Every Jot and Tittle: Exodus 22:1- 15: Property Law

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are 613. See here for a list of those that I've found so far.

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A person who steals and kills an ox or a sheep shall pay the owner five oxen for each stolen ox, and four sheep for each stolen sheep.

If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. Exodus 22:1

If a thief is caught breaking into a house while it is dark and is killed in the process, the person who killed him shall not be executed.

If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him. Exodus 22:2

If a thief is caught in the act of breaking into a house and is struck and killed in the process, the person who killed the thief is not guilty of murder. New Living Translation

If a thief is caught breaking into a house during the daytime and is killed in the process, the person who killed the thief shall be executed for murder.

If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him.Exodus 22:3a

But if it happens in daylight, the one who killed the thief is guilty of murder. New Living Translation

If a thief is caught and is too poor to make a complete restitution, he shall be sold to pay for his theft.

He should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. Exodus 22:3b

If a thief steals an ox or an ass, and the stolen animal is found alive, the thief must pay twice the value of the stolen animal.

If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double. Exodus 22:4

If someone steals an ox or a donkey or a sheep and it is found in the thief’s possession, then the thief must pay double the value of the stolen animal. New Living Translation

If your animal eats from someone else's field or vineyard, you must repay the owner with the best of your grain or grapes.

If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution. Exodus 22:5

If an animal is grazing in a field or vineyard and the owner lets it stray into someone else’s field to graze, then the animal’s owner must pay compensation from the best of his own grain or grapes. New Living Translation

If you start a fire that burns someone else's grain, you shall restore what was burned.

If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. Exodus 22:6

If you leave your stuff with your neighbor to watch, and it is stolen from your neighbor's house, then the thief shall pay double (if the thief is found).

If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double. Exodus 22:7

Suppose someone leaves money or goods with a neighbor for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house. If the thief is caught, the compensation is double the value of what was stolen. New Living Translation

If the thief is not found, your neighbor shall be brought before the judges to see if he stole your stuff.

If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods. Exodus 22:8

Whoever is guilty of theft shall repay the victim twice the worth of the stolen goods.

For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour. Exodus 22:9

If you ask your neighbor to watch your ox or ass, and your animal dies, is hurt, or is lost while under his care, then your neighbor shall swear to God that he didn't do anything wrong. If God confirms the oath, your neighbor does not have to pay you back. But if your animal was stolen while under his care, he must pay you for it.

If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it: Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good. And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. Exodus 22:10-12

Now suppose someone leaves a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal with a neighbor for safekeeping, but it dies or is injured or gets away, and no one sees what happened. The neighbor must then take an oath in the presence of the LORD. If the LORD confirms that the neighbor did not steal the property, the owner must accept the verdict, and no payment will be required. But if the animal was indeed stolen, the guilty person must pay compensation to the owner. New Living Translation

If your animal was torn in pieces while under your neighbor's care, he shall bring the pieces as a witness, and he doesn't owe you anything.

If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn. Exodus 22:13

If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, the remains of the carcass must be shown as evidence, and no compensation will be required. New Living Translation

If someone borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is injured or dies, the person who borrowed the animal must pay the owner whatever the animal was worth.

If a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good. Exodus 22:14

If someone borrows an animal from a neighbor and it is injured or dies when the owner is absent, the person who borrowed it must pay full compensation. New Living Translation

But if the owner was present or the animal was rented, no compensation is required.

But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire. Exodus 22:15

But if the owner was present, no compensation is required. And no compensation is required if the animal was rented, for this loss is covered by the rental fee.New Living Translation