What does hummurabi code 1 mean?

The Code of Hammurabi, one of the oldest written legal codes, is a Babylonian set of laws dating back to around 1754 BC. The first law states, "If a man is caught stealing an ox or a sheep, he shall restore five oxen for one ox and four sheep for one sheep." This reflects the principle of retributive justice, emphasizing that the punishment should fit the crime, and it illustrates the importance of property rights in ancient Mesopotamian society.