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Deuteronomy 22:4

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Deuteronomy 22:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thou shalt not see thy brother`s ass or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thou shalt not see thy brother`s ass or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
Deuteronomy 22:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Deuteronomy 22

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Thou shalt not see thy brother`s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely bring them again unto thy brother.
2And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it home to thy house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him.
3And so shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his garment; and so shalt thou do with every lost thing of thy brother`s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found: thou mayest not hide thyself.
4Thou shalt not see thy brother`s ass or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
5A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman`s garment; for whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.
6If a bird`s nest chance to be before thee in the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
7thou shalt surely let the dam go, but the young thou mayest take unto thyself; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.
← Deuteronomy 22:3Deuteronomy 22:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Thou shall not see thy brother’s ox or his ass fall down by the way, etc.] And lie under his burden, not being able to rise with it of himself, nor with all the assistance about it, without further help: and hide thyself from them; cover thine eyes, or turn them another way, and make as if thou didst not see them in distress: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again; that is, help the brother and owner of it, the ox and ass; assist him in getting them up again, and lay on their burden, and fasten them aright, which either were rolled off by the fall, or were obliged to be taken off in order to raise them up; and if this was to be done for an enemy, then much more for a brother, as is…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“thou shalt surely: Exo 23:4, Exo 23:5; Mat 5:44; Luk 10:29-37; Rom 15:1; Co2 12:15; Gal 6:1, Gal 6:2; Th1 5:14; Heb 12:12, Heb 12:13 Deuteronomy 22:5”
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Related study paths

Read Deuteronomy 22 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification