Exodus 22:2

Verse

If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.

American Standard Version (1901)

If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.

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.

Douay-Rheims 1899

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.

Free Bible Version

If a thief is discovered breaking into someone's house and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of murder.

Geneva Bible 1599

If a thiefe bee founde breaking vp, and be smitten that he dye, no blood shall be shed for him.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

One Unity Resource Bible

If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.

Translation for Translators

If a thief is caught while he is breaking into someone else’s house at night, if the one who catches him kills the thief, he is not guilty of murdering him.

Unlocked Literal Bible

If a thief is found breaking in, and if he is struck so that he dies, in that case no guilt for murder will attach to anyone on his account.

Noah Webster Bible

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.

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;

Context

Property Laws

¹“If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.²If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed. ³But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft.

Summary

Exodus 22:2 addresses the scenario of a thief breaking into a house at night. If the homeowner kills the thief in self-defense, there is no guilt upon the homeowner. This law reflects the importance of protecting one's property and life, allowing for self-defense in the face of a threat. It also underscores the value of human life, as the homeowner is not held accountable for the thief's death when defending themselves and their household. This verse highlights the principles of justice, protection, and the right to safeguard one's well-being within the context of ancient Israelite society.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

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 offense 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.

John Gill Bible Commentary

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

Exodus 22:2

Property Laws

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Douay-Rheims 1899

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.

Free Bible Version

If a thief is discovered breaking into someone's house and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of murder.

Geneva Bible 1599

If a thiefe bee founde breaking vp, and be smitten that he dye, no blood shall be shed for him.

King James (Authorized) Version

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

One Unity Resource Bible

If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.

Translation for Translators

If a thief is caught while he is breaking into someone else’s house at night, if the one who catches him kills the thief, he is not guilty of murdering him.

Unlocked Literal Bible

If a thief is found breaking in, and if he is struck so that he dies, in that case no guilt for murder will attach to anyone on his account.

Noah Webster Bible

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.

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;

Adam Clarke
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary