Exodus 22:8
New International Version
But if the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges, and they must determine whether the owner of the house has laid hands on the other person’s property.

New Living Translation
But if the thief is not caught, the neighbor must appear before God, who will determine if he stole the property.

English Standard Version
If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property.

Berean Standard Bible
If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property.

King James Bible
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.

New King James Version
If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods.

New American Standard Bible
If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property.

NASB 1995
“If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property.

NASB 1977
“If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges, to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property.

Legacy Standard Bible
If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house shall appear before the judges to determine whether he laid his hands on his neighbor’s property.

Amplified Bible
If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall appear before the judges [who act in God’s name], to determine whether or not he had stolen his neighbor’s goods.

Christian Standard Bible
If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must present himself to the judges to determine whether or not he has taken his neighbor’s property.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must present himself to the judges to determine whether or not he has taken his neighbor’s property.

American Standard Version
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbor's goods.

Contemporary English Version
But if the thief isn't caught, some judges will decide if you are the guilty one.

English Revised Version
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house must be brought to God to find out whether or not he took his neighbor's valuables.

Good News Translation
But if the thief is not found, the one who was keeping the valuables is to be brought to the place of worship and there he must take an oath that he has not stolen the other one's property.

International Standard Version
If the thief is not found, the owner of the house is to appear before the judges to see whether or not the thief took his neighbor's property.

Majority Standard Bible
If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether he has taken his neighbor?s property.

NET Bible
If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house will be brought before the judges to see whether he has laid his hand on his neighbor's goods.

New Heart English Bible
If the thief isn't found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out if he hasn't put his hand to his neighbor's goods.

Webster's Bible Translation
If the thief shall not be found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges, to see whether he hath put his hand to his neighbor's goods.

World English Bible
If the thief isn’t found, then the master of the house shall come near to God, to find out whether or not he has put his hand on his neighbor’s goods.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
If the thief is not found, then the master of the house has been brought near to God [to see] whether he has not put forth his hand against the work of his neighbor.

Young's Literal Translation
'If the thief is not found, then the master of the house hath been brought near unto God, whether he hath not put forth his hand against the work of his neighbour;

Smith's Literal Translation
If the thief shall not be found, and the lord of the house being brought to God, if he put not forth his hand upon his friend's goods.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If the thief be not known, the master of the house shall be brought to the gods, and shall swear that he did not lay his hand upon his neighbour's goods,

Catholic Public Domain Version
If the thief is unknown, the lord of the house will be brought before the heavens to swear that he did not lay his hand on the goods of his neighbor,

New American Bible
If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall be brought to God, to swear that he himself did not lay hands on his neighbor’s property.

New Revised Standard Version
If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall be brought before God, to determine whether or not the owner had laid hands on the neighbor’s goods.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he had a hand in the theft of his neighbor's goods.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if the thief will not be found, let the owner of the house approach to the Judge, if he did not reach his hand into the property of his neighbor
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, to see whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if the thief be not found, the master of the house shall come forward before God, and shall swear that surely he has not wrought wickedly in regard of any part of his neighbour's deposit,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Property Laws
7If 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. 8If the thief is not found, the owner of the house must appear before the judges to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property. 9In all cases of illegal possession of an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any lost item that someone claims, ‘This is mine,’ both parties shall bring their cases before the judges. The one whom the judges find guilty must pay back double to his neighbor.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 19:15
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Leviticus 6:2-5
“If someone sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD by deceiving his neighbor in regard to a deposit or security entrusted to him or stolen, or if he extorts his neighbor / or finds lost property and lies about it and swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that a man might commit— / once he has sinned and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or the deposit entrusted to him, or the lost property he found, ...

Numbers 5:6-7
“Tell the Israelites that when a man or woman acts unfaithfully against the LORD by committing any sin against another, that person is guilty / and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged.

1 Kings 8:31-32
When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple, / then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

2 Chronicles 6:22-23
When a man sins against his neighbor and is required to take an oath, and he comes to take an oath before Your altar in this temple, / then may You hear from heaven and act. May You judge Your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing down on his own head what he has done, and justifying the righteous man by rewarding him according to his righteousness.

Proverbs 18:17
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

Matthew 18:16
But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

Luke 19:8
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”

1 Corinthians 6:1-6
If any of you has a grievance against another, how dare he go to law before the unrighteous instead of before the saints! / Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? / Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! ...

Hebrews 6:16
Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument.

Matthew 5:25-26
Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. / Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Romans 13:1-4
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. / Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. / For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. ...

1 Timothy 5:19
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder, except on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

1 Peter 2:13-14
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, / or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.


Treasury of Scripture

If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges, to see whether he have put his hand to his neighbor's goods.

the judges

Exodus 22:28
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Exodus 21:6
Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

Deuteronomy 16:18
Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

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Appear Caught Determine Find Forth Found Goods Hand Hands Hasn't House Judges Laid Master Neighbor's Neighbour Neighbour's Oath Owner Property Thief Whether Work
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Appear Caught Determine Find Forth Found Goods Hand Hands Hasn't House Judges Laid Master Neighbor's Neighbour Neighbour's Oath Owner Property Thief Whether Work
Exodus 22
1. Of Theft
5. Of damage
7. Of trespasses
14. Of borrowing
16. Of fornication
18. Of witchcraft
19. Of bestiality
20. Of idolatry
21. Of strangers, widows, and fatherless
25. Of usury
26. Of pledges
28. Of reverence to magistrates
29. Of the first fruits
31. Of torn flesh














If the thief is not found
This phrase sets the stage for a situation where justice must be sought even when the perpetrator is not immediately identifiable. In the Hebrew context, the word for "thief" (גַּנָּב, ganav) implies one who steals stealthily, emphasizing the secretive nature of the crime. The absence of the thief highlights the need for a community-based approach to justice, reflecting the communal responsibility in ancient Israelite society to uphold righteousness and fairness.

the owner of the house
The "owner" (בַּעַל, ba'al) signifies the person responsible for the property. In ancient Israel, property ownership was a significant aspect of one's identity and social standing. The mention of the "house" (בַּיִת, bayit) not only refers to a physical dwelling but also symbolizes the household and family unit. This phrase underscores the importance of stewardship and accountability in managing one's possessions and the trust placed in individuals within the community.

must appear before the judges
The term "judges" (הָאֱלֹהִים, ha'elohim) is intriguing, as it can also be translated as "gods" or "mighty ones," indicating individuals who hold authority and are tasked with executing justice. This reflects the theocratic nature of Israelite society, where judges were seen as representatives of God's justice on earth. The requirement for the owner to "appear" (קָרַב, qarav) before these judges emphasizes the procedural aspect of seeking justice and the importance of transparency and integrity in legal matters.

to determine whether he has taken his neighbor’s property
The phrase "to determine" (לִבְעֹר, liv'or) involves a process of investigation and discernment. The Hebrew root suggests a thorough examination to uncover the truth. The focus on "his neighbor’s property" (רֵעֵהוּ, re'ehu) highlights the relational aspect of the law, where the well-being of one's neighbor is paramount. This reflects the broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor and the moral obligation to respect and protect the property and rights of others.

(8) To see whether he have put his hand.--Kalisch translates, to swear that he has not put his hand, and so the LXX. (??? ???????) and Vulg. (et jurabit quod non extenderit manum).

Verse 8. - If the thief be not found. - It is not clear what was to be done in this case. Kalisch supposes that it came under the law of the oath (ver. 10), and that if the man entrusted with the deposit swore that he had not embezzled it, he was let go free. But as stolen cattle were to be compensated for to the owner (ver. 12), it would seem to be more consistent that stolen money or chattels should also have been made good.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

the thief
הַגַּנָּ֔ב (hag·gan·nāḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1590: A stealer

is not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

found,
יִמָּצֵא֙ (yim·mā·ṣê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

the owner
בַּֽעַל־ (ba·‘al-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner

of the house
הַבַּ֖יִת (hab·ba·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

must appear
וְנִקְרַ֥ב (wə·niq·raḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

before
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the judges
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

to determine whether
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

he has taken
שָׁלַ֛ח (šā·laḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

his neighbor’s
רֵעֵֽהוּ׃ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

property.
בִּמְלֶ֥אכֶת (bim·le·ḵeṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property


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OT Law: Exodus 22:8 If the thief isn't found then (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 22:7
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