Exodus 22:22-24
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This command isn't just about avoiding outright cruelty; the word for "afflict" encompasses any "cold and contemptuous treatment" or ill-usage. It’s a powerful reminder that God keenly notices how we treat the vulnerable, reserving judgment for those who take advantage of those without protection.
You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears within a section of law concerning how Israelites should treat the vulnerable in their society, following rules about restitution for damages and property. God's commands here are stark: no mistreating those without a husband or father to protect them. This instruction sets the stage for later prophetic pronouncements where Israel's failure to uphold these laws is a major source of divine judgment.
The Bible doesn't just tell us what not to do; it calls us to a higher standard. What does it mean to go beyond simply 'not afflicting' the vulnerable?
The command "You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child" is more than just a prohibition against active harm. It implies a call to positive action and compassion.
More Than Just 'Leave Them Alone'
Commentators point out that this isn't a passive instruction. It means you should comfort and assist them. When making any legitimate demands, you must consider their vulnerable state. They've lost their primary protectors and advisors, making them susceptible to harshness and exploitation.
Considering Their Condition
The core idea is to treat them with kindness and empathy, recognizing they might be unversed in business, lack counsel, and be generally fearful. The principle is to shield them from hardships they would have been protected from by a husband or father.
Why would God single out widows and orphans in His law? What does this reveal about His own character?
Widows and orphans were inherently vulnerable in ancient societies. They lacked the societal protection and economic stability that husbands and fathers typically provided. Because of this weakness and lack of support, they were prime targets for exploitation by those with power or means.
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A Universal Law for the Vulnerable
Scripture emphasizes that while these specific groups are mentioned, the principle extends to all who are weak and helpless. Crucially, God reserves special judgment for those who harm them, showing His deep abhorrence for such cruelty.
Divine Justice and Compassion
God's law here highlights His character: He is a protector of the defenseless. He sees the oppression of the vulnerable and takes it personally. This isn't just a social guideline; it's a reflection of God's own heart and His commitment to justice for those who cannot defend themselves.
Understand the original words
ʿānâ · Hebrew Verb
To afflict, humiliate, or treat with violence and cruelty. It implies a persistent course of harmful action against someone who is vulnerable.
ʾalmānâ · Hebrew Noun
A woman whose husband has died; in biblical law, she is categorized as one of the most vulnerable members of society, often lacking social status, income, and legal protection.
yātôm · Hebrew Noun
A child who has lost one or both parents; in the ancient Near East, such children were particularly susceptible to poverty, exploitation, and social exclusion, and were placed under God’s special protection.
ṣəʿāqâ · Hebrew Noun
A loud, often desperate appeal for help, justice, or relief. In the context of the oppressed, it is a cry that reaches the ears of God, who acts as the ultimate Avenger.
ʾap̄ · Hebrew Noun
The holy, righteous, and settled indignation of God against sin, rebellion, and injustice. It is not an arbitrary outburst of temper but a calculated response to evil that violates His covenant and character.
This passage emphasizes God's own heart for the vulnerable, showing that He "executes justice for the fatherless and the widow" and loves the sojourner, a parallel to Exodus' command to protect the defenseless.
James 1:27James echoes the spirit of this Old Testament law by defining true, pure religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress, highlighting the enduring importance of this principle.
Job 31:16-17Job's defense against accusations of wrongdoing includes his testimony that he never denied a request from the needy or let the widow go without, demonstrating a personal commitment to upholding this very command.
Matthew 23:14Jesus condemns the religious leaders who "devour widows' houses" and "make long prayers," showing a severe disconnect between outward piety and the inward justice commanded in Exodus.
Isaiah 1:17The prophet Isaiah calls Israel to "learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause," directly reflecting the protective mandate given at Sinai.
bensonExodus 22:22: "Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child."
Exodus 22:22 . Ye shall not afflict the widow, or fatherless child — That is, ye shall comfort and assist them, and be ready upon all occasions to show them kindness. In making just demands from them, their condition must be considered who have lost those that should protect them; and no advantage must be taken against them, nor any hardship put upon them, which a husband or a father would have sheltered them from.
pooleExodus 22:22: "Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child."
No text from Poole on this verse.
This command isn't just about avoiding outright cruelty; the word for "afflict" encompasses any "cold and contemptuous treatment" or ill-usage. It’s a powerful reminder that God keenly notices how we treat the vulnerable, reserving judgment for those who take advantage of those without protection.
This verse appears within a section of law concerning how Israelites should treat the vulnerable in their society, following rules about restitution for damages and property. God's commands here are stark: no mistreating those without a husband or father to protect them. This instruction sets the stage for later prophetic pronouncements where Israel's failure to uphold these laws is a major source of divine judgment.
This verse appears within a section of law concerning how Israelites should treat the vulnerable in their society, following rules about restitution for damages and property. God's commands here are stark: no mistreating those without a husband or father to protect them. This instruction sets the stage for later prophetic pronouncements where Israel's failure to uphold these laws is a major source of divine judgment.
"You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your ch…" — This command isn't just about avoiding outright cruelty; the word for "afflict" encompasses any "cold and contemptuous treatment" or ill-usage. It’s a powerful reminder that God keenly notices how we…
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Last reviewed October 2026
