister G1249 of God, G2316 a revenger G1558 to execute wrath G3709 upon G1519 him that doeth G4238 evil. G2556 Wherefore G1352 ye must needs G318 be subject, G5293 not G3756 only G3440 for G1223 wrath, G3709 but G235 also G2532 for conscience G4893 sake. G1223 For G1063 for G1223 this G5124 cause G1223 pay ye G5055 tribute G5411 also: G2532 for G1063 they are G1526 God's G2316 ministers, G3011 attending continually G4342 upon G1519 this G5124 very thing. G846 Render G591 therefore G3767 to all G3956 their dues: G3782 tribute G5411 to whom G3588 tribute G5411 is due; custom G5056 to whom G3588 custom; G5056 fear G5401 to whom G3588 fear; G5401 honour G5092 to whom G3588 honour. G5092
Put G5279 them G846 in mind G5279 to be subject G5293 to principalities G746 and G2532 powers, G1849 to obey magistrates, G3980 to be G1511 ready G2092 to G4314 every G3956 good G18 work, G2041 To speak evil of G987 no man, G3367 to be G1511 no brawlers, G269 but gentle, G1933 shewing G1731 all G3956 meekness G4236 unto G4314 all G3956 men. G444
Jesus G2424 answered G611 them, G846 Is it G2076 not G3756 written G1125 in G1722 your G5216 law, G3551 I G1473 said, G2036 Ye are G2075 gods? G2316 If G1487 he called G2036 them G1565 gods, G2316 unto G4314 whom G3739 the word G3056 of God G2316 came, G1096 and G2532 the scripture G1124 cannot G3756 G1410 be broken; G3089
[[A Psalm H4210 of Asaph.]] H623 God H430 standeth H5324 in the congregation H5712 of the mighty; H410 he judgeth H8199 among H7130 the gods. H430 How long will ye judge H8199 unjustly, H5766 and accept H5375 the persons H6440 of the wicked? H7563 Selah. H5542 Defend H8199 the poor H1800 and fatherless: H3490 do justice H6663 to the afflicted H6041 and needy. H7326 Deliver H6403 the poor H1800 and needy: H34 rid H5337 them out of the hand H3027 of the wicked. H7563 They know H3045 not, neither will they understand; H995 they walk H1980 on in darkness: H2825 all the foundations H4144 of the earth H776 are out of course. H4131 I have said, H559 Ye are gods; H430 and all of you are children H1121 of the most High. H5945 But H403 ye shall die H4191 like men, H120 and fall H5307 like one H259 of the princes. H8269
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Exodus 22
Commentary on Exodus 22 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 22
Ex 22:1-31. Laws concerning Theft.
1-4. If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep—The law respects the theft of cattle which constituted the chief part of their property. The penalty for the theft of a sheep which was slain or sold, was fourfold; for an ox fivefold, because of its greater utility in labor; but, should the stolen animal have been recovered alive, a double compensation was all that was required, because it was presumable he (the thief) was not a practised adept in dishonesty. A robber breaking into a house at midnight might, in self-defense, be slain with impunity; but if he was slain after sunrise, it would be considered murder, for it was not thought likely an assault would then be made upon the lives of the occupants. In every case where a thief could not make restitution, he was sold as a slave for the usual term.
6. If fire break out, and catch in thorns—This refers to the common practice in the East of setting fire to the dry grass before the fall of the autumnal rains, which prevents the ravages of vermin, and is considered a good preparation of the ground for the next crop. The very parched state of the herbage and the long droughts of summer, make the kindling of a fire an operation often dangerous, and always requiring caution from its liability to spread rapidly.
stacks—or as it is rendered "shocks" (Jud 15:5; Job 5:26), means simply a bundle of loose sheaves.
26, 27. If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, &c.—From the nature of the case, this is the description of a poor man. No Orientals undress, but, merely throwing off their turbans and some of their heavy outer garments, they sleep in the clothes which they wear during the day. The bed of the poor is usually nothing else than a mat; and, in winter, they cover themselves with a cloak—a practice which forms the ground or reason of the humane and merciful law respecting the pawned coat.
28. gods—a word which is several times in this chapter rendered "judges" or magistrates.
the ruler of thy people—and the chief magistrate who was also the high priest, at least in the time of Paul (Ac 23:1-5).