Exodus 23:4 Meaning: Loving Enemies Before Jesus Said It

Three Hebrew words carry the weight here. The verb for “meet” (paga) means to encounter, often by chance. You did not plan this moment. Your enemy’s need finds you where you are. The word for “enemy” (oyev) is personal, this is not a foreign nation but someone you have a real grievance with. And “going astray” (ta’ah) is the same word used in the Psalms for wandering from God. The animal’s physical wandering becomes a mirror for your heart. God doubles the verb “return” (shuv), literally “you shall surely bring it back.” The repetition closes every loophole. This is not a suggestion; it is a command that expects obedience before the feelings catch up.

Christians across traditions have seen Jesus’ love command in this verse. Reformed commentator John Calvin wrote that this command proves we are not guiltless before God if we only avoid evil but do not actively do good. The Anglican Cambridge Bible calls this verse “unusual in the OT” and directly links it to Matthew 5:44. Methodist commentator Adam Clarke says Jesus formed his precept from this very verse. All these traditions agree: the command was not just about lost animals. It was meant to reshape how God’s people see their enemies, preparing them for the fuller teaching Christ would bring.

Some read this verse as a simple property law: return lost animals to avoid being accused of theft. But the verse explicitly says “your enemy.” The doubled verb demands action specifically toward someone you dislike. This is not about liability; it is about learning to care for the person who has wronged you. God wants to change your heart, not just your legal record.

Your neighbor let his dog ruin your garden last spring. Now you see his tools scattered in the front yard, left out in the rain. The easiest thing is to walk past. This verse meets you right there. God says: pick them up. Return them. You do not have to feel friendly. Feelings are not commanded here, action is. And often, the action softens the heart God’s way. Try it this week. Look for one concrete thing you can do for someone you would rather avoid. Return something lost. Carry something heavy. Let your hands obey before your heart agrees.