Deuteronomy 22:4

If you see your brother’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, you must not ignore it; you must help him lift it up.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the assembled Israelites on the plains of Moab, delivering covenant statutes that govern daily conduct before they cross the Jordan.

The words — The Hebrew תִרְאֶה (tir'Eh) means "you will see," paired with לֹא (lo') "not" and נֹפְלִים (no'felim) "falling" to form the prohibition against overlooking an animal that has collapsed on the road.

The thread — Exodus 23:4 commands the return of a stray ox or donkey to an enemy, while Deuteronomy 22:3 establishes the same non-ignoring duty for found property. Later passages like Matthew 5:44 and Luke 10:29 engage the broader scope of neighborly obligation.

Why it lands — The text commands active intervention when a brother's livestock collapses, requiring the observer to stop and help lift it. It establishes a baseline of practical responsibility that precedes any theological expansion of who qualifies as a neighbor.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

לֹא־lo'-not תִרְאֶה֩tir.'Ehyou will see אֶת־'et-<obj.>חֲמ֨וֹרcha.Mor[the] donkey of אָחִ֜יךָ'a.Chi./khacountryman/ your א֤וֹ'oor שׁוֹרוֹ֙sho.R/oox/ his נֹפְלִ֣יםno.fe.Limfalling בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְba./De.rekhby the/ way וְהִתְעַלַּמְתָּ֖ve./hit.'a.lam.Taand/ you will hide yourselfמֵהֶ֑םme./Hemfrom <the>/ themהָקֵ֥םha.Kemcertainly <to raise>תָּקִ֖יםta.Kimyou will raise [it] up עִמּֽוֹ׃ סi.M/owith/ him

King James Version

Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.

Cross-references

Exodus 23:4 If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Luke 10:29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
2 Corinthians 12:15 And for the sake of your souls, I will most gladly spend my money and myself. If I love you more, will you love me less?
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
Hebrews 12:12 Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.