Exodus 22:18

Moral and Ceremonial Principles

16 ^a“If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife.

17 If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the ^abride-price of virgins.

18 ^a“You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

19 ^a“Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.

20 ^a“He who sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed.

21 ^a“You shall neither mistreat a¹ stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

22 ^a“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.

23 If you afflict them in any way, and they ^acry at all to Me, I will surely ^bhear their cry;

24 and My ^awrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; ^byour wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

25 ^a“If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him ^binterest.

26 ^aIf you ever take your neighbor’s garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down.

27 For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am ^agracious.

28 ^a“You shall not revile God, nor curse a ^bruler of your people.

29 “You shall not delay to offer ^athe first of your ripe produce and your juices. ^bThe firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.

30 ^aLikewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother ^bseven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

31 “And you shall be ^aholy men to Me: ^byou shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

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Exodus 22:19 >>

Exodus 22:18

Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live - See the marginal references. and Leviticus 20:27. The witch is here named to represent the class. This is the earliest denunciation of witchcraft in the law. In every form of witchcraft there is an appeal to a power not acting in subordination to the divine law. From all such notions and tendencies true worship is designed to deliver us. The practice of witchcraft was therefore an act of rebellion against Yahweh, and, as such, was a capital crime. The passages bearing on the subject in the Prophets, as well as those in the law, carry a lesson for all ages. Isaiah 8:19; Isaiah 19:3; Isaiah 44:25; Isaiah 47:12-13; Micah 5:12, etc.

**Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Exodus 22:18:**

Daniel 2:2

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Exodus 22:19 >>

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