Exodus 22:23

If thou afflict them in any wise ,..... In any way, or by any means whatever; their minds, by reproaches, censures, insults, and their bodies by stripes, false imprisonment, &c.; and in their substance, by withholding from them what belongs to them, taking what they have, or cheating and defrauding them in any respect; or, "in afflicting afflict them" F5 ענה תענה "affligendo afflixeris", Pagninus, Piscator, Ainsworth, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius. ; afflict them much, and continue to do so:

and they cry at all unto me ; in prayer, as the Targum of Jonathan; or, "in crying cry" F6 צעק יצעק "clamando clamaverit", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, Ainsworth. ; cry vehemently, or importunately, and with constancy, or rather, cry ever so little:

I will surely hear their cry ; the voice of their prayer, as the same Targum; or, "in hearing I will hear" F7 שמע אשמע "audiendo audiam", Pagninus, Montanus, Piscator, Ainsworth. ; will certainly take notice of their cries, and return an answer to them, by appearing on their side, and avenging their injuries; for God is the Father of the fatherless, and the husband of the widow, and the Judge of them both: the manner of speaking or form of expression is the same in all these clauses, the words being doubled.