Exodus 22:10

KJV

If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing [it]:

KJV (with Strong's)

If a man {H376} deliver {H5414} unto his neighbour {H7453} an ass {H2543}, or an ox {H7794}, or a sheep {H7716}, or any beast {H929}, to keep {H8104}; and it die {H4191}, or be hurt {H7665}, or driven away {H7617}, no man seeing {H7200} it:

Complete Jewish Bible

"If a person trusts a neighbor to look after a donkey, ox, sheep or any animal, and it dies, is injured or is driven away unseen,

Berean Standard Bible

If a man gives a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any other animal to be cared for by his neighbor, but it dies or is injured or stolen while no one is watching,

American Standard Version

If a man deliver unto his neighbor an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 22:10 delineates a specific civil statute within the Mosaic Covenant, addressing the responsibilities of a bailee—a person entrusted with another's livestock. This law meticulously outlines scenarios where an entrusted animal, such as an ass, ox, sheep, or any other beast, suffers harm, death, or disappears while under the neighbor's care, particularly when no human witnesses are present. This legal provision is foundational for understanding accountability, fostering trust within the Israelite community, and highlighting the indispensable role of a divine oath in resolving disputes lacking direct evidence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 22:10 is embedded within the "Book of the Covenant," a comprehensive legal corpus presented in [Exodus 20:22-23:33](/exodus/20-22-33 "Exodus 20:22 - Exodus 23:33 - The Book of the Covenant"). This section immediately follows the Ten Commandments, serving as their practical application in daily life, governing civil, social, and religious conduct. Specifically, this verse is part of a series of laws concerning property rights and the responsibilities associated with bailment—the temporary transfer of possession of goods. It appears after regulations on theft and damage to fields (Exodus 22:1-9) and directly precedes [Exodus 22:11](/exodus/22-11 "Exodus 22:11 - The Oath Before the Lord"), which prescribes the crucial role of an oath before the Lord as the means of adjudication when no human witnesses can attest to the circumstances of loss or harm. This sequential arrangement underscores the legal framework's reliance on divine attestation in cases of ambiguity.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was fundamentally an agrarian society, where livestock constituted significant wealth, serving as primary assets for labor, transportation, food, and trade. The practice of entrusting animals to neighbors for temporary care was a common and necessary aspect of communal life, reflecting a deep-seated interdependence and mutual trust. However, such arrangements inherently carried risks of loss or damage. The legal systems of the ancient Near East, including Israel's, heavily relied on direct eyewitness testimony to establish facts and determine guilt or innocence. In situations where no human witness was present, as explicitly stipulated by this verse, the legal framework faced a significant challenge in ensuring justice. This necessitated the institution of the divine oath, a solemn declaration made before God, invoking divine judgment as the ultimate arbiter of truth. This practice was not unique to Israel but was a widely accepted legal and religious mechanism in the broader ancient Near Eastern world, emphasizing the sacredness of truth and the pervasive belief in divine oversight.
* **Key Themes:** This verse, though a specific civil law, contributes to several overarching themes within Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. It highlights the theme of **Justice and Righteousness**, demonstrating God's meticulous concern for fair dealings and the protection of property within the covenant community, even in ambiguous circumstances. It reinforces the principle of **Accountability and Stewardship**, emphasizing that individuals are responsible for what is entrusted to their care, whether it be property, resources, or relationships. The phrase "no man seeing [it]" profoundly underscores the theme of **Divine Omniscience and Sovereignty**, reminding the Israelites that even when human eyes are absent, God is the ultimate witness and judge, seeing all actions and intentions. This awareness promotes **Integrity and Trust** within the community, fostering a society where honesty is upheld not merely out of fear of human reprisal, but out of reverence for God, who ultimately judges all hidden matters, as further elaborated in [Exodus 22:11](/exodus/22-11 "Exodus 22:11 - The Oath Before the Lord"). These themes collectively underscore the holistic nature of the Mosaic Law, which sought to govern every aspect of Israelite life in accordance with God's character.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Deliver (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** This word (H5414) is a primitive root meaning "to give," "to place," or "to set." In the context of Exodus 22:10, it signifies the deliberate act of entrusting or handing over property, specifically an animal, to another for temporary safekeeping. This voluntary transfer establishes a formal relationship of bailment, imposing a duty of care and responsibility on the recipient (the bailee). It implies a trust extended by the owner to the neighbor.
* **To keep (Hebrew, _shâmar'_):** The Hebrew verb (H8104) denotes "to guard," "to watch over," "to preserve," or "to attend to." This term emphasizes an active, diligent, and protective responsibility. The bailee is not merely holding the animal passively but is expected to exercise reasonable vigilance and care to prevent harm or loss. This word underscores the ethical and legal obligation of stewardship inherent in the agreement, ensuring the well-being of the entrusted property.
* **Seeing (Hebrew, _râʼâh'_):** This primitive root (H7200) means "to see," "to behold," or "to discern," literally or figuratively. In the phrase "no man seeing [it]," this word is critical. It highlights the absence of direct human observation or eyewitness testimony regarding the incident (the animal's death, injury, or disappearance). This lack of human evidence is the precise condition that necessitates the subsequent legal procedure involving a divine oath, as human courts cannot ascertain fault without a witness, thus appealing to God's all-seeing knowledge.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep;":** This initial clause establishes the legal premise: a gratuitous bailment. It describes a scenario where an owner (the "man") voluntarily entrusts valuable livestock—specifically enumerated as "an ass, or an ox, or a sheep" to emphasize their economic significance, followed by the broader category "or any beast"—to a "neighbor" for temporary care ("to keep"). This act creates a relationship of trust and a corresponding duty of diligent care on the part of the neighbor (the bailee), even without explicit compensation for the service.
* **"and it die, or be hurt, or driven away,":** This part of the verse specifies the various negative outcomes that might befall the entrusted animal while in the bailee's care. "Die" refers to the animal's demise, "be hurt" indicates injury or harm, and "driven away" implies the animal has gone missing, either strayed, lost, or stolen. These outcomes represent a significant loss to the owner and immediately raise questions about the bailee's diligence, negligence, or whether the event was an unavoidable accident or the act of a third party.
* **"no man seeing [it]:"** This crucial concluding phrase defines the specific legal context and the unique challenge this law addresses. It stipulates that the incident occurred without any human eyewitnesses. In a legal system heavily reliant on testimony, the absence of direct observation makes it impossible for human courts to determine the cause of the loss or harm, or the bailee's culpability. This condition is the trigger for the subsequent legal procedure detailed in [Exodus 22:11](/exodus/22-11 "Exodus 22:11 - The Oath Before the Lord"), which necessitates an appeal to divine omniscience through an oath before the Lord.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 22:10 is a prime example of **Casuistic Law**, a prevalent legal form in the ancient Near East and throughout the "Book of the Covenant." It follows a conditional, "if... then..." structure, outlining a specific case ("If a man deliver... and it die...") and implying a legal consequence (though the full consequence is detailed in the subsequent verse, [Exodus 22:11](/exodus/22-11 "Exodus 22:11 - The Oath Before the Lord")). This precise, case-by-case approach ensures clarity and addresses common societal situations. The law also employs **Specificity** by listing particular types of valuable livestock ("ass, or an ox, or a sheep") before generalizing to "any beast." This serves to illustrate the economic value at stake and provides concrete examples for the broader principle. There is an implicit **Contrast** between situations where human witnesses are present (allowing for direct human testimony and judgment) and the unique scenario presented here, where the explicit absence of witnesses ("no man seeing [it]") necessitates a different, divinely attested, legal procedure. This highlights the comprehensive and adaptable nature of God's law, providing guidance even in ambiguous and unobservable circumstances.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 22:10, though a civil statute concerning property, is profoundly rooted in the theological framework of the Mosaic Covenant. It underscores God's unwavering concern for justice, truth, and the integrity of human relationships within the covenant community. The law implicitly teaches the principle of **stewardship**, reminding individuals that they are ultimately accountable to God for everything entrusted to their care—whether it be property, resources, or even the trust placed in them by others. The critical phrase "no man seeing [it]" powerfully highlights God's omniscience and omnipotence as the ultimate, ever-present witness and judge. This elevates the concept of truthfulness, demanding absolute integrity even when no human eye is present, because God always sees. The requirement of an oath before the Lord (as detailed in [Exodus 22:11](/exodus/22-11 "Exodus 22:11 - The Oath Before the Lord")) transforms a seemingly mundane civil dispute into a matter of divine accountability, reinforcing the foundational idea that all dealings among people are ultimately conducted before God. This fosters a society built on trust, honesty, and a profound awareness of divine oversight, reflecting the holy character of God Himself.

