Exodus 22:3

But 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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God delivers this civil statute to the Israelite community through Moses at Sinai, clarifying the homeowner's liability when confronting a burglar. The verse distinguishes legal guilt based on whether the intrusion occurs before or after daylight.

The words — זָרְחָ֥ה (za.re.Chah) = it has risen, and שַׁלֵּ֣ם (sha.Lem) = certainly make restitution. These terms mark the legal boundary where defensive action shifts to mandatory compensation and conditional servitude.

The thread — The framework of proportional restitution and debt servitude reappears in Exodus 21:2, while the theme of divine selling for plunder recurs in Judges 2:14 and Judges 10:7.

Why it lands — The text commands full repayment for stolen goods and authorizes the sale of an insolvent thief to cover the debt. It requires readers to enforce measured justice that prioritizes restoration over vengeance.

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

אִם־'im-if זָרְחָ֥הza.re.Chahit has risen הַשֶּׁ֛מֶשׁha./She.meshthe/ sun עָלָ֖יו'a.La/von/ him דָּמִ֣יםda.Mimblood<s>ל֑וֹl/o[will be] for <the>/ himשַׁלֵּ֣םsha.Lemcertainly <make restitution>יְשַׁלֵּ֔םye.sha.Lemhe will make restitution אִם־'im-if אֵ֣ין'einnothingל֔וֹl/o[belongs] to <the>/ himוְנִמְכַּ֖רve./nim.Karand/ he will be sold בִּגְנֵבָתֽוֹ׃bi/g.ne.va.T/ofor/ theft/ his

King James Version

If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

Cross-references

Exodus 21:2 If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything.
Judges 2:14 Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of those who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist.
Judges 10:7 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites,
Isaiah 50:1 This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
Matthew 18:25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.