If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.

EXODUS 22:5KJV
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Exodus 22:5 (KJV)

What does Exodus 22:5 mean?

Exodus 22:5 says that if someone lets their animal graze in another person's field or vineyard, causing damage by eating the crops, the owner of the animal must repay the loss with the best produce from their own field or vineyard. This law sets a clear expectation for personal responsibility and fair restitution when someone's property causes harm to another's livelihood.

In this part of Exodus, God is giving Moses specific laws to share with the Israelites about living together as a community. The verse addresses a practical situation where livestock stray and eat crops that do not belong to their owner. The law requires not just repayment, but repayment with the "best" of the offender's own produce, emphasizing fairness and discouraging carelessness.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 22:5

  • The word for "best" is מֵיטַב (meitav), which means the finest or choicest part. This shows that restitution is not just about replacing what was lost, but doing so generously, with the highest quality from one's own resources.
  • The word for "restitution" is שָׁלַם (shalam), which means to make whole or to restore. The idea here is to fully repair the loss, not just offer a token compensation.
  • The word for "field" is שָׂדֶה (sadeh), and for "vineyard" is כֶּרֶם (kerem). The law covers both grain fields and vineyards, showing that all types of agricultural property are protected.

Why Exodus 22:5 matters

  • Exodus 22:5 clarifies that people are responsible for the actions of their animals, even if the damage was unintentional, which would have been a practical concern in an agricultural society.
  • The verse emphasizes that restitution must be fair and even generous, not just a minimal replacement, which helps prevent ongoing conflict between neighbors.
  • This law fits into a larger section of Exodus focused on justice and community life, showing how God's instructions aimed to build a society based on respect, responsibility, and restoration.

Where else these words appear

“best” Hebrew H4315 · used in 5 verses

  • Genesis 47:6 The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.
  • Genesis 47:11 And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
  • 1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

“beast” Hebrew H1165 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 45:17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
  • Numbers 20:4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
  • Numbers 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

“vineyard” Hebrew H3754 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 9:20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:
  • 1 Kings 21:2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
  • Isaiah 1:8 And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

“eaten” Hebrew H1197 · used in 90 verses

  • Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
  • 2 Samuel 22:13 Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
  • Isaiah 30:33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.