Deuteronomy 22 22

Deuteronomy 22:22 kjv

If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 22:22 nkjv

"If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die?the man that lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 22:22 niv

If a man is found sleeping with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 22:22 esv

"If a man is found lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 22:22 nlt

"If a man is discovered committing adultery, both he and the woman must die. In this way, you will purge Israel of such evil.

Deuteronomy 22 verses

Deuteronomy 22 22 Meaning

Deuteronomy 22:22 prescribes the capital punishment for both a man and a woman found in an act of adultery with a married woman. The purpose of this severe decree is to remove the moral evil and defilement of such an act from the community of Israel, thereby maintaining its purity and covenant faithfulness before God.

Deuteronomy 22 22 Context

Deuteronomy 22 is part of a larger section (chapters 12-26) detailing specific laws given by God to Israel through Moses before their entry into the Promised Land. This chapter focuses on miscellaneous civil and criminal statutes, with a significant portion (vv. 13-30) addressing laws related to sexual purity, marriage, and improper sexual relations. The surrounding verses address laws against miscellanious acts like theft, false accusation in virginity, rape, incest. Historically, these laws were critical for establishing a just and holy society distinct from the surrounding pagan nations where sexual morality was often fluid or tied to idolatrous practices. The prohibition against adultery underscores the sanctity of the marital covenant, the integrity of the family unit, the importance of legitimate lineage, and the overall moral purity required for Israel as a covenant people consecrated to Yahweh. It highlights God’s profound concern for righteousness within His chosen nation, where sin, especially blatant sexual sin, was viewed as defilement that needed to be purged.

Deuteronomy 22 22 Word analysis

• If a man is found (כי ימצא איש - ki yimmatse 'ish):

  • If (כי - ki): Introduces a legal conditional clause, typical of biblical law.
  • is found (ימּצא - yimmatse): The passive voice emphasizes discovery. It implies the act must be proven and established, not merely suspected, likely requiring concrete evidence such as being caught in flagrante delicto (in the very act).
  • man (איש - 'ish): Standard Hebrew word for a male person.

• lying with (שׁכפ עם - shokhev 'im):

  • A common biblical euphemism for sexual intercourse, signifying intimacy. Its use highlights the illicit sexual act as the core violation.

• a married woman (אשת בעל - 'eshet ba'al):

  • Literally "wife of a husband." This phrasing emphatically defines the woman's marital status. The man involved is not her husband.
  • married (בעל - ba'al): Refers to "master," "owner," or "husband." It underscores the legal and covenantal bond she has with her actual spouse, making her infidelity a direct violation of that sacred relationship and her husband's rights. The sin is not merely sexual immorality but a profound betrayal of covenant and defilement of an established union.

• both of them shall die (מות ימתו שניהם - mot yumtu shneihem):

  • both of them (שניהם - shneihem): Emphasizes the equal culpability of both the male and female participants. Unlike some ancient Near Eastern codes which sometimes allowed for the man's pardon or only punished the woman, God's law holds both equally accountable for the violation of the marriage covenant and communal holiness.
  • shall die (מות ימתו - mot yumtu): This is a strong Hebrew idiom known as the infinitive absolute with the imperfect verb. It translates as "dying they shall be put to death" or "surely be put to death." It stresses the absolute certainty and severity of the penalty – capital punishment. This penalty signifies the grave offense committed against God, the sanctity of marriage, and the stability of society.

• the man who lay with the woman, and the woman; so you shall purge the evil from Israel. (האיש השכפ עמ ית והאשה כפכרו הרע מישראל - ha'ish hashokhev 'imma v'ha'ishsha, uvi'arta hara' miYisra'el):

  • purge the evil (ובערת הרע - uvi'arta hara'): This is a recurring phrase in Deuteronomy, indicating the essential rationale behind such severe penalties. "Purging" or "burning out" the evil implies a purification process. The capital punishment is not merely retribution but a necessary act to cleanse the community from sin's defiling influence, preventing it from spreading and inviting divine judgment upon the whole nation.
  • from Israel (מישראל - miYisra'el): Signifies that the impurity or evil impacts the entire covenant community, not just the individuals involved or the wronged family. The sin of adultery, therefore, affects the holiness of God's people and must be removed for the nation to maintain its consecrated status before God.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "If a man is found lying with a married woman": This specific formulation focuses on the actual, discovered act, establishing the context for legal action. It highlights the direct violation of another man's marital rights and the sacred institution of marriage itself.
  • "both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman, and the woman": This powerful statement underscores the absolute demand for fidelity and the equal accountability of both parties in such a grievous sin. The repetition reinforces the finality of the judgment and leaves no ambiguity regarding who is liable.
  • "so you shall purge the evil from Israel": This phrase encapsulates the overarching Deuteronomic principle of communal holiness. The removal of sin, even by capital punishment, is not purely punitive but restorative, aiming to maintain the purity of the land and the people whom God has chosen. It prevents divine judgment from falling on the nation as a whole for tolerating grievous sin.

Deuteronomy 22 22 Bonus section

• The law in Deuteronomy 22:22 applies specifically to a married woman. Laws concerning sexual activity outside of marriage but not involving a married woman (e.g., relations with a betrothed virgin, a prostitute, or a virgin not yet betrothed) are treated differently elsewhere in Scripture, some involving marriage or fines rather than immediate death (see Dt 22:23-29). This distinction underscores the unique and grave violation of an existing covenant, not just of sexual purity in general.
• The death penalty for adultery in Israel served as a powerful deterrent and a stark visual reminder of God's holiness and the serious consequences of covenant breaking. It taught the people that violating marital faithfulness was not merely a personal transgression but an assault on the community's sanctity and an act of rebellion against God Himself.
• This law, along with others emphasizing the "purging of evil," points to God's ultimate desire for His people to be holy as He is holy, free from defilement and moral compromise, in anticipation of a righteous community living in His presence.

Deuteronomy 22 22 Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:22 is a foundational law on sexual fidelity within the covenant community, declaring adultery with a married woman a capital offense for both participants. The gravity of the punishment reflects the extreme nature of the sin. Adultery profoundly violated the sacred marriage covenant, an institution ordained by God and mirroring His covenant fidelity to Israel. It jeopardized legitimate lineage, created societal disorder, and most importantly, defiled the holiness required of God's chosen people. The law emphasizes equal culpability for both the man and the married woman, a point that stands out among some ancient legal codes which might treat the woman or man differently. The command to "purge the evil from Israel" reveals the theological intent behind the penalty: such gross sin brought defilement to the entire nation, jeopardizing its unique relationship with a holy God. Its eradication was essential to maintain communal purity and avert corporate judgment. While the New Testament emphasizes the spiritual dimension of adultery (lust of the heart - Matt 5:27-28) and the forgiveness available through Christ (Jn 8:1-11), it never abrogates the moral standard or the seriousness of adultery as a sin against God and man (Heb 13:4, 1 Cor 6:9). The New Testament upholds the sanctity of marriage and condemns sexual immorality, redirecting the emphasis from state-enforced capital punishment to personal accountability and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in upholding God's righteous standards within believers.