Exodus 22:12
“But if it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to its owner.”
What does Exodus 22:12 mean?
When someone borrows an animal and it gets stolen while in their care, they're responsible for compensating the owner. This law protected people's livelihoods in an agricultural society where livestock represented real wealth and survival. The principle recognizes that if you take responsibility for something belonging to someone else, you bear the consequences if it vanishes on your watch, even through no direct fault of your own. It's about accountability and making sure loss doesn't fall on the innocent party.