Exodus Chapter 23 verse 5 Holy Bible
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, thou shalt forbear to leave him, thou shalt surely release `it' with him.
read chapter 23 in ASV
If you see the ass of one who has no love for you bent down to the earth under the weight which is put on it, you are to come to its help, even against your desire.
read chapter 23 in BBE
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under its burden, beware of leaving [it] to him: thou shalt certainly loosen [it] with him.
read chapter 23 in DARBY
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
read chapter 23 in KJV
If thou shalt see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
read chapter 23 in WBT
If you see the donkey of him who hates you fallen down under his burden, don't leave him, you shall surely help him with it.
read chapter 23 in WEB
when thou seest the ass of him who is hating thee crouching under its burden, then thou hast ceased from leaving `it' to it -- thou dost certainly leave `it' with him.
read chapter 23 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 5. - If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee, etc. The general meaning of the passage is clear - assistance is to be given to the fallen ass of an enemy - but the exact sense of both the second and third clauses is doubtful. Many renderings have been suggested; but it is not clear that any one of them is an improvement on the Authorised Version. Thou shalt surely help with him. The joint participation in an act of mercy towards a fallen beast would bring the enemies into friendly contact, and soften their feelings towards each other.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee . . . --The sense is clear, but the words are greatly disputed. If a man sees his enemy's ass prostrate under its burthen, he is to help to raise it up. In this case he owes a double duty--(1) to his enemy, and (2) to the suffering animal. Geddes' emendation of 'azar for 'azab, in all the three places where the verb occurs, is the simplest and best of those suggested. The passage would then run: "If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burthen, and wouldest forbear to help it, thou shalt surely help with him"--i.e., the owner.
