KJV ORIGINAL
If thou meet thine enemy’s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey that has wandered off, you must definitely return it to him.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse teaches that we should help our enemies by returning their lost property, showing kindness even to those who oppose us.
📚 Historical Context
This command was part of God's civil laws given to the Israelites through Moses at Mount Sinai. In ancient agricultural societies, livestock like oxen and donkeys were extremely valuable for farming, transportation, and livelihood. These laws established a just society where even personal conflicts didn't override basic moral obligations to help others.
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