Exodus 22:6
New International Version
“If a fire breaks out and spreads into thornbushes so that it burns shocks of grain or standing grain or the whole field, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

New Living Translation
“If you are burning thornbushes and the fire gets out of control and spreads into another person’s field, destroying the sheaves or the uncut grain or the whole crop, the one who started the fire must pay for the lost crop.

English Standard Version
“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

New King James Version
“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

New American Standard Bible
“If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, and stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, the one who started the fire must make restitution.

NASB 1995
“If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, he who started the fire shall surely make restitution.

NASB 1977
“If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, he who started the fire shall surely make restitution.

Legacy Standard Bible
“If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or the standing grain or the field itself is consumed, he who started the fire shall surely make restitution.

Amplified Bible
“If fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes so that the stacked grain or standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make full restitution.

Christian Standard Bible
“When a fire gets out of control, spreads to thornbushes, and consumes stacks of cut grain, standing grain, or a field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution for what was burned.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When a fire gets out of control, spreads to thornbushes, and consumes stacks of cut grain, standing grain, or a field, the one who started the fire must make full restitution for what was burned.”

American Standard Version
If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

Contemporary English Version
If you carelessly let a fire spread from your property to someone else's, you must pay the owner for any crops or fields destroyed by the fire.

English Revised Version
If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Whenever a fire starts and spreads into the underbrush so that it burns up stacked or standing grain or ruins a field, the person who started the fire must make up for the loss.

Good News Translation
"If someone starts a fire in his own field and it spreads through the weeds to someone else's field and burns up grain that is growing or that has been cut and stacked, the one who started the fire is to pay for the damage.

International Standard Version
"When a fire breaks out and spreads into thorn bushes and consumes stacked grain or standing grain or the field, the one who started the fire certainly is to make restitution.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
"If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or standing grain or the whole field is consumed, the one who started the fire must surely make restitution.

New Heart English Bible
"If fire breaks out, and catches in thorns so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

Webster's Bible Translation
If fire shall break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field shall be consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

World English Bible
“If fire breaks out, and catches in thorns so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
When fire goes forth and has found thorns, and a stack, or the standing grain, or the field has been consumed, he who causes the burning certainly repays.

Young's Literal Translation
'When fire goeth forth, and hath found thorns, and a stack, or the standing corn, or the field, hath been consumed, he who causeth the burning doth certainly repay.

Smith's Literal Translation
If fire shall come forth, and find thorns, and it consume the heap of sheaves or stalk of grain, or the field; he having kindled the fire, recompensing, he shall recompense.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If a fire breaking out light upon thorns, and catch stacks of corn, or corn standing in the fields, he that kindled the fire shall make good the loss.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If a fire will have been discovered departing from brush, and taking hold in stacks of grain, or in crops standing in the fields, whoever ignited the fire shall repay the damages.

New American Bible
If a fire breaks out, catches on to thorn bushes, and consumes shocked grain, standing grain, or the field itself, the one who started the fire must make full restitution.

New Revised Standard Version
When fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, the one who started the fire shall make full restitution.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If fire breaks out and catches in the thorns so that the shocks of grain or the standing wheat or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when fire goes forth and it will find the thorns and will devour the shocks or the standing grain or the field, he who kindled the fire shall certainly restore.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if fire have gone forth and caught thorns, and should also set on fire threshing-floors or ears of corn or a field, he that kindled the fire shall make compensation.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Property Laws
5If 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. 6If 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. 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.…

Cross References
Leviticus 6:1-7
And the LORD said to Moses, / “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— ...

Deuteronomy 22:1-4
If you see your brother’s ox or sheep straying, you must not ignore it; be sure to return it to your brother. / If your brother does not live near you, or if you do not know who he is, you are to take the animal home to remain with you until your brother comes seeking it; then you can return it to him. / And you shall do the same for his donkey, his cloak, or anything your brother has lost and you have found. You must not ignore it. ...

Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

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.”

Numbers 5:5-8
And the LORD said to Moses, / “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. ...

Proverbs 6:30-31
Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. / Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.

1 Samuel 12:3
Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.”

Ezekiel 33:15
if he restores a pledge, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without practicing iniquity—then he will surely live; he will not die.

Romans 13:8-10
Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. / The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” / Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Galatians 6:7-10
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. / Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ...

1 Corinthians 6:7-8
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? / Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, even against your own brothers!

James 5:4
Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

Colossians 3:25
Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.


Treasury of Scripture

If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

if fire break out.

Judges 15:4,5
And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails…

2 Samuel 14:30,31
Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire…

he that kindled the fire

Exodus 22:9,12
For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour…

Exodus 21:33,34
And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein; …

Jump to Previous
Break Breaks Bushes Catch Catches Causing Consumed Corn Cut Damage Destruction Edge Field Fire Flames Full Fully Good Grain Itself Kindled Restitution Shocks Spreads Standing Started Surely Therewith Thorn Thornbushes Thorns Whole
Jump to Next
Break Breaks Bushes Catch Catches Causing Consumed Corn Cut Damage Destruction Edge Field Fire Flames Full Fully Good Grain Itself Kindled Restitution Shocks Spreads Standing Started Surely Therewith Thorn Thornbushes Thorns Whole
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 a fire breaks out
The Hebrew word for "fire" is "אֵשׁ" (esh), which is a common element in the ancient world, often symbolizing both destruction and purification. In the context of Exodus, fire represents a potential for harm that requires careful management. The phrase suggests an accidental or uncontrolled event, emphasizing the unpredictability of life and the need for vigilance. In a spiritual sense, fire can also symbolize trials or divine judgment, reminding believers of the importance of accountability and responsibility.

and spreads to thornbushes
The term "thornbushes" refers to the dry, combustible vegetation common in the Middle Eastern landscape. These thornbushes can quickly catch fire, illustrating how small, seemingly insignificant actions can lead to larger consequences. This serves as a metaphor for sin or negligence, which can spread and cause greater harm if not checked. The imagery of thornbushes also recalls the curse of thorns and thistles in Genesis 3:18, symbolizing the fallen state of creation and the need for redemption.

so that it consumes stacked or standing grain
Grain, whether stacked or standing, represents sustenance and livelihood in an agrarian society. The destruction of grain by fire signifies a loss of provision and economic stability. This highlights the communal impact of individual actions, as the loss affects not just the owner but the entire community dependent on the harvest. Spiritually, grain can symbolize the Word of God or spiritual nourishment, and its destruction can represent the loss of spiritual truth or vitality.

or the whole field
The "whole field" indicates the totality of one's resources or efforts. In biblical times, fields were painstakingly cultivated and represented a significant investment of time and labor. The complete destruction of a field underscores the severity of the loss and the comprehensive nature of the restitution required. This serves as a reminder of the holistic nature of God's justice, which seeks to restore what has been lost or damaged.

the one who started the fire
This phrase identifies personal responsibility and accountability. The Hebrew culture emphasized communal living, yet individual actions had significant repercussions. The person who started the fire, whether through negligence or accident, is held accountable for the consequences. This principle of personal responsibility is foundational in biblical ethics, teaching that actions have consequences and that individuals must bear the burden of their choices.

must surely make restitution
Restitution involves compensating for loss or damage, reflecting the biblical principle of justice and restoration. The Hebrew word for restitution, "שִׁלֵּם" (shillem), implies making whole or complete. This requirement underscores God's desire for justice and reconciliation, ensuring that wrongs are righted and relationships are restored. In a broader spiritual context, it points to the redemptive work of Christ, who makes restitution for humanity's sins, restoring us to right relationship with God.

(6) If fire break out, and catch in thorns.--In the East, as elsewhere--e.g., Italy (Virg. Georg., i. 84) and England--it is customary at certain seasons to burn the weeds and other refuse of a farm, which, is collected for the purpose into heaps, and then set on fire. Such fires may spread, especially in the dry East, if care be not taken, and cause extensive damage to the crops, or even the corn-heaps of a neighbour. The loss in such cases was to fall on the man who lit the fire.

Verse 6. - If fire break out. - It is usual in the East (as in England) to burn the weeds on a farm at certain seasons of the year. When this is done, there is always a danger, in the dry parched-up Eastern lands, of the fire spreading, and carotid watch has to be kept. If this watch were neglected, a neighbour's sheaves or standing corn might be seriously damaged or even destroyed. The law punished such carelessness, by requiring the man who had kindled the fire to make restitution.

CHAPTER 22:7-13

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

a fire
אֵ֜שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

breaks out
תֵצֵ֨א (ṯê·ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

and spreads
וּמָצְאָ֤ה (ū·mā·ṣə·’āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

to thornbushes
קֹצִים֙ (qō·ṣîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6975: A thorn, thornbush

so that it consumes
וְנֶאֱכַ֣ל (wə·ne·’ĕ·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

stacked
גָּדִ֔ישׁ (gā·ḏîš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1430: A stack of sheaves, a tomb

or
א֥וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

standing grain,
הַקָּמָ֖ה (haq·qā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7054: Something that rises, a stalk of grain

or
א֣וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

the whole field,
הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

the one who started
הַמַּבְעִ֖ר (ham·maḇ·‘ir)
Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish

the fire
הַבְּעֵרָֽה׃ (hab·bə·‘ê·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1200: A burning

must make full restitution.
שַׁלֵּ֣ם (šal·lêm)
Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate


Links
Exodus 22:6 NIV
Exodus 22:6 NLT
Exodus 22:6 ESV
Exodus 22:6 NASB
Exodus 22:6 KJV

Exodus 22:6 BibleApps.com
Exodus 22:6 Biblia Paralela
Exodus 22:6 Chinese Bible
Exodus 22:6 French Bible
Exodus 22:6 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Exodus 22:6 If fire breaks out and catches (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 22:5
Top of Page
Top of Page