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.Exodus 22:3 Explainer ## Introduction - In Plain Language: If a thief is caught in daylight, the homeowner who killed him is guilty of bloodshed; the thief must make full payment for what he stole, and if he can’t pay, he may be sold to make restitution. - Big idea: The law balances protection of life with respect for property by treating daytime and nighttime theft differently and by favoring restitution over killing. - Key points: - The law distinguishes between a nighttime break‑in (sudden danger) and a daytime theft (opportunity to escape or be apprehended). - Where possible, the offender is to make full restitution; if unable, selling him (into servitude) was a way to repay the debt. - This instruction reflects an attempt to limit private vengeance and establish orderly, proportionate justice. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: Exodus 22 is a section of the covenant law dealing with property, theft, damage, and personal injury. Verses 1–4 deal specifically with theft and the appropriate responses when a thief is discovered. - Story timeline: Given to the Israelites after the Exodus and formation of the covenant at Sinai (traditionally in the late Bronze Age). The audience is the Israelite community; the speaker is God (through Moses), giving laws to shape a just society. - Surrounding passage: - Verse 1: Rules for stealing livestock — the thief must repay multiple animals (five for an ox, four for a sheep) when the animal is slaughtered or sold. - Verse 2: If a thief is caught breaking in at night and is killed by the defender, the defender is not guilty (it was sudden and dangerous). - Verse 3: (this verse) If the thief is found in daylight, the defender will be guilty of bloodshed; instead the thief must repay, or be sold if he cannot pay. - Verse 4: If the stolen beast is found alive near the thief’s possession, the thief must restore it. ## Explanation - Quick take: Exodus 22:3 sets limits on killing a thief and promotes restitution. If a thief is caught by day, the homeowner is expected to use restraint because the thief had a chance to flee; killing in that case brings "bloodguilt." The thief should pay back what he stole, and if he has no means, the community could sell him to cover the debt. - In Depth: - The law draws a practical and moral line between a surprise, dangerous nighttime intrusion (which might allow deadly force in self‑defense) and a daytime theft (when deadly force is not justified because danger is less immediate). - “Bloodguilt” (the idea that shedding blood without justification creates guilt) protects life by establishing legal consequences for killing someone when it was avoidable. - Restitution is the preferred remedy: the thief must “make full restitution” — return or pay the value of what was taken, often more than the item’s simple value (see v.1’s multiples). - “Sold for his theft” reflects the economic reality of the time: if the thief had nothing to repay, selling him into servitude (either to pay what he owed or as punishment tied to restitution) was a way to satisfy the debt. This is debt servitude, not the racialized chattel slavery of modern times, though it still raises difficult ethical questions for modern readers. - The law aims to curb private vengeance and to put justice into structured, communal processes. ## Key Words - shemesh (שֶׁמֶשׁ) — “sun” or “daylight”; used here to distinguish daytime discovery from nighttime. - dam (דָּם) — “blood”; in legal context often connected to “bloodguilt” (responsibility for unlawful killing). - shalem (שָׁלֵם / שָׁלַם) — “to make full restitution” or “to repay,” implying restoration beyond simple replacement. - ganav (גָּנַב) — “to steal” / “thief,” the person who took property unlawfully. ## Background - Ancient legal context: Many ancient Near Eastern law codes regulate theft, self‑defense, and restitution. Israel’s laws similarly balance protecting property rights and protecting life. - Debt servitude: Selling someone to pay a debt was a common ancient practice. Israelite law elsewhere places limits on and protections for servants (e.g., Exodus 21; Deuteronomy 15). - Social aim: These rules channel personal anger into communal legal mechanisms and aim to prevent cycles of blood vengeance and escalation. ## Theology - Theological insights in plain language: - Human life is protected; killing is not a casual remedy even for crime. - Justice in the covenant community is to be proportional, procedural, and restorative where possible. - The law recognizes sin’s social and economic roots and builds community solutions (restitution, servitude as repayment) rather than unregulated violence. ## Application To Your Life - For workers/employers: Practice fair consequences and seek restoration rather than destructive retaliation when theft or wrongdoing occurs. Aim for restitution and restitution plans when possible. - For parents: Teach children that taking what isn’t yours has consequences and needs to be made right; model proportional responses and community involvement. - For church leaders: Encourage systems of accountability and restoration for misconduct in the congregation, and resist quick calls for punitive measures without due process. - For seekers/anyone: The passage invites reflection on how to respond to wrongdoing — do we escalate, or do we pursue restoration and proportional justice? - Reflection question(s): - When I’ve been wronged, do I want immediate retribution or a just, restorative outcome? - How can my community build systems that protect people and also enable offenders to make amends? - Short prayer: Lord, help me pursue justice that protects life and seeks restoration, giving me wisdom to respond with restraint and compassion. ## Translation Comparison - KJV: "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." - ESV: "If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt of blood; he shall make full restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft." - NIV: "If the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt; he must make full restitution. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft." - NLT: "But if it happens in daylight, he is guilty of murder. He must repay what he stole; if he has nothing, he may be sold to pay for his theft." - Why differences matter: Translators wrestle with phrases like “blood shed for him” vs. “bloodguilt.” Some versions stress the legal guilt of the defender (guilt for shedding blood), others focus on the seriousness (murder). “Make full restitution” is consistent, but “sold for his theft” can feel harsh to modern readers; understanding that the sale was a form of debt repayment in ancient society helps clarify the original social intent. ## FAQs - Q: Does this verse mean it was okay to sell a person into slavery for stealing? - Short answer: In the ancient world, “selling” someone to pay a debt was a recognized social and legal practice and not identical to later forms of permanent chattel slavery. Exodus 22:3 reflects that reality: if a thief had no means to make restitution, selling him to cover the loss was a legal remedy. That practice is embedded in a broader ancient system that also contained protections and time limits (see laws about Hebrew servants in Exodus 21 and Deuteronomy 15). For modern readers, this raises serious ethical concerns; Christians today generally interpret such laws historically—showing how ancient societies handled debt and crime—while applying the Bible’s deeper moral trajectory toward dignity, freedom, and care for the vulnerable. - Q: Who is guilty of “bloodshed” — the homeowner or the thief? - Short answer: The law distinguishes two situations. If a thief breaks in at night and the homeowner kills him in the sudden, risky confrontation, the homeowner is not held guilty (Exodus 22:2). But if the thief is discovered in daylight, the danger is not as immediate — there was opportunity to apprehend or seek help — so killing him would bring “bloodguilt.” In other words, the law discourages killing a thief when it could have been avoided and favors arrest and restitution over lethal force. The text’s wording has caused different translations, but the common sense reading is that daytime killing exposes the killer to legal guilt. ## Cross References - Exodus 22:2 — contrasts the night‑breaker case where a defender may not be guilty. - Leviticus 6:1–7 (or Lev. 5:15–16) — laws requiring restitution for theft and procedures for making amends. - Deuteronomy 15:12–18 — laws about Hebrew servants and releasing debt servants, giving context for servitude as debt repayment rather than permanent slavery. - Proverbs 6:30–31 — a thief who repays sevenfold escapes punishment: another biblical angle emphasizing restitution. ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Most commentators read Exodus 22:3 as part of a coherent set of civil laws designed to limit private vengeance, prioritize life, and require community‑based remedies for wrongdoing. Scholars emphasize the day/night distinction as a reasonable legal principle, and they place the “sold for his theft” clause within the wider ancient practice of debt servitude and the Bible’s broader concern for restoration rather than unchecked violence. - Group study bullets: - Discuss modern parallels: How should communities handle theft today—punishment, restitution, restoration? - Compare Exodus 22:2–4: Why does the law treat night and day differently? - Explore the ethics of debt servitude: Historical context vs. modern moral convictions. - Role-play: Create a restorative plan for a small theft in a church or workplace. ## Related verses (compare and contrast — and why) - Exodus 22:2 — (contrast) Allows lethal force in a sudden nighttime invasion; together verses 2–3 define limits on self‑defense. - Leviticus 6:4–7 — (compare) Requires restitution plus additional compensation for theft; underscores restitution as central. - Deuteronomy 15:12–15 — (compare/contrast) Regulates servitude for debt among Hebrews, including release, showing limits and protections absent in a simple “sold for theft” reading. ## Talk to the Bible Try the ‘Talk To The Bible’ feature to explore this verse interactively. Suggested prompts: - "Explain what 'sold for his theft' meant in ancient Israel—give historical, legal, and social detail." - "Compare Exodus 22:2–3 with modern self‑defense laws: what principles carry over and what are culturally distinct?" - "Give a short sermon outline (5 points) on Exodus 22:1–4 focused on justice, mercy, and restoration."
