Exodus 22:23-24
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)
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This isn't just a promise of God hearing; the repeated words, like "afflict them in any wise" and "cry at all," emphasize that God notices every degree of mistreatment and any level of their desperate plea. He's not just listening for a loud shout, but for the faintest whisper of injustice.
This verse is part of God's instructions on how Israelites should treat vulnerable people within their society, specifically widows and orphans who had no one to defend them. Following laws about property and restitution, God issues a direct warning: if these defenseless individuals are mistreated and cry out to Him, He promises to hear them and bring judgment. This establishes a divine protection over the oppressed, showing that their suffering does not go unnoticed by God.
Ever felt like your prayers were too small, too weak, or too insignificant to be heard? This ancient law speaks directly to that fear.
The phrasing in Exodus 22:23, using repeated words like 'afflict... in any wise' and 'cry at all,' emphasizes the thoroughness of God's concern.
Every Kind of Suffering
It doesn't matter if the oppression is physical, emotional, or financial. The Lord sees and hears it all. Whether it's being insulted, beaten, wrongly imprisoned, or cheated out of what's rightfully yours, it falls under God's watchful eye.
Every Intensity of Pain
And the cry doesn't need to be loud or perfectly articulated. Whether it's a faint whisper of desperation or a loud, persistent plea, God's hearing is assured. The intensity or frequency of the cry doesn't determine if God listens; His commitment to justice does.
Why would God care so intensely about the cries of the vulnerable? This verse points to the very heart of God.
The laws given in Exodus weren't just arbitrary rules; they flowed from God's character and His deep compassion for His people, especially the most vulnerable.
God's Protective Instinct
God identifies Himself as a Father to the fatherless and a defender of widows. When the Israelites were commanded to protect the vulnerable, they were being called to reflect the very nature of their God. Afflicting these individuals was not just a social offense, but an offense against God Himself.
The Certainty of Retribution
The promise that God 'will surely hear their cry' isn't just a promise of comfort; it's also a warning. For those who inflict suffering, there is the certainty that their actions do not go unnoticed and that God will act as the ultimate judge and avenger for the oppressed.
Understand the original words
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 directly warns against withholding help from the needy, echoing the sentiment of Exodus 22:23 by highlighting God's awareness of their cries.
James 5:4The New Testament letter of James powerfully echoes Exodus 22:23, condemning those who exploit laborers and emphasizing that the Lord hears their cries for justice.
Psalm 18:6This psalm expresses David's deep confidence in God's attentiveness to prayer during times of distress, mirroring the assurance given in Exodus 22:23 that God hears the afflicted.
Jeremiah 22:3The prophet Jeremiah issues a strong rebuke to Israel's rulers for injustice, directly referencing God's judgment against those who oppress the vulnerable, aligning with the divine promise in Exodus 22:23.
gillExodus 22:23: "If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;"
If thou afflict them in any wise,..... In any way, or by any means whatever; their minds, by reproaches, censures, insults, and their bodies by stripes, false imprisonment, &c. and in their substance, by withholding from them what belongs to them, taking what they have, or cheating and defrauding them in any respect; or, "in afflicting afflict them" (e); afflict them much, and continue t…
pooleExodus 22:23: "If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;"
No text from Poole on this verse.
This isn't just a promise of God hearing; the repeated words, like "afflict them in any wise" and "cry at all," emphasize that God notices every degree of mistreatment and any level of their desperate plea. He's not just listening for a loud shout, but for the faintest whisper of injustice.
This verse is part of God's instructions on how Israelites should treat vulnerable people within their society, specifically widows and orphans who had no one to defend them. Following laws about property and restitution, God issues a direct warning: if these defenseless individuals are mistreated and cry out to Him, He promises to hear them and bring judgment. This establishes a divine protection over the oppressed, showing that their suffering does not go unnoticed by God.
This verse is part of God's instructions on how Israelites should treat vulnerable people within their society, specifically widows and orphans who had no one to defend them. Following laws about property and restitution, God issues a direct warning: if these defenseless individuals are mistreated and cry out to Him, He promises to hear them and bring judgment. This establishes a divine protection over the oppressed, showing that their suffering does not go unnoticed by God.
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"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." — This isn't just a promise of God hearing; the repeated words, like "afflict them in any wise" and "cry at all," emphasize that God notices every degree of mistreatment and any level of their desp…
