Exodus 22:2

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, [there shall] no blood [be shed] for him.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"If a thief caught in the act of breaking in is beaten to death, it is not murder;

Berean Standard Bible:

If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.

American Standard Version:

If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

If a thief^{H1590} be found^{H4672} breaking up^{H4290}, and be smitten^{H5221} that he die^{H4191}, there shall no blood^{H1818} be shed for him.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 22:2

Exodus 22:2 is part of the legal code known as the Covenant Code given by God to the Israelites through Moses, which is found within the larger narrative of the book of Exodus. This verse addresses the treatment of a thief caught in the act of breaking into a home at night. The verse specifies that if the thief is killed during the act of theft, presumably by the homeowner or a guardian of the property, the act is not considered murder and thus the person who killed the thief is not subject to the penalty of blood guiltiness.

The historical context of this law reflects a society where security was a personal responsibility and where nighttime theft could be considered a life-threatening situation for those living in the home. The law is a part of a larger set of rules designed to maintain social order and protect private property, while also setting limits on the use of lethal force. It underscores the value placed on human life, even that of a wrongdoer, by restricting the circumstances under which taking a life is justified.

The themes of this verse include justice, the sanctity of life, and personal responsibility for the protection of one's household. It also reflects a broader biblical principle that the punishment should fit the crime and that one should not be punished excessively for an offense. This principle is echoed in other parts of the Old Testament, such as the lex talionis ("an eye for an eye"), which seeks to limit retributive justice to a proportional response. The verse thus contributes to the developing legal and moral framework of ancient Israelite society, balancing the need for security and the protection of property with the intrinsic value of human life.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1590
   There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גַּנָּב
   Transliteration: gannâb
   Pronunciation: gaw-nab'
   Description: from גָּנַב; a stealer; thief.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4672
   There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָצָא
   Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4290
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַחְתֶּרֶת
   Transliteration: machtereth
   Pronunciation: makh-teh'-reth
   Description: from חָתַר; a burglary; figuratively, unexpected examination; breaking up, secret search.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5221
   There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָכָה
   Transliteration: nâkâh
   Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4191
   There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוּת
   Transliteration: mûwth
   Pronunciation: mooth
   Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1818
   There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּם
   Transliteration: dâm
   Pronunciation: dawm
   Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent.