KJV ORIGINAL
Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
When you see your neighbor's ox or sheep wandering off and getting lost, don't pretend you didn't see it or ignore it. You must definitely return the animals to your neighbor.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God is teaching that we have a responsibility to look out for our neighbors and help them when their property is in trouble, even when it's inconvenient for us.
📚 Historical Context
This command was given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land and establish their community laws. In ancient agricultural societies, livestock was extremely valuable - often representing a family's wealth and livelihood. Losing an ox or sheep could mean economic disaster for a household.
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