Deuteronomy 22:14

And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:

And give {H7760} occasions {H5949} of speech {H1697} against her, and bring up {H3318} an evil {H7451} name {H8034} upon her, and say {H559}, I took {H3947} this woman {H802}, and when I came {H7126} to her, I found {H4672} her not a maid {H1331}:

brings false charges against her and defames her character by saying, 'I married this woman, but when I had intercourse with her I did not find evidence that she was a virgin';

and he then accuses her of shameful conduct and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman and had relations with her, but I discovered she was not a virgin.”

and lay shameful things to her charge, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came nigh to her, I found not in her the tokens of virginity;

Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:14 introduces a grave accusation within ancient Israelite marriage law. This verse describes a scenario where a newly married husband accuses his wife of not being a virgin at the time of their marriage. Such an accusation was incredibly serious, carrying the potential for severe consequences for the woman, including public shame and even death if proven true, or significant penalties for the husband if proven false.

Context

This verse is part of a broader section in Deuteronomy (chapters 22-25) that outlines various civil and moral laws for the Israelite community, emphasizing purity, justice, and the sanctity of life and relationships. Specifically, verses 13-21 detail the legal process for handling accusations of a bride's pre-marital impurity. The law provided a meticulous method for determining truth, protecting the innocent, and punishing the guilty. This particular statute highlights the high value placed on virginity before marriage in ancient Israel, which was seen as a sign of purity and faithfulness to God's covenant.

Key Themes

  • Marital Purity and Fidelity: The law underscored the importance of sexual purity before and within marriage, reflecting God's desire for holiness within His covenant people.
  • Justice and Due Process: While the accusation was severe, the law also mandated a legal process to verify the claims, demonstrating God's concern for fair judgment and preventing arbitrary punishment. This is further elaborated in Deuteronomy 22:15, which describes the presentation of evidence.
  • Protection of the Vulnerable: The detailed legal procedure, including the requirement for parents to present evidence, offered a measure of protection for the accused woman against malicious or unfounded accusations.
  • The Seriousness of False Accusations: The severe penalties for a husband found to have falsely accused his wife (Deuteronomy 22:19) underscore the high value God places on truth and the condemnation of slander and deceit (Exodus 20:16).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "found her not a maid" directly translates the Hebrew meaning 'not a virgin'. The term "maid" in this context specifically refers to a virgin woman. This simple yet profound accusation was the crux of the legal case, challenging the woman's honor and the family's reputation within the community.

Practical Application

While the specific legal procedures of ancient Israelite society are not directly applied today, the underlying principles of Deuteronomy 22:14 remain relevant for believers:

  • Integrity in Relationships: God values truth and purity in all relationships, especially marriage, which He established as a sacred covenant (Malachi 2:14).
  • The Danger of Slander: This passage serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of false accusations and malicious gossip. Believers are called to speak truth and build up, not tear down, as encouraged in Ephesians 4:29.
  • God's Concern for Justice: Even in ancient legal codes, God's character as a just God who cares for the vulnerable and demands integrity is evident. We are called to pursue justice and truth in our own lives and communities, reflecting His righteousness.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Proverbs 18:8

    ¶ The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

  • Deuteronomy 22:19

    And they shall amerce him in an hundred [shekels] of silver, and give [them] unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.

  • Exodus 20:16

    Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

  • Exodus 23:1

    ¶ Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.

  • Proverbs 18:21

    ¶ Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

  • 1 Timothy 5:14

    I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
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