Exodus 22:27

because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks to Israel through Moses regarding a creditor who has seized a neighbor's cloak as collateral. The instruction applies immediately, mandating the garment's return before sunset.

The words — The Hebrew term שִׂמְלָתוֹ (sim.la.tô) denotes "his cloak," while the interrogative בַּמָּה (ba.mmâ) translates literally as "in what?" and questions what alternative the debtor possesses for sleep.

The thread — The compassion declared in this verse aligns with the mercy described in Exodus 34:6, 2 Chronicles 30:9, and Psalm 86:15. These references consistently characterize God's disposition toward grace and forgiveness.

Why it lands — The text commands the immediate return of essential property to prevent physical harm. It grounds ethical treatment of the poor in the observable reality of divine attention to practical justice.

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

כִּ֣יkifor הִ֤ואhi'it כְסוּתוֹ֙khe.su.t/o[is] covering/ his לְבַדָּ֔הּle./va.Da/hto/ alone/ it הִ֥ואhi'it שִׂמְלָת֖וֹsim.la.T/o[is] cloak/ his לְעֹר֑וֹle./'o.R/ofor/ skin/ his בַּמֶּ֣הba./Mehin/ what?יִשְׁכָּ֔בyish.Kavwill he lie down וְהָיָה֙ve./ha.Yahand/ it will be כִּֽי־ki-that יִצְעַ֣קyitz.'Akhe will cry out אֵלַ֔י'e.La/ito/ me וְשָׁמַעְתִּ֖יve./sha.ma'.Tiand/ I will hear כִּֽי־ki-for חַנּ֥וּןcha.Nun[am] gracious אָֽנִי׃ ס'A.niI

King James Version

For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.

Cross-references

Exodus 34:6 Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness,
2 Chronicles 30:9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”
Psalms 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
Exodus 22:23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
Psalms 34:6 This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.
Psalms 72:12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.
Psalms 136:10 He struck down the firstborn of Egypt His loving devotion endures forever.
Exodus 2:23 After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.
Isaiah 19:20 It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of Hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a savior and defender to rescue them.