The Meaning of Exodus 22:4 Explained

Exodus 22:4

KJV: If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

YLT: if the theft is certainly found in his hand alive, whether ox, or ass, or sheep -- double he repayeth.

Darby: If the stolen thing be actually found alive in his hand, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall restore double.

ASV: If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If the theft  be certainly  found  in his hand  alive,  whether it be ox,  or ass,  or sheep;  he shall restore  double. 

What does Exodus 22:4 Mean?

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Exodus 22:4 mean?

If surely is found in his hand the theft whether it is an ox or donkey sheep aliv double he shall restore -
אִֽם־ הִמָּצֵא֩ תִמָּצֵ֨א בְיָד֜וֹ הַגְּנֵבָ֗ה מִשּׁ֧וֹר עַד־ חֲמ֛וֹר שֶׂ֖ה --חַיִּ֑ים שְׁנַ֖יִם יְשַׁלֵּֽם ס

הִמָּצֵא֩  surely 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Infinitive absolute
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
תִמָּצֵ֨א  is  found 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
בְיָד֜וֹ  in  his  hand 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
הַגְּנֵבָ֗ה  the  theft 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גְּנֵבָה  
Sense: thing stolen, theft.
מִשּׁ֧וֹר  whether  it  is  an  ox 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֹׁור  
Sense: ox, bull, a head of cattle.
חֲמ֛וֹר  donkey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֲמֹור 
Sense: (he)ass.
שֶׂ֖ה  sheep 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׂה  
Sense: one of a flock, lamb, sheep, goat, young sheep, young goat.
--חַיִּ֑ים  aliv 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
שְׁנַ֖יִם  double 
Parse: Number, md
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
יְשַׁלֵּֽם  he  shall  restore 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation