Exodus 22:2

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

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

American King James Version (AKJV)

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

American Standard Version (ASV)

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

Basic English Translation (BBE)

If a thief is taken in the act of forcing his way into a house, and his death is caused by a blow, the owner of the house is not responsible for his blood.

Webster's Revision

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

World English Bible

If the thief is found breaking in, and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt of bloodshed for him.

English Revised Version (ERV)

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

Clarke's Exodus 22:2 Bible Commentary

If a thief be found - If a thief was found breaking into a house in the night season, he might be killed; but not if the sun had risen, for then he might be known and taken, and the restitution made which is mentioned in the succeeding verse. So by the law of England it is a burglary to break and enter a house by night; and "anciently the day was accounted to begin only from sunrising, and to end immediately upon sunset: but it is now generally agreed that if there be daylight enough begun or left, either by the light of the sun or twilight, whereby the countenance of a person may reasonably be discerned, it is no burglary; but that this does not extend to moonlight, for then many midnight burglaries would go unpunished. And besides, the malignity of the offense does not so properly arise, as Mr. Justice Blackstone observes, from its being done in the dark, as at the dead of night when all the creation except beasts of prey are at rest; when sleep has disarmed the owner, and rendered his castle defenceless." - East's Pleas of the Crown, vol. ii., p. 509.

Barnes's Exodus 22:2 Bible Commentary

If a thief, in breaking into a dwelling in the night, was slain, the person who slew him did not incur the guilt of blood; but if the same occurred in daylight, the slayer was guilty in accordance with Exodus 21:12. The distinction may have been based on the fact that in the light of day there was a fair chance of identifying and apprehending the thief.

Wesley's Exodus 22:2 Bible Commentary

22:2 If a thief broke a house in the night, and was killed in the doing it, his blood was upon his own head. But if it were in the day - time that the thief was killed, he that killed him was accountable for it, unless it were in the necessary defence of his own life.

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