Exodus 22 in the early church
94 passages quote, allude to, or echo Exodus 22, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 13 · 16 · 18 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 28 · 29 · 30 · 31
Exodus 22:1
“If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:1 | Miscellanies 3.4.37 · Clement of Alexandria | allusion, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Exod 22:1 (21:37 LXX) | Preparation for the Gospel 12.40.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Exod 22:1 | Question 83, section 5 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Exod 22:1 | On the Duties of the Clergy 3.3 · Ambrose | allusion, low confidence | ca. 386–390 |
| Exod 22:1 | Homilies on Matthew 52.5 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Exod 22:1 | Homilies on Matthew 85.4 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Exod 22:1–4 | Exodus, lines 866–888 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
| Exod 22:1 | Part 2, chapter 1 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Exodus 22:2
If a thief is caught breaking in and is beaten to death, no one shall be guilty of bloodshed.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:2 (22:1 LXX) | Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 59 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century) |
| Exod 22:2 (22:1 LXX) | Preparation for the Gospel 12.41.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
Exodus 22:3
But if it happens after sunrise, there is guilt for his bloodshed. A thief must make full restitution; if he has nothing, he himself shall be sold for his theft.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:3 (22:2 LXX) | Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 59 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century) |
Exodus 22:4
If what was stolen is actually found alive in his possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—he must pay back double.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:4 (22:3 LXX) | Preparation for the Gospel 12.40.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
Exodus 22:5
If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray so that they graze in someone else’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:5–12 | Exodus, lines 889–912 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Exodus 22:6
If a fire breaks out and spreads to thornbushes so that it consumes stacked or standing grain, or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:6 (22:5 LXX) | Commentary on John 6.298 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
Exodus 22:7
If a man gives his neighbor money or goods for safekeeping and they are stolen from the neighbor’s house, the thief, if caught, must pay back double.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:7–13 | Part 2, chapter 1 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Exodus 22:13
If the animal was torn to pieces, he shall bring it as evidence; he need not make restitution for the torn carcass.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:13 | Sermon 46.21 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, low confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Exod 22:13–24 | Exodus, lines 913–937 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Exodus 22:16
If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:16 | Apostolic Canon 67 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 380 |
Exodus 22:18
You must not allow a sorceress to live.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:18 | On the Good of Modesty 6 · Novatian | echo, low confidence | mid-3rd cent. (disputed) |
| Exod 22:18 | Apostolic Constitutions 2.62.2 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 380 |
| Exod 22:18 | Apostolic Constitutions 7.3.1 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Exod 22:18 | Eleven Tractates 1.28 · Priscillian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380–385 |
Exodus 22:20
If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
Exodus 22:21
You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:21 | On the Christian Life 8 · Fastidius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 411-430 |
| Exod 22:21 | The Conferences 9.34 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Exodus 22:22
You must not mistreat any widow or orphan.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:22–24 | To Quirinus 3.113 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later) |
| Exod 22:22 | On the Christian Life 3 · Fastidius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 411-430 |
Exodus 22:23
If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:23 | On the Christian Life 3 · Fastidius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 411-430 |
Exodus 22:24
My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:24 | On 1 Cor 7:2, section 2 · John Chrysostom | quotation, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Exod 22:24 | On the Christian Life 3 · Fastidius | quotation, high confidence | ca. 411-430 |
Exodus 22:25
If you lend money to one of My people among you who is poor, you must not act as a creditor to him; you are not to charge him interest.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:25 | Apocalypse of Peter (Akhmim fragment) 31 · Anonymous | echo, medium confidence | ca. 100–150 |
| Exod 22:25 | Epitome of the Divine Institutes 59.2 · Lactantius | echo, medium confidence | ca. 314–320 |
| Exod 22:25 | Demonstration 14.3 · Aphrahat | quotation, high confidence | 337-345 |
| Exod 22:25 | Canon 13 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 345–348 |
| Exod 22:25 | On Tobit 7 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| Exod 22:25 | On Tobit 46 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| Exod 22:25 | On the Duties of the Clergy 3.3 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386–390 |
| Exod 22:25 | Homilies on Matthew 56.6 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Exod 22:25 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.62.2 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Exod 22:25–31 | Exodus, lines 938–962 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Exodus 22:26
If you take your neighbor’s cloak as collateral, return it to him by sunset,
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:26 | On Tobit 46 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| Exod 22:26 | On Tobit 47 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| Exod 22:26 | Sermon 54 · Peter Chrysologus | quotation, high confidence | ca. 425-450 |
| Exod 22:26 | Part 2, chapter 1 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Exodus 22:27
because his cloak is the only covering he has for his body. What else will he sleep in? And if he cries out to Me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:27 | On Tobit 46 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| Exod 22:27 | On Tobit 47 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380-390 |
| Exod 22:27 | The Conferences 9.34 · John Cassian | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Exodus 22:28
You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:28 | Homilies on Numbers 27.12 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Exod 22:28 (22:27 LXX) | Against Celsus 4.31 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 248 |
| Exod 22:28 (22:27 LXX) | Against Celsus 8.38 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248 |
| Exod 22:28 | To Quirinus 3.13 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248–250 (book 3 perhaps later) |
| Exod 22:28 | Letter 3.2 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 249/250–258 |
| Exod 22:28 | Letter 59.4 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 249/250–258 |
| Exod 22:28 | Letter 66.3 · Cyprian of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | 249/250–258 |
| Exod 22:28 | Homilies 16.6 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | 4th century (reworking earlier material) |
| Exod 22:28 | Homilies 16.8 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | 4th century (reworking earlier material) |
| Exod 22:28 | Recognitions 2.39 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Exod 22:28 | Recognitions 2.42 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Exod 22:28 | Apostolic Canon 55 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Exod 22:28 (22:27 LXX) | Apostolic Constitutions 2.26.4 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Exod 22:28 (22:27 LXX) | Apostolic Constitutions 2.31.3 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Exod 22:28 | Book of Heresies 147.1 · Philastrius of Brescia | quotation, high confidence | ca. 380s |
| Exod 22:28 | Letter 138.13 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 386–430 |
| Exod 22:28 | The Lord's Sermon on the Mount 1.19 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | ca. 393–396 |
Exodus 22:29
You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:29 | Commentary on Romans 7.5 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 244–246 (Rufinus's translation ca. 405–406) |
| Exod 22:29 | Oration 16.18 · Gregory of Nazianzus | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 362–383 |
| Exod 22:29 | On Cain and Abel 2.5 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 375-378 |
| Exod 22:29 | Life of Macrina, part 5 · Gregory of Nyssa | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 380 |
| Exod 22:29 | The Conferences 21.25 · John Cassian | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 426–429 |
| Exod 22:29 | The Conferences 21.32 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Exodus 22:30
You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:30 | Miscellanies 2.18.92 · Clement of Alexandria | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–203 |
| Exod 22:30 | Tractates on the Psalms 118.0.5 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Exod 22:30 | Exposition of Psalm 118 0.2.2 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386-397 |
Exodus 22:31
You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exod 22:31 | Commentary on Matthew 11.17 · Origen | quotation, medium confidence | ca. 246–248 |