When, literally “And if [ki],” introduces the first of two possible situations that are connected by the word or. When a man leaves a pit open is literally “if a man opens a cistern.” The word for pit refers to a man-made hole in rocky soil for the purpose of collecting and storing rain water. It is not a well. This first situation, therefore, is “when a man removes the cover of a cistern” (Revised English Bible). A “cistern” may also be rendered as “a hollowed place in the rock for storing water” or “a place dug [or, hewn] in the rock for storing water.”

The second situation is when a man digs a pit and does not cover it. The words or when, with ki, give this clause equal standing with the first clause. The word for digs, meaning to excavate, is also used for digging a well. But the word for pit does not refer to a well, so the purpose for the digging is to make a “cistern” (New American Bible). And does not cover it implies that any man who digs a pit (“cistern”) has a responsibility to place a cover over it. The purpose of covering it was not to conceal it, but rather to prevent any person or animal from falling into it.

And an ox or an ass falls into it gives the possible consequence of either of the two when clauses. As in verses 28-32, the ox is a “bull,” or a steer. The ass is a “donkey,” as explained at 4.20. Both animals were extremely valuable to their owners. The following verse continues the sentence and assumes that the animal is killed from the fall.

Quoted with permission from Osborn, Noel D. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Exodus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1999. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .