If you encounter your enemy’s stray ox or donkey,This phrase highlights the moral and ethical obligations towards one's enemies, emphasizing the importance of compassion and justice. In the ancient Near Eastern context, livestock such as oxen and donkeys were valuable assets, essential for agriculture and transportation. The loss of such animals could significantly impact a person's livelihood. The directive to assist even an enemy reflects a broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor, which is echoed in the New Testament teachings of Jesus, such as in
Matthew 5:44, where believers are instructed to love their enemies.
you must return it to him.
The command to return the stray animal underscores the importance of restitution and reconciliation. This act of returning the animal is not merely about property rights but about restoring relationships and promoting peace. It aligns with the broader biblical theme of justice and righteousness, as seen in passages likeProverbs 25:21-22, which encourage acts of kindness towards one's enemies. This principle also prefigures the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized reconciliation and forgiveness, as seen in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), where love and mercy transcend enmity and cultural boundaries.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Moses- The leader of the Israelites who received the laws from God on Mount Sinai, including this commandment.
2.
Israelites- The people to whom the laws were given, forming the covenant community under God’s guidance.
3.
Mount Sinai- The place where God delivered the Law to Moses, including the instructions found in
Exodus 23.
4.
Ox and Donkey- Common animals in ancient agrarian societies, representing valuable property and livelihood.
5.
Enemy- A person with whom one has conflict or animosity, highlighting the challenge of the commandment.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's LawThe command to return a stray animal, even to an enemy, underscores the importance of obeying God's law over personal feelings of animosity.
Promoting ReconciliationBy returning an enemy's lost property, we take a step towards reconciliation and peace, reflecting God's desire for harmony among His people.
Demonstrating IntegrityThis commandment calls believers to act with integrity and fairness, even when dealing with those who oppose us.
Reflecting God's CharacterGod’s laws often reflect His character. By following this command, we mirror God’s justice and mercy in our interactions.
Practical Love for OthersThe act of returning a stray animal is a practical demonstration of love and concern for others, even those we might consider adversaries.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Exodus 23:4?
2.How can we apply Exodus 23:4 to our interactions with adversaries today?
3.What does Exodus 23:4 teach about God's expectations for our behavior?
4.How does Exodus 23:4 connect with Jesus' teachings on loving enemies?
5.Why is returning a stray animal significant in Exodus 23:4's context?
6.How can practicing Exodus 23:4 strengthen our Christian witness in the world?
7.How does Exodus 23:4 challenge our understanding of loving our enemies?
8.What historical context influenced the command in Exodus 23:4?
9.How does Exodus 23:4 reflect God's character in the Old Testament?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 23?
11.How should Christians treat their enemies?
12.Numbers 31 compared to earlier laws in Exodus and Leviticus: Why does this narrative’s approach to warfare seem inconsistent with other divine commandments?
13.Should you love your neighbor and hate your enemy?
14.Why do 1 Samuel 9:3–4’s details about searching for lost donkeys seem contradictory with other instances in the Old Testament where animals are quickly found or retrieved?What Does Exodus 23:4 Mean
If you encounter“When you come across…” (Exodus 23:4) sets the scene: God speaks to ordinary moments along the road.
• This is not a special mission; it is an unexpected interruption.
• The Lord expects His people to notice what lies in front of them (James 4:17).
• The Good Samaritan similarly “came upon” the wounded man (Luke 10:33), showing how chance meetings reveal hearts.
• By addressing the moment of encounter, God removes the excuse of ignorance—once you see the need, you are responsible.
your enemy’sThe animal belongs to someone who opposes or dislikes you.
•Proverbs 25:21-22 urges kindness to enemies, echoed by Jesus inMatthew 5:44.
• God refuses to let personal hostility cancel moral duty (Romans 12:20).
• Loving an enemy is not sentimental; it is choosing obedience over resentment.
stray ox or donkeyLivestock were the engines of ancient agriculture. Losing one threatened a family’s livelihood.
• The law is practical and literal: real animals, real property (Exodus 22:1).
•Deuteronomy 22:1-4 broadens the principle to “anything your brother loses,” underscoring respect for another’s belongings.
• Jesus assumes the same value when He asks, “Which of you… will not immediately pull out his son or ox that has fallen into a well?” (Luke 14:5).
• The text shows God cares about economic justice and everyday fairness.
you must return it to himThe command is direct and personal.
• “Must” leaves no loophole; restitution is mandatory, not optional (Micah 6:8).
• Returning what is lost turns an enemy into a neighbor, breaking the cycle of hostility (Leviticus 19:18).
• Active good overcomes evil (Romans 12:21), modeling the spirit of “See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good” (1 Thessalonians 5:15).
• The act protects both parties: the owner’s livelihood is restored, and the finder’s conscience remains clear.
summaryExodus 23:4 literally commands God’s people to give back a lost animal even when it belongs to an enemy. The verse teaches alertness to need, refusal to let animosity dictate behavior, respect for others’ property, and a proactive commitment to good. Obedience in small, everyday moments becomes a powerful testimony of God’s righteousness and transforms enemies into recipients of grace.
(4)
Thine enemy's ox.--The general duty of stopping stray animals and restoring them to friendly owners, expressly taught in
Deuteronomy 22:1-3, is here implied as if admitted on all hands. The legislator extends this duty to cases where the owner is our personal enemy. It was not generally recognised in antiquity that men's enemies had any claims upon them. Cicero, indeed, says--"Sunt autem quaedam officia etiam adversus eos servanda, a quibus injuriam aceeperis" (
De Off. i. 11); but he stops short of enjoining active benevolence. Here and in
Exodus 23:5 we have a sort of anticipation of Christianity--active kindness to an enemy being required, even when it costs us some trouble. The principle of friendliness is involved--the germ which in Christianity blossoms out into the precept, "Love your enemies."
Verse 4. -
Thine enemy's ox. A private enemy is here spoken of, not a public one, as in
Deuteronomy 23:6. It is remarkable that the law should have so far anticipated Christianity as to have laid it down that men have duties of friendliness even towards their enemies, and are bound under certain circumstances to render them a service. "Hate thine enemies" (
Matthew 5:43) was no injunction of the Mosaic taw, but a conclusion which Rabbinical teachers unwarrantably drew from it. Christianity, however, goes far beyond Mosaism in laying down the broad precept - "Love your enemies."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Ifכִּ֣י(kî)Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunctionyou encounterתִפְגַּ֞ע(ṯip̄·ga‘)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6293:To impinge, by accident, violence, by importunityyour enemy’sאֹֽיִבְךָ֛(’ō·yiḇ·ḵā)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 341:Hating, an adversarystrayתֹּעֶ֑ה(tō·‘eh)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8582:To vacillate, reel, strayoxשׁ֧וֹר(šō·wr)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7794:A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera)orא֥וֹ(’ōw)Conjunction
Strong's 176:Desire, ifdonkey,חֲמֹר֖וֹ(ḥă·mō·rōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2543:A male assyou must returnהָשֵׁ֥ב(hā·šêḇ)Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7725:To turn back, in, to retreat, againit to him.תְּשִׁיבֶ֖נּוּ(tə·šî·ḇen·nū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725:To turn back, in, to retreat, again
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OT Law: Exodus 23:4 If you meet your enemy's ox (Exo. Ex) 
