Deuteronomy 22 19

Deuteronomy 22:19 kjv

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.

Deuteronomy 22:19 nkjv

and they shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought a bad name on a virgin of Israel. And she shall be his wife; he cannot divorce her all his days.

Deuteronomy 22:19 niv

They shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the young woman's father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.

Deuteronomy 22:19 esv

and they shall fine him a hundred shekels of silver and give them to the father of the young woman, because he has brought a bad name upon a virgin of Israel. And she shall be his wife. He may not divorce her all his days.

Deuteronomy 22:19 nlt

They must also fine him 100 pieces of silver, which he must pay to the woman's father because he publicly accused a virgin of Israel of shameful conduct. The woman will then remain the man's wife, and he may never divorce her.

Deuteronomy 22 verses

Deuteronomy 22 19 Meaning

Deuteronomy 22:19 prescribes severe penalties for a man who falsely accuses his new wife of not being a virgin. If proven false, he is required to pay her father one hundred shekels of silver as a fine for slandering an Israelite virgin. Additionally, as a perpetual punishment and a measure of protection for the woman, he is forbidden from divorcing her for the rest of his life. This law underscored the sanctity of a woman's reputation, marital integrity, and God's demand for justice.

Deuteronomy 22 19 Context

This verse is embedded within Deuteronomy chapter 22, which outlines various civil and social laws governing Israelite society. The broader chapter addresses diverse topics from humanitarian treatment of animals and neighbors to sexual purity and marital fidelity. Specifically, Deuteronomy 22:13-21 deals with marriage laws concerning a newly married man's claim that his wife was not a virgin at their wedding. This law highlights the profound cultural and social importance of a woman's virginity prior to marriage, which was integral to her family's honor, her personal reputation, and her marriageability. In ancient Israelite society, a false accusation of non-virginity (yatza shem ra, bringing a bad name) could irreparably destroy a woman's life and her family's standing. This divine ordinance was established to provide significant legal protection for vulnerable women against malicious slander and to ensure that severe injustices within the community were met with stern consequences.

Deuteronomy 22 19 Word analysis

• and fine him: From the Hebrew root `ʿāṇaš` (ענש), meaning "to punish" or "to fine." This immediately indicates a formal legal judgment and financial penalty for the offense.
• a hundred shekels of silver: In Hebrew, `mêʾâ sheqel keseph` (מאה שקל כסף). This was a very substantial sum in ancient Israel, often equated to a significant portion of a wealthy family's annual income or roughly 2.5 pounds of silver. This amount was double the compensation for certain other marital offenses (e.g., Deut 22:29 for seduction) emphasizing the extreme gravity of the false accusation. It served as a severe punitive measure against the man and a significant financial restitution to the wronged father for the public shame brought upon his family and daughter.
• and give them to the father of the young woman: This phrase underlines the direct recompense to the family that suffered the public dishonor and potential social ostracism due to the false accusation. It also acknowledges the father's role as the head of the household and guardian of his daughter's honor.
• because he has slandered: The Hebrew phrase is `yāṣāʾ shēm raʿ` (יצא שם רע), literally "he has brought forth a bad name." This refers to public defilement of someone's reputation through malicious and false accusations, especially regarding sexual immorality. The act of "slandering" goes beyond mere verbal insult; it implies an intent to destroy the reputation and future of another person within the community.
• a virgin of Israel: The Hebrew word for "virgin" is `bəṯûlāh` (בתולה), referring to a sexually untouched woman. This status was critically important in Israelite culture for a woman's honor, her marriage prospects, and the legitimacy of future generations. The inclusion of "of Israel" emphasizes that this individual is part of God's covenant people, making the offense not just against a person but also against the community's moral fabric and God's law.
• and she shall be his wife: This clause, though seemingly a concession, is part of the penalty. It is not an opportunity for the slanderer but a legal obligation that fixes his relationship to the woman he maligned. It provides the unjustly accused woman with a guaranteed husband, albeit her slanderer, thus securing her marital status in a society where marriage was central to a woman's standing.
• He may not divorce her all his days: The Hebrew `lōʾ yûḵal ləšalləḥāh kol yāmaw` (לא יוכל לשלחה כל ימיו) means "he shall not be able to send her away all his days." This is the ultimate, lifelong punishment. It revokes his inherent right to divorce (as mentioned in Deut 24:1-4) in this specific instance. This ensured permanent accountability for his actions, prevented him from further victimizing the woman by divorcing her after ruining her name, and served as a lasting deterrent against similar malicious behavior. It underscored that such a grave transgression bore permanent consequences.

Deuteronomy 22 19 Bonus section

• The sum of 100 shekels of silver highlights the exceptionally severe nature of malicious slander against an innocent virgin, valuing her honor and her father's integrity more highly than many other offenses that carried smaller fines or fewer long-term consequences. This serves as a strong economic deterrent against such accusations.
• The "cannot divorce her" clause reveals a core principle of divine justice: punishment for grave wrongdoing often involves a permanent reversal of expected rights or privileges. In this case, the husband's general right to divorce, often assumed in ancient societies, is irrevocably stripped due to his profound ethical breach.
• This law, though from an ancient context, still resonates with themes of guarding against false accusations, the destructiveness of slander, and the need for legal protections for those whose reputations are unjustly attacked. It reminds believers of the value of truthful speech and the damage inflicted by a "bad name."

Deuteronomy 22 19 Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:19 provides a striking example of God's intricate laws safeguarding individual reputation and upholding justice in Israelite society. The law addresses the heinous act of a husband falsely accusing his new bride of not being a virgin. This act was more than a personal grievance; it was a public declaration designed to ruin the woman's honor and the family's integrity, potentially condemning her to a life of social disgrace. The severity of the divine response—a hefty financial penalty of 100 shekels of silver to her father (double the customary price for a virgin, signaling the intensified wrong), coupled with the absolute prohibition from divorcing her for life—underscores the gravity of bearing false witness and the immense value God placed on a woman's good name and well-being. This forced, unbreakable marriage served not as a privilege for the slanderer, but as a perpetual burden and mark of his egregious lie, ensuring he remained accountable for the woman whose reputation he tried to destroy. It transformed the slandered woman's potential ruin into legal protection, reflecting God's compassion for the vulnerable and His unwavering commitment to truth and righteousness within His covenant people.