Exodus 22:16-31

Social Responsibility

16 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife.

17 If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.

18 “Do not allow a sorceress to live.

19 “Anyone who has sexual relations with an animal is to be put to death.

20 “Whoever sacrifices to any god other than the LORD must be destroyed.^[a]

21 “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.

22 “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.

23 If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.

24 My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.

25 “If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest.

26 If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, return it by sunset,

27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

28 “Do not blaspheme God^[b] or curse the ruler of your people.

29 “Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats.^[c]“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.

30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.

31 “You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.

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Exodus 22:16-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 22

This chapter contains various laws concerning theft, Ex 22:1-4, concerning damage done to fields and vineyards by beasts, and to corn in stacks or standing, by fire, Ex 22:5,6, concerning anything or creature deposited in the hands of a neighbour, and they be stolen or lost by one means or another, Ex 22:7-13, concerning anything borrowed, and it comes to any damage, Ex 22:14,15, concerning fornication, Ex 22:16,17 concerning witchcraft, bestiality, and idolatry, Ex 22:18-20 concerning oppression, and affliction of the stranger, fatherless, and widow, Ex 22:21-24 concerning taking usury and pledges, Ex 22:25-27, concerning irreverence to magistrates, Ex 22:28, concerning the offering of firstfruits to God, Ex 22:29,30 and the chapter is concluded with a prohibition of eating anything torn by beasts, Ex 22:31.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 25

1. Deuteronomy 22:28
2. S Genesis 34:12
3. S Exodus 7:11; Leviticus 19:26,31; Leviticus 20:27; Deuteronomy 18:11; 1 Samuel 28:3; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 57:3
4. Leviticus 18:23; Leviticus 20:15; Deuteronomy 27:21
5. S Exodus 20:23; Exodus 34:15; Leviticus 17:7; Numbers 25:2; Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalms 106:37
6. Leviticus 27:29; Deuteronomy 13:5; Deuteronomy 17:2-5; Deuteronomy 18:20; 1 Kings 18:40; 1 Kings 19:1; 2 Kings 10:25; 2 Kings 23:20; 2 Chronicles 15:13
7. Exodus 23:9; Leviticus 19:33; Leviticus 24:22; Numbers 15:14; Deuteronomy 1:16; Deuteronomy 24:17; Ezekiel 22:29
8. Deuteronomy 10:19; Deuteronomy 27:19; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5
9. ver 26; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 24:6,10,12,17; Job 22:6,9; Job 24:3,21; Psalms 68:5; Psalms 146:9; Proverbs 23:10; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 7:5,6; Jeremiah 21:12; Jeremiah 22:3; Ezekiel 18:5-9,12; Zechariah 7:9-10; Malachi 3:5; James 1:27
10. Luke 18:7
11. Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 15:9; Deuteronomy 24:15; Job 34:28; Job 35:9; Psalms 10:14,17; Psalms 12:5; Psalms 18:6; Psalms 34:15; James 5:4
12. Psalms 69:24; Psalms 109:9; Lamentations 5:3
13. Leviticus 25:35-37; Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Deuteronomy 23:20; Nehemiah 5:7,10; Psalms 15:5; Ezekiel 18:8
14. S ver 22; Proverbs 20:16; Ezekiel 33:15; Amos 2:8; Deuteronomy 24:6
15. Deuteronomy 24:13,17; Job 22:6; Job 24:7; Job 29:11; Job 31:19-20; Ezekiel 18:12,16
16. Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 4:31; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 99:8; Psalms 103:8; Psalms 116:5; Psalms 145:8; Joel 2:13; John 4:2
17. S Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 24:11,16
18. 2 Samuel 16:5,9; 2 Samuel 19:21; 1 Kings 21:10; 2 Kings 2:23; Psalms 102:8
19. Ecclesiastes 10:20; Acts 23:5*
20. Ex 23:15,16,19; Exodus 34:20,26; Leviticus 19:24; Leviticus 23:10; Numbers 18:13; Numbers 28:26; Deuteronomy 18:4; Deuteronomy 26:2,10; 1 Samuel 6:3; Nehemiah 10:35; Proverbs 3:9; Malachi 3:10
21. S Exodus 13:2; Numbers 8:16-17; Luke 2:23
22. Exodus 34:19; Exodus 13:12; Deuteronomy 15:19
23. Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3; Leviticus 22:27
24. Exodus 19:6; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 22:31; Ezra 9:2
25. Leviticus 7:24; Leviticus 17:15; Leviticus 22:8; Deuteronomy 14:21; Ezekiel 4:14; Ezekiel 44:31

Footnotes 3

[a]. The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
[b]. Or "Do not revile the judges"
[c]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.