Bible Strands
Exodus 23:4
If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses the Israelites through Moses at Sinai, establishing civil conduct immediately after detailing judicial impartiality in Exodus 23:3.
The words — The Hebrew verb תִפְגַּע (tifga) literally means "you will meet" or "encounter," paired with הָשֵׁב (hashiv), which commands a definite "you shall return." The text explicitly requires returning the stray ox or donkey to its owner regardless of the owner's hostile status.
The thread — This directive parallels Deuteronomy 22:1, which commands returning a brother’s stray livestock, and establishes a pattern later echoed in 1 Thessalonians 5:15 and Matthew 5:44 regarding active goodwill toward adversaries.
Why it lands — The text demands immediate practical restitution for an enemy’s lost property before any relational reconciliation is possible. It requires readers to perform concrete acts of care that override natural hostility.
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
King James Version
If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 22:1 If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, you must not ignore it; be sure to return it to your brother.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
- Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
- Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Proverbs 25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
- Luke 6:27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
- Job 31:29 If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
- Proverbs 24:17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,