King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
If a damsel [that is] a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;
Complete Jewish Bible:
"If a girl who is a virgin is engaged to a man, and another man comes upon her in the town and has sexual relations with her;
Berean Standard Bible:
If there is a virgin pledged in marriage to a man, and another man encounters her in the city and sleeps with her,
American Standard Version:
If there be a damsel that is a virgin betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
If a damsel{H5291} that is a virgin{H1330} be betrothed{H781} unto an husband{H376}, and a man{H376} find{H4672} her in the city{H5892}, and lie{H7901} with her;
Cross-References (KJV):
Matthew 1:18
- ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 1:19
- Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
Deuteronomy 20:7
- And what man [is there] that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
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Commentary for Deuteronomy 22:23
Deuteronomy 22:23 is part of a series of laws found in the book of Deuteronomy, which was traditionally believed to have been written by Moses. These laws were given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land after their exodus from Egypt and their subsequent wandering in the wilderness. The verse addresses a specific case involving a betrothed virgin and the consequences of sexual relations outside of the marital bond.
In the historical and cultural context of ancient Israel, betrothal was a legally binding arrangement, akin to marriage, though the couple did not yet live together. The verse outlines a scenario where a betrothed woman is found to have had sexual relations with a man who is not her betrothed husband within the city limits. The text implies that both parties are culpable because if the encounter occurred in the city, it was presumed that the woman could have cried out for help and that her cries would have been heard, indicating her consent or complicity.
The themes of this verse include the sanctity of marriage, the seriousness of betrothal promises, and the protection of community and family honor. It also reflects the patriarchal nature of Israelite society, where a woman's sexual purity was closely tied to her value and her family's honor. The law prescribes that both the man and the woman should be punished by death, reflecting the gravity with which sexual infidelity was viewed. This harsh penalty underscores the importance of maintaining the moral and social order within the community, as well as the legal and ritual purity that was expected of the Israelites as the people of God.
In the broader context of Deuteronomy, this law is part of a larger legal code that seeks to govern the personal and communal life of the Israelites, covering various aspects of social, religious, and moral conduct. These laws were intended to distinguish the Israelites from their pagan neighbors and to ensure that their society was governed by principles that reflected their covenant relationship with God.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5291
There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַעֲרָה
Transliteration: naʻărâh
Pronunciation: nah-ar-aw'
Description: feminine of נַעַר; a girl (from infancy to adolescence); damsel, maid(-en), young (woman). - Strong's Number: H1330
There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּתוּלָה
Transliteration: bᵉthûwlâh
Pronunciation: beth-oo-law'
Description: feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to separate; a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state; maid, virgin. - Strong's Number: H781
There are 307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָרַשׂ
Transliteration: ʼâras
Pronunciation: aw-ras'
Description: a primitive root; to engage for matrimony; betroth, espouse. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H4672
There are 425 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָצָא
Transliteration: mâtsâʼ
Pronunciation: maw-tsaw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present; [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. - Strong's Number: H5892
There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִיר
Transliteration: ʻîyr
Pronunciation: eer
Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. - Strong's Number: H7901
There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁכַב
Transliteration: shâkab
Pronunciation: shaw-kab'
Description: a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose); [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.