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Monday, December 22nd, 2025
the Fourth Week of Advent
the Fourth Week of Advent
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Read the Bible
Bishop's Bible
Exodus 23:4
If thou meete thyne enemies oxe or asse goyng astray, thou shalt bryng them to him agayne.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Hebrew Names Version
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
King James Version
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Lexham English Bible
"‘If you come upon the ox of your enemy or his donkey going astray, you will certainly bring it back to him.
"‘If you come upon the ox of your enemy or his donkey going astray, you will certainly bring it back to him.
New Century Version
"If you see your enemy's ox or donkey wandering away, you must return it to him.
"If you see your enemy's ox or donkey wandering away, you must return it to him.
New English Translation
"If you encounter your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return it to him.
"If you encounter your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return it to him.
Amplified Bible
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering off, you must bring it back to him.
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering off, you must bring it back to him.
New American Standard Bible
"If you encounter your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you must return it to him.
"If you encounter your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you must return it to him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
If thou meete thine enemies oxe, or his asse going astray, thou shalt bring him to him againe.
If thou meete thine enemies oxe, or his asse going astray, thou shalt bring him to him againe.
Legacy Standard Bible
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.
Contemporary English Version
If you find an ox or a donkey that has wandered off, take it back where it belongs, even if the owner is your enemy.
If you find an ox or a donkey that has wandered off, take it back where it belongs, even if the owner is your enemy.
Complete Jewish Bible
"If you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey straying, you must return it to him.
"If you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey straying, you must return it to him.
Darby Translation
—If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt certainly bring it back to him.
—If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt certainly bring it back to him.
Easy-to-Read Version
"If you see a lost bull or donkey, then you must return it to its owner—even if the owner is your enemy.
"If you see a lost bull or donkey, then you must return it to its owner—even if the owner is your enemy.
English Standard Version
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him.
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him.
George Lamsa Translation
If you meet your enemys ox or his ass going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
If you meet your enemys ox or his ass going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
Good News Translation
"If you happen to see your enemy's cow or donkey running loose, take it back to him.
"If you happen to see your enemy's cow or donkey running loose, take it back to him.
Christian Standard Bible®
“If you come across your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
“If you come across your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
Literal Translation
When you happen on the ox of your enemy, or his wandering ass, returning you shall return it to him.
When you happen on the ox of your enemy, or his wandering ass, returning you shall return it to him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf thou mete thine enemies oxe or Asse, goinge astraye, thou shalt brynge the same vnto him agayne.
Yf thou mete thine enemies oxe or Asse, goinge astraye, thou shalt brynge the same vnto him agayne.
American Standard Version
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Bible in Basic English
If you come across the ox or the ass of one who is no friend to you wandering from its way, you are to take it back to him.
If you come across the ox or the ass of one who is no friend to you wandering from its way, you are to take it back to him.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
King James Version (1611)
If thou meete thine enemies oxe or his asse going astray, thou shalt surely bring it backe to him againe.
If thou meete thine enemies oxe or his asse going astray, thou shalt surely bring it backe to him againe.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt turn them back and restore them to him.
And if thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt turn them back and restore them to him.
English Revised Version
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Berean Standard Bible
If you encounter your enemy's stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
If you encounter your enemy's stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
If thou meetist `the oxe of thin enemye, ethir the asse errynge, lede thou ayen to hym.
If thou meetist `the oxe of thin enemye, ethir the asse errynge, lede thou ayen to hym.
Young's Literal Translation
`When thou meetest thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou dost certainly turn it back to him;
`When thou meetest thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou dost certainly turn it back to him;
Update Bible Version
If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
Webster's Bible Translation
If thou shalt meet thy enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
If thou shalt meet thy enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
World English Bible
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
New King James Version
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
New Living Translation
"If you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner.
"If you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey that has strayed away, take it back to its owner.
New Life Bible
"If you meet a bull or donkey that belongs to a man who hates you, be sure to return the animal to him.
"If you meet a bull or donkey that belongs to a man who hates you, be sure to return the animal to him.
New Revised Standard
When you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.
When you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
When thou meetest the ox of thine enemy, or his ass, going astray, thou shalt, surely bring it back, to him.
When thou meetest the ox of thine enemy, or his ass, going astray, thou shalt, surely bring it back, to him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If thou meet thy enemy’s ox or ass going astray, bring it back to him.
If thou meet thy enemy’s ox or ass going astray, bring it back to him.
Revised Standard Version
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his ass going astray, you shall bring it back to him.
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his ass going astray, you shall bring it back to him.
THE MESSAGE
"If you find your enemy's ox or donkey loose, take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, don't walk off and leave it. Help it up.
"If you find your enemy's ox or donkey loose, take it back to him. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you lying helpless under its load, don't walk off and leave it. Help it up.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.
"If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.
Contextual Overview
1 Thou shalt not haue to do with any false report, neither shalt thou put thine hand with the wicked, to be an vnrighteous witnesse. 2 Thou shalt not folow a multitude to do euill, neither shalt thou speake in a matter of iustice according to the greater number, for to peruert iudgement. 3 Neither shalt thou esteeme a poore man in his cause. 4 If thou meete thyne enemies oxe or asse goyng astray, thou shalt bryng them to him agayne. 5 If thou see the asse of him that hateth thee sincke vnder his burthen, thou shalt not passe by and let him alone, but shalt helpe hym to lyft hym vp agayne. 6 Thou shalt not hinder the right of thy poore in his suite. 7 Kepe thee farre from a false matter, and the innocent and righteous see thou slay not: for I wyll not iustifie the wicked. 8 Thou shalt take no gyftes: for gyftes blinde the seyng, and peruert the wordes of the righteous. 9 Thou shalt not oppresse a straunger: for ye know the heart of a straunger, seyng ye were straungers in the lande of Egypt.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Deuteronomy 22:1-4, Job 31:29, Job 31:30, Proverbs 24:17, Proverbs 24:18, Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:27, Luke 6:28, Romans 12:17-21, 1 Thessalonians 5:15
Reciprocal: Leviticus 6:3 - have found Leviticus 19:18 - not avenge Deuteronomy 22:4 - thou shalt surely Matthew 12:11 - and if Luke 10:34 - went Luke 14:5 - Which Romans 12:20 - if thine
Cross-References
Genesis 3:19
In the sweatte of thy face shalt thou eate thy breade, tyll thou be turned agayne into the ground, for out of it wast thou taken: For dust thou art, and into dust shalt thou be turned agayne.
In the sweatte of thy face shalt thou eate thy breade, tyll thou be turned agayne into the ground, for out of it wast thou taken: For dust thou art, and into dust shalt thou be turned agayne.
Genesis 17:8
And I wyll geue vnto thee and to thy seede after thee, the lande wherein thou art a strauger [euen] al the lande of Chanaan, for an euerlastyng possession, and wyll be their God.
And I wyll geue vnto thee and to thy seede after thee, the lande wherein thou art a strauger [euen] al the lande of Chanaan, for an euerlastyng possession, and wyll be their God.
Genesis 23:12
And Abraham bowed him selfe before the people of the lande.
And Abraham bowed him selfe before the people of the lande.
Genesis 23:13
And spake vnto Ephron in the audience of the people of the countrey, saying: yf thou wylt [geue it] then I pray thee heare me, I wyll geue syluer for the fielde, take it of me, and I will bury my dead therin.
And spake vnto Ephron in the audience of the people of the countrey, saying: yf thou wylt [geue it] then I pray thee heare me, I wyll geue syluer for the fielde, take it of me, and I will bury my dead therin.
Genesis 23:16
And Abraham hearkened vnto Ephron, and wayed him the siluer which he had sayde in the aundience of the sonnes of Heth, euen foure hundred syluer sicles of currant money amongest marchauntes.
And Abraham hearkened vnto Ephron, and wayed him the siluer which he had sayde in the aundience of the sonnes of Heth, euen foure hundred syluer sicles of currant money amongest marchauntes.
Genesis 47:9
Iacob sayd vnto Pharao, The dayes of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirtie yeres: Fewe and euill haue the dayes of my life ben, and haue not attayned vnto the yeres of ye lyfe of my fathers, in the dayes of theyr pilgrimage.
Iacob sayd vnto Pharao, The dayes of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirtie yeres: Fewe and euill haue the dayes of my life ben, and haue not attayned vnto the yeres of ye lyfe of my fathers, in the dayes of theyr pilgrimage.
Genesis 49:30
In the caue that is in the fielde of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the lande of Chanaan, which Abraham bought with the fielde of Ephron the Hethite for a possession to bury in.
In the caue that is in the fielde of Machpelah, which is before Mamre in the lande of Chanaan, which Abraham bought with the fielde of Ephron the Hethite for a possession to bury in.
Genesis 50:13
For his sonnes caryed hym into the lande of Chanaan, & buryed hym in the caue of the fielde Machpelah, whiche fielde Abraham bought to be a place to bury in of Ephron the Hethite, before Mamre.
For his sonnes caryed hym into the lande of Chanaan, & buryed hym in the caue of the fielde Machpelah, whiche fielde Abraham bought to be a place to bury in of Ephron the Hethite, before Mamre.
Leviticus 25:23
The lande shall not be solde to waste: for the lande is myne, & ye be but staungers and soiourners with me.
The lande shall not be solde to waste: for the lande is myne, & ye be but staungers and soiourners with me.
1 Chronicles 29:15
For we be but straungers before thee, and soiourners, as were al our fathers: Our dayes on the earth also are but as a shadowe, and there is none abiding.
For we be but straungers before thee, and soiourners, as were al our fathers: Our dayes on the earth also are but as a shadowe, and there is none abiding.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray,.... Or any other beast, as the Samaritan version adds; for these are only mentioned for instances, as being more common, and creatures subject to go astray; now when such as these are met going astray, so as to be in danger of being lost to the owner, though he is an enemy; or as the Targum of Jonathan,
"whom thou hatest because of a sin, which thou alone knowest in him;''
yet this was not so far to prejudice the finder of his beasts against him, as to be careless about them, to suffer them to go on without acquainting him with them, or returning them to him, as follows:
thou shalt surely bring it back to him again; whether it be an ox, or an ass, or any other beast, the law is very strong and binding upon the finder to return it to his neighbour, though an enemy, and bring it either to his field or to his farm.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
So far was the spirit of the law from encouraging personal revenge that it would not allow a man to neglect an opportunity of saving his enemy from loss.
Exodus 23:5
The sense appears to be: “If thou see the ass of thine enemy lying down under his burden, thou shalt forbear to pass by him; thou shalt help him in loosening the girths of the ass.”
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Exodus 23:4. If thou meet thine enemy's ox - going astray — From the humane and heavenly maxim in this and the following verse, our blessed Lord has formed the following precept: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you;" Matthew 5:44. A precept so plain, wise, benevolent, and useful, can receive no other comment than that which its influence on the heart of a kind and merciful man produces in his life.