* [Proverbs 11:3](/proverbs/11-3 "Proverbs 11:3 - Integrity Guides the Upright")
* [Leviticus 6:1-7](/leviticus/6-1-7 "Leviticus 6:1-7 - Laws for Guilt and Restitution")
* [Deuteronomy 25:13-16](/deuteronomy/25-13-16 "Deuteronomy 25:13-16 - Honest Weights and Measures")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The ancient legal provision in Exodus 22:10, while specifically addressing livestock in an agrarian society, offers timeless and profound principles for contemporary life. It serves as a powerful challenge to our personal responsibility and integrity, particularly in situations where our actions are not subject to human scrutiny. In modern life, we are constantly entrusted with various forms of "property" or responsibilities: financial resources, borrowed items, professional duties, confidential information, or the invaluable trust placed in us by friends, family, and colleagues. This verse calls us to a high standard of stewardship, reminding us that true accountability extends far beyond what is observable by others. It compels us to act with diligence, honesty, and ethical uprightness, even when "no man seeing [it]," because our ultimate accountability is to God, who sees all things—our intentions, our efforts, and our failures. This principle cultivates a deep sense of moral integrity, encouraging us to be trustworthy in all our dealings and to honor the trust others place in us, recognizing that our actions not only impact our personal reputation but also reflect on the broader community of faith and our relationship with God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this ancient law challenge our modern understanding of personal responsibility, especially when no one is observing our actions?**
* **In what specific areas of your life are you currently entrusted with the "property" (resources, relationships, responsibilities, or information) of others? How faithfully are you "keeping" them?**
* **What role does integrity play in situations where there are no human witnesses, and how does the awareness of God's omnipresence impact your choices and actions?**

### FAQ
**What is "bailment" in the context of this verse?**

Answer: In the context of [Exodus 22:10](/exodus/22-10 "Exodus 22:10 - Law of Bailment"), "bailment" refers to the legal arrangement where an owner (the bailor) temporarily entrusts their property, in this specific case, livestock (such as an ass, ox, or sheep), to another person (the bailee) for safekeeping or care. This verse describes a gratuitous bailment, meaning the bailee is not compensated for their service. The law then outlines the bailee's responsibilities for the well-being of the animal and the legal procedures to follow if the animal is harmed, dies, or goes missing while in their care, particularly under the specific condition where there are no witnesses to the event, as further detailed in [Exodus 22:11](/exodus/22-11 "Exodus 22:11 - The Oath Before the Lord").

**Why is "no man seeing [it]" so significant?**

Answer: The phrase "no man seeing [it]" is profoundly significant because it defines the unique legal and theological challenge that this law addresses. In ancient legal systems, human witnesses were paramount for establishing facts and determining guilt or innocence. When no human eye observed the incident (the animal's death, injury, or disappearance), it became impossible for human courts to ascertain whether the bailee was negligent, if it was an unavoidable accident, or if a third party was responsible for the loss. This explicit lack of human evidence shifts the burden of proof from human testimony to a divine oath, as mandated in [Exodus 22:11](/exodus/22-11 "Exodus 22:11 - The Oath Before the Lord"). It highlights God's role as the ultimate, all-seeing witness and righteous judge, ensuring that justice can still be sought and truth revealed even when human evidence is absent, thereby reinforcing the importance of integrity before God.

**Does this law apply to modern situations beyond livestock?**

Answer: While the specific context of [Exodus 22:10](/exodus/22-10 "Exodus 22:10 - Law of Bailment") is ancient agrarian society and livestock, the underlying principles are profoundly applicable to a wide array of modern situations. The core themes of stewardship, personal responsibility, integrity, and accountability for entrusted property or duties are universal and timeless. Whether it involves borrowing a friend's car, managing company funds, caring for a neighbor's pet, fulfilling a professional contract, or keeping a promise, the principle remains: we are called to be diligent, honest, and responsible in managing what is placed in our care, especially when our actions are not directly observed by others. The law reminds us that our ultimate accountability is to God, who sees all, fostering a deep and pervasive sense of moral integrity in all aspects of life, extending beyond the letter of the law to the spirit of trustworthiness.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 22:10, with its profound emphasis on accountability, integrity, and the divine witness in the absence of human testimony, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Christ. The law exposes humanity's inherent need for perfect truthfulness and justice, qualities that fallen humanity consistently fails to uphold, particularly "when no man seeing [it]." Jesus, however, perfectly embodied these principles throughout His earthly life. He lived a life of absolute integrity, always doing the will of His Father, even in the most hidden moments, for He knew that [His Father was always with Him and never left Him alone](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - The Father is with Me"). He is the ultimate "keeper" and Shepherd of His own, declaring that [He gives His sheep eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall any man pluck them out of His hand](/john/10-28 "John 10:28 - Eternal Life in Christ"). Furthermore, Christ is the ultimate judge and witness, before whom all hidden things will eventually be brought to light, for [nothing is hidden from His sight](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - All Things Open Before God"). He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bearing the righteous judgment for our failures in stewardship and integrity. Through His atoning sacrifice, He provides the means for us to be reconciled to God, enabling us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to live lives of integrity that honor God, who [sees what is done in secret](/matthew/6-4 "Matthew 6:4 - Your Father Who Sees in Secret"). The law's call for an oath before the Lord in unseen circumstances points forward to the glorious reality that all our lives are lived before the [eyes of Him to whom we must give account](/romans/14-12 "Romans 14:12 - Each of Us Will Give Account"), and Christ is the one who will ultimately render that perfect and just judgment.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 12:48

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Luke 16:11

If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?

Genesis 39:8

But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what [is] with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

2 Timothy 1:12

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.