Exodus 23 · Verse 4

Exodus 23:4

If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Exodus 23:4, King James Version

Exodus 23:4 in other translations

BSBIf you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey, you must return it to him.
WEB“If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
ASVIf thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
YLT‘When thou meetest thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou dost certainly turn it back to him;
DARBY— If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt certainly bring it back to him.
BBEIf you come across the ox or the ass of one who is no friend to you wandering from its way, you are to take it back to him.
WebsterIf thou shalt meet thy enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.

What does Exodus 23:4 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 If thou meet thine enemy's ox - going astray - From the humane and heavenly maxim in this and the following verse, our blessed Lord has formed the following precept: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you;" Mat 5:44. A precept so plain, wise, benevolent, and useful, can receive no other comment than that which its influence on the heart of a kind and merciful man produces in his life.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 23:1-9

In the law of Moses are very plain marks of sound moral feeling, and of true political wisdom. Every thing in it is suited to the desired and avowed object, the worship of one only God, and the separation of Israel from the pagan world. Neither parties, friends, witnesses, nor common opinions, must move us to lessen great faults, to aggravate small ones, excuse offenders, accuse the innocent, or misrepresent any…

Read the full comment on Exodus 23:1-9 →

Exodus 23:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֣יkiifH3588
תִפְגַּ֞עtif.Ga'you will meetH6293
שׁ֧וֹרShor[the] ox ofH7794
אֹֽיִבְךָ֛'o.yiv.Khaenemy yourH341
א֥וֹ'oorH176
חֲמֹר֖וֹcha.mo.Rodonkey hisH2543
תֹּעֶ֑הto.'Ehwandering offH8582
הָשֵׁ֥בha.Shevcertainly <to return>H7725
תְּשִׁיבֶ֖נּוּte.shi.Ve.nuyou will return itH7725
לֽוֹ\׃\ \סloto <the> him

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 23:4

  • Deuteronomy 22:1-4

    Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother. And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother’s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself. 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.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:15

    See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

  • Romans 12:17-21

    Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. …

  • Matthew 5:44

    But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

  • Luke 6:27-28

    But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

  • Proverbs 25:21

    If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

  • Job 31:29-30

    If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

  • Proverbs 24:17-18

    Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
De 22:1-4; Job 31:29,30; Pr 24:17,18; 25:21; Mt 5:44; Lu 6:27,28
Ro 12:17-21; 1Th 5:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 23:3

    Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.

  • Exodus 23:4

    If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.

  • Exodus 23:5

    If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

Read all of Exodus 23

Exodus 23:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si encontrares el buey de tu enemigo ó su asno extraviado, vuelve á llevárselo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si tu rencontres le bœuf de ton ennemi, ou son âne, égaré, tu ne manqueras pas de le lui ramener.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn du den Ochsen deines Feindes oder seinen Esel umherirrend antriffst, sollst du ihn demselben jedenfalls zurückbringen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si occurreris bovi inimici tui, aut asino erranti, reduc ad eum.