Exodus 22:3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 22:1-6

Here are the laws, I. Concerning theft, which are these:?1. If a man steal any cattle (in which the wealth of those times chiefly consisted), and they be found in his custody, he must restore double, Exod. 22:4. Thus he must both satisfy for the wrong and suffer for the crime. But it was afterwards provided that if the thief were touched in conscience, and voluntarily confessed it, before it was discovered or enquired into by any other, then he should only make restitution of what he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:3

If the sun be risen upon him ,.... Either upon the thief, or upon the master of the house, or the person that finds the thief and smites him that he dies; it matters not which it is interpreted, it is true of both, for when it is risen on the one, it is on the other: there shall be blood shed for him ; the person that kills him shall die for it: the Targum of Jonathan is,"if it is as clear as the sun (and so Jarchi), that not to kill any he entered, and he should kill him, there is... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 22:3

Verse 3 3.He should make full restitution. These words, as I have said, are connected with the first verse, since here the execution of the punishment is only enjoined; as if God forbade thieves to be spared, but that they should pay either twofold or quadruple, or even quintuple, according to the measure of their crime. But, if they were unable to pay, He commands them to be sold as slaves, which also was the custom at Rome. Whence the saying of Cato, (136) “that private thieves lived in bonds... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-4

Laws about theft . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-4

Punishment, even for one and the same offence, should be graduated. Some codes treat a crime which can be given a single definite name, e.g; theft, as if it were in all cases uniform, and prescribe a single penalty—death, the bastinado, a month's imprisomnent. The Mosaic Law, with greater refinement and greater propriety, graduated the punishment according to the special character of the offence. The worst form of theft proper is burglary. Burglary destroys the repose of the household,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-16

Restitution. We have to mark again in this chapter with how even a hand the law of Moses holds the scales of justice. The cases ruled by the principle of restitution are the following:— I. THEFT ( Exodus 22:1-5 ). The illustrations in the law relate to thefts of cattle. But the principles embodied apply to thefts generally (cf. Exodus 22:7 ). Note— 1 . The law which punishes the theft, protects the thief's life. It refuses, indeed, to be responsible for him in the event of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-31

Exodus 21:33 If a man shall open a pit. Rather, "If a man shall uncover a cistern." Cisterns, very necessary in Palestine, were usually closed by a flat-stone, or a number of planks. To obtain water from them, they had to be uncovered; but it was the duty of the man who uncovered them, to replace the covering when his wants were satisfied. Or dig a pit and not cover it . A man who was making a cistern might neglect to cover it while it was in course of construction, or even... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:3

If the sun be risen upon him . If the entry is attempted after daybreak. In this case it is charitably assumed that the thief does not contemplate murder. There shall be blood shed for him . Or, "the blood-feud shall hold good in his case"— i.e; his slayer shall be liable to be put to death by the next of kin. For he should make full restitution . Rather, "He shall make full restitution." The punishment of the housebreaker, who enters a house by day, shall be like that of other... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 22:2-4

If a thief, in breaking into a dwelling in the night, was slain, the person who slew him did not incur the guilt of blood; but if the same occurred in daylight, the slayer was guilty in accordance with Exodus 21:12. The distinction may have been based on the fact that in the light of day there was a fair chance of identifying and apprehending the thief. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 22:3-4

Exodus 22:3-4. For he should make full restitution This the law determined: not that he should die. In his hand alive Not killed, nor sold, as Exodus 22:1, so that the owner recover it with less charge and trouble. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 22:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 22:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 22:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:1-31

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 22:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 22:2-4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Exodus 22:3-4

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