But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole; he must give up everything he owns in his house.
This verse is saying that a thief who gets caught must pay severe consequences - returning much more than what was stolen, even if it costs him everything.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a passage in Proverbs that discusses theft and adultery, written during Solomon's time when Israel had specific laws about restitution for crimes. In ancient Israel, theft required repayment beyond the original amount stolen, and 'sevenfold' was used to indicate complete or severe restitution. The legal system emphasized making the victim whole while deterring future crime through significant financial consequences.
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