Exodus 22:23

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.

American Standard Version (1901)

If thou afflict them at all, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

Bible in Basic English

If you are cruel to them in any way, and their cry comes up to me, I will certainly give ear;

Douay-Rheims 1899

If you hurt them they will cry out to me, and I will hear their cry:

Free Bible Version

If you mistreat them, and they call out to me for help, I will definitely respond to their cry.

Geneva Bible 1599

If thou vexe or trouble such, and so he call and cry vnto me, I will surely heare his cry.

King James (Authorized) Version

If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

One Unity Resource Bible

If 'anah ·you take advantage· of 'anah ·them at all·, and tza'ak ·they cry· tza'ak ·at all· sh'ma ·hear obey· unto me, I will surely sh'ma ·hear obey· tza'ak ·their cry·;

Translation for Translators

If you mistreat them and they cry out to me for help, I will hear them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

If you afflict them at all, and if they call out to me, I will surely hear their call.

Noah Webster Bible

If thou shalt afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry:

World English Bible

If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry;

Young's Literal Translation

if thou dost really afflict him, surely if he at all cry unto Me, I certainly hear his cry;

Context

Laws of Social Responsibility

²²You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.²³If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.²⁴My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.

Summary

In Exodus 22:23, God instructs His people to show compassion and care for the vulnerable members of society, including widows and orphans. This command reflects God's heart for justice and mercy, emphasizing the importance of protecting those who are often marginalized and in need of support. By highlighting the need to treat the less fortunate with kindness and fairness, this verse underscores the values of love, empathy, and social responsibility that are central to God's kingdom.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, Such only need to borrow money, and to whom it should be freely lent, when it may be to the good of the borrower, and not any injury to the lender: this law, according to the Jewish writers, only respects Israelites, and not Gentiles; agreeably to which is Jarchi's note,"if thou lend, that is, not to a Gentile; and to which of my people? the poor, and to which of the poor? that is with thee:" thou shalt not be to him as an usurer; that will not lend without usury, nor without an exorbitant interest, and deals very hardly with the borrower if he is not punctual in the payment of it; the Israelites were not only not to be usurers, but they were not to be like them; they were not to require anything for lending a poor man a little money; as not any settled interest, so neither were they to take any previous gift or reward later, see Luk 6:34. neither shalt thou lay upon him usury; or oblige him to give interest for money borrowed: it is in the plural, number, "neither shall ye lay"; and Aben Ezra observes, that the lender, scribe, and witness, all transgress this law; that is, when a man lends money on interest, and a bond is made by the scribe for it, and this signed by witnesses, all are guilty of the breach of it: yea, some Jewish writers (h) say, not only those, but whoever is a surety or bondsman for the payment, and even the borrower himself; see Gill on Psa 15:5. (h) Misn. Bava Metzia, c. 5. sect. 11. Maimon. & Bartenora in ib.