Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
the Third Week after Easter
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

New Revised Standard

Exodus 22:2

If a thief is found breaking in, and is beaten to death, no bloodguilt is incurred;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Animals;   Bullock;   Restitution;   Theft and Thieves;   The Topic Concordance - Recompense/restitution;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Homicide;   Punishments;   Theft;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Bed;   Restitution;   Theft;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Punishment;   Steal;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Kill, Killing;   Law;   Punishment;   Wealth;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Theft;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Murder;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Bloodguilt;   Crimes and Punishments;   Hammurabi;   Law, Ten Commandments, Torah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Canon of the Old Testament;   Covenant, Book of the;   Ethics;   Hexateuch;   Law;   Leviticus;   Priests and Levites;   Sheep;   Sin;   Slave, Slavery;   Ten Commandments;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Thief ;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Law of Moses;   Manslayer,;   Murder;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Thief;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Peculiarities of the Law of Moses;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bloodguiltiness;   Covenant, the Book of the;   Crime;   Homicide;   Punishments;   Slave;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Burglary;   Crime;   Hammurabi;   Homicide;   Slaves and Slavery;   Sun;   Theft and Stolen Goods;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.
King James Version
If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
Lexham English Bible
"‘If a thief is found in the act of breaking in and he is struck and he dies, there is not bloodguilt for him.
New Century Version
"The robber who is caught must pay back what he stole. If he owns nothing, he must be sold as a slave to pay for what he stole. If the stolen animal is found alive with the robber, he must give the owner two animals for every animal he stole, whether it was a bull, donkey, or sheep. "If a thief is killed while breaking into a house at night, the one who killed him is not guilty of murder. But if this happens during the day, he is guilty of murder.
New English Translation
"If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no blood guilt for him.
Amplified Bible
"If a thief is caught breaking in [after dark] and is struck [by the owner] so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him.
New American Standard Bible
"If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no guilt for bloodshed on his account.
Geneva Bible (1587)
If a thiefe bee founde breaking vp, and be smitten that he dye, no blood shall be shed for him.
Legacy Standard Bible
"If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account.
Contemporary English Version
But if you cannot afford to replace the animals, you must be sold as a slave to pay for what you have stolen. If you steal an ox, donkey, or sheep, and are caught with it still alive, you must pay the owner double. If you happen to kill a burglar who breaks into your home after dark, you are not guilty. But if you kill someone who breaks in during the day, you are guilty of murder.
Complete Jewish Bible
unless it happens after sunrise, in which case it is murder. A thief must make restitution; so if he has nothing, he himself is to be sold to make good the loss from the theft.
Darby Translation
If the thief be encountered breaking in, and be smitten so that he die, there shall be no blood-guiltiness for him.
Easy-to-Read Version
If he owns nothing, then he will be sold as a slave. But if the man still has the animal and you find it, that man must give the owner two animals for every animal he stole. It doesn't matter if the animal was a bull, a donkey, or a sheep. "If a thief is killed while trying to break into a house at night, then no one will be guilty for killing him. But if this happens during the day, the one who killed him will be guilty of murder.
English Standard Version
If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him,
George Lamsa Translation
If a thief is found breaking into a house and is wounded so that he dies, there is no penalty for bloodshed.
Good News Translation
He must pay for what he stole. If he owns nothing, he shall be sold as a slave to pay for what he has stolen. If the stolen animal, whether a cow, a donkey, or a sheep, is found alive in his possession, he shall pay two for one. "If a thief is caught breaking into a house at night and is killed, the one who killed him is not guilty of murder. But if it happens during the day, he is guilty of murder.
Christian Standard Bible®
If a thief is caught in the act of breaking in, and he is beaten to death, no one is guilty of bloodshed.
Literal Translation
If the thief is found breaking in, and is stricken and dies, no blood shall be shed for him.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yf a thefe be taken breakinge in, & vpon that be smytten that he dye, then shall not he that smote him, be giltie of his bloude.
American Standard Version
If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.
Bible in Basic English
If a thief is taken in the act of forcing his way into a house, and his death is caused by a blow, the owner of the house is not responsible for his blood.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
If a theefe be found breaking vp, and be smitten that he dye: there shall no blood be shed for hym.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him--he shall make restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
King James Version (1611)
If a thiefe bee found breaking vp, and be smitten that he die, there shal no blood be shed for him.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And if the thief be found in the breach made by himself and be smitten and die, there shall not be blood shed for him.
English Revised Version
If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten that he die, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.
Berean Standard Bible
If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And if a nyyt theef brekynge an hows, ether vndurmynynge, is foundun, and is deed bi a wounde takun, the smytere schal not be gilti of blood;
Young's Literal Translation
`If in the breaking through, the thief is found, and he hath been smitten, and hath died, there is no blood for him;
Update Bible Version
If the thief is found breaking in, and is smitten so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.
Webster's Bible Translation
If a thief shall be found breaking through, and be smitten that he die, [there shall] no blood [be shed] for him.
World English Bible
If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.
New King James Version
If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.
New Living Translation
"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 Life Bible
If the robber is caught while breaking in, and is hit so that he dies, the owner of the house is not guilty for his blood.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, in the place of breaking in, the thief be found and he is smitten so that he dieth, there is due for him no shedding of blood:
Douay-Rheims Bible
If a thief be found breaking open a house or undermining it, and be wounded so as to die: he that slew him shall not be guilty of blood.
Revised Standard Version
If the stolen beast is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox or an ass or a sheep, he shall pay double.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"If the thief is caught while breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no bloodguiltiness on his account.

Contextual Overview

1 When someone steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, the thief shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. The thief shall make restitution, but if unable to do so, shall be sold for the theft. When the animal, whether ox or donkey or sheep, is found alive in the thief's possession, the thief shall pay double. 2 If a thief is found breaking in, and is beaten to death, no bloodguilt is incurred; 3 but if it happens after sunrise, bloodguilt is incurred. When someone causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets livestock loose to graze in someone else's field, restitution shall be made from the best in the owner's field or vineyard. When fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, the one who started the fire shall make full restitution. When someone delivers to a neighbor money or goods for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, then the thief, if caught, shall pay double. If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall be brought before God, to determine whether or not the owner had laid hands on the neighbor's goods. In any case of disputed ownership involving ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any other loss, of which one party says, "This is mine," the case of both parties shall come before God; the one whom God condemns shall pay double to the other. When someone delivers to another a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal for safekeeping, and it dies or is injured or is carried off, without anyone seeing it, an oath before the Lord shall decide between the two of them that the one has not laid hands on the property of the other; the owner shall accept the oath, and no restitution shall be made. But if it was stolen, restitution shall be made to its owner. If it was mangled by beasts, let it be brought as evidence; restitution shall not be made for the mangled remains. When someone borrows an animal from another and it is injured or dies, the owner not being present, full restitution shall be made. If the owner was present, there shall be no restitution; if it was hired, only the hiring fee is due. When a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married, and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. But if her father refuses to give her to him, he shall pay an amount equal to the bride-price for virgins. You shall not permit a female sorcerer to live. Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death. Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction. You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans. If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them. If you take your neighbor's cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down; for it may be your neighbor's only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate. You shall not revile God, or curse a leader of your people. You shall not delay to make offerings from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall remain with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me. You shall be people consecrated to me; therefore you shall not eat any meat that is mangled by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs. 4 When the animal, whether ox or donkey or sheep, is found alive in the thief's possession, the thief shall pay double. If a thief is found breaking in, and is beaten to death, no bloodguilt is incurred; but if it happens after sunrise, bloodguilt is incurred. 5 When someone causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets livestock loose to graze in someone else's field, restitution shall be made from the best in the owner's field or vineyard. 6 When fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, the one who started the fire shall make full restitution.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

breaking: Job 24:14, Job 30:5, Hosea 7:1, Joel 2:9, Matthew 6:19, Matthew 6:20, Matthew 24:43, 1 Thessalonians 5:2

no blood: Numbers 35:27

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:6 - by Deuteronomy 17:8 - between blood Job 24:16 - In the dark Ezekiel 18:10 - a robber

Cross-References

Genesis 17:19
God said, "No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him.
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you.
Genesis 22:9
When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
Genesis 22:10
Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son.
Genesis 22:12
He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
Genesis 22:16
and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the Lord : Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son,
Judges 11:31
then whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the Lord 's, to be offered up by me as a burnt offering."
Judges 11:39
At the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to the vow he had made. She had never slept with a man. So there arose an Israelite custom that
2 Kings 3:27
Then he took his firstborn son who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And great wrath came upon Israel, so they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.
2 Chronicles 3:1
Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had designated, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If a thief be found breaking up,.... An house, in order to steal money, jewels, household goods, c. or breaking through any fence, hedge, or wall of any enclosure, where oxen, or sheep, or any other creatures are, in order to take them away: the Targum of Jonathan is,

"if in the hole of a wall (or window of it) a thief be found''

that is, in the night, as appears from the following verse, "if the sun", c. to which this is opposed, as Aben Ezra observes some render it, with a digging instrument x; and it is a Jewish canon y, that

"if anyone enter with a digging instrument: he is condemned on account of his end;''

his design, which is apparent by the instrument found upon him; for, as Maimonides z observes,

"it is well known, that if anyone enters with a digging instrument, that he intends, if the master of the house opposes him to deliver his goods out of his power, that he will kill him, and therefore it is lawful to kill him; but it does not signify whether he enters with a digging instrument, either by the way of the court, or roof;''

and be smitten that he die be knocked down with a club, by the master of the house, or any of his servants, or be run through with a sword, or be struck with any other weapon, to hinder him from entrance and carrying off any of the goods of the house, and the blow be mortal: there shall no blood be shed for him: as for a man that is murdered; for to kill a man when breaking into a house, and, by all appearance, with an intention to commit murder, if resisted, in defence of a man's self, his life and property, was not to be reckoned murder, and so not punishable with death: or, "no blood" shall be "unto him" a; shall be imputed to him, the man that kills the thief shall not be chargeable with his blood, or suffer for shedding it; because his own life was risked, and it being at such a time, could call none to his assistance, nor easily discern the person, nor could know well where and whom he struck.

x במחתרת "cum perfossorio", Pagninus; "cum instrumento perfosserio", Tigurine version. y Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 8. sect. 6. z Comment. in ib. a אין לו דמים "non ei sanguines", Montanus, Vatablus, Drusius.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Exodus 22:2. If a thief be found — If a thief was found breaking into a house in the night season, he might be killed; but not if the sun had risen, for then he might be known and taken, and the restitution made which is mentioned in the succeeding verse. So by the law of England it is a burglary to break and enter a house by night; and "anciently the day was accounted to begin only from sunrising, and to end immediately upon sunset: but it is now generally agreed that if there be daylight enough begun or left, either by the light of the sun or twilight, whereby the countenance of a person may reasonably be discerned, it is no burglary; but that this does not extend to moonlight, for then many midnight burglaries would go unpunished. And besides, the malignity of the offence does not so properly arise, as Mr. Justice Blackstone observes, from its being done in the dark, as at the dead of night when all the creation except beasts of prey are at rest; when sleep has disarmed the owner, and rendered his castle defenceless." - East's Pleas of the Crown, vol. ii., p. 509.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile