Exodus 3:22 Meaning: Is God Commanding the Israelites to Steal?

The Hebrew word behind "ask" is sha'al. Commentators across the centuries have pointed out that this word simply means to ask or request. It does not mean to borrow with an intention to return. Adam Clarke calls the translation "borrow" a gross mistake. Calvin notes that the verb cannot properly be rendered "borrow" unless the context clearly implies a promise to give back. Here, there is no such promise. The Egyptians are giving freely, because God has changed their hearts.

The word for "plunder" is natsal, which more often means to rescue or snatch away. In this context, it carries the sense of stripping or taking as spoil. But the spoil is not taken by force; it is given willingly, as the parallel account in Exodus 12:35-36 makes clear. The word for "articles" or "jewels" is keli, a general term for vessels or utensils. These are valuable household items, not trinkets. So the Israelites are not taking loans; they are receiving what God provides as a just compensation for years of unpaid labor.

Christians across traditions have recognized this verse as a divine provision, not a justification for theft. Matthew Henry, in his commentary, speaks of God balancing accounts between the injured and the injurious. The Wesleyan tradition, through Adam Clarke and John Wesley, strongly emphasizes that the word is "ask," not "borrow," and that this is a legitimate recompense for forced labor. The Reformed tradition, represented by Calvin, argues that since all possessions ultimately belong to God, He has the right to transfer them as He wills. In more recent times, some readers have struggled with the idea of plunder, but the historical consensus is clear: this is an act of divine justice, where God provides for His people through the willing hands of their former oppressors.

This week, if you are in a situation where you have been taken advantage of or worked without fair compensation, remember that God sees. He is a God of justice, and He has ways of providing for you that you may not expect. You are not called to demand what is owed with aggression. But you are invited to trust that the God who turned the hearts of the Egyptians can turn the hearts of those who have wronged you. Your part is to ask, in faith, and to be ready to receive what He provides. Do not be afraid to accept the gifts God sends through unexpected people. It may be part of His plan to supply for your needs and equip you for the journey ahead.