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Exodus 22:3

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 22:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him; he shall make restitution: if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him; he shall make restitution: if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
Exodus 22:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 22

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.
3If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him; he shall make restitution: if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double.
5If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it feed in another man`s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
6If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
← Exodus 22:2Exodus 22:4 →
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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
“If the sun be risen upon him, etc.] Either upon the thief, or upon the master of the house, or the person that finds the thief and smites him that he dies; it matters not which it is interpreted, it is true of both, for when it is risen on the one, it is on the other: [there shall be] blood [shed] for him; the person that kills him shall die for it: the Targum of Jonathan is, “if it is as clear as the sun (and so Jarchi), that not to kill any he entered, and he should kill him, there is guilt of shedding innocent blood:” because coming at broad daylight, and when the sun was up, it was a plain case he came not with a design to murder, but only to steal; besides, being at such a time, the…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If a thief, in breaking into a dwelling in the night, was slain, the person who slew him did not incur the guilt of blood; but if the same occurred in daylight, the slayer was guilty in accordance with Exodus 21:12. The distinction may have been based on the fact that in the light of day there was a fair chance of identifying and apprehending the thief. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For he should make full restitution - This the law determined: not that he should die. Exodus 22:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“then he shall: Exo 21:2; Jdg 2:14, Jdg 10:7; Isa 50:1 Exodus 22:4”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification