Deuteronomy 22 23

Deuteronomy 22:23 kjv

If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;

Deuteronomy 22:23 nkjv

"If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her,

Deuteronomy 22:23 niv

If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her,

Deuteronomy 22:23 esv

"If there is a betrothed virgin, and a man meets her in the city and lies with her,

Deuteronomy 22:23 nlt

"Suppose a man meets a young woman, a virgin who is engaged to be married, and he has sexual intercourse with her. If this happens within a town,

Deuteronomy 22 verses

Deuteronomy 22 23 Meaning

Deuteronomy 22:23 describes a specific legal scenario concerning sexual misconduct: when a young woman, who is a virgin and legally betrothed to a man, has sexual intercourse with another man inside a city. This precise location, the city, is crucial as it implies the woman had the opportunity to cry out for help and did not, thereby indicating her consent to the act. Consequently, the law considers this consensual sexual encounter with a betrothed virgin to be an act of adultery, as a betrothed woman was considered to be already bound to her future husband. This scenario is then contrasted with similar acts occurring in an open field in subsequent verses (v. 25-27), which implies an inability to call for help and therefore indicates rape.

Deuteronomy 22 23 Context

Deuteronomy 22 is part of a larger section (Deuteronomy 12-26) detailing the specific statutes and ordinances given by God to Israel, expanding upon the general principles of the Ten Commandments. This chapter contains a variety of civil and criminal laws, including those pertaining to lost property, protecting life, specific sexual offenses, and the purity of the community. Verses 13-30 specifically address laws concerning marriage and sexual purity, aimed at safeguarding the family unit, maintaining the sanctity of marriage, and preserving the moral integrity of the covenant people.

In ancient Israelite society, betrothal was a formal, legally binding contract, distinct from casual engagement. It was considered the initial, essential step of marriage. The woman was legally regarded as the wife of her betrothed, even though the marriage had not yet been physically consummated. Breaking a betrothal required a formal divorce. Therefore, any sexual intercourse by a betrothed woman with another man was viewed as an act of adultery against her future husband, impacting not only personal honor but also tribal lineage and property rights. The location of the offense (city vs. field) was critical in determining the woman's consent and, consequently, the judgment rendered against her. The law’s purpose was to uphold the covenantal holiness of the community by rigorously enforcing moral boundaries and protecting established legal relationships.

Deuteronomy 22 23 Word analysis

• If there is a young woman:

  • "young woman": Hebrew: נַעֲרָה (na'arah). This term generally refers to a girl or young woman, typically of marriageable age. It denotes her age category and suggests her eligibility for betrothal or marriage.

• a virgin:

  • "virgin": Hebrew: בְּתוּלָה (betulah). This explicitly defines her sexual status as untouched, ensuring she has not had prior sexual relations. This status was highly valued in Israelite society for marriage, symbolizing purity and readiness for a marital covenant. It also protected the purity of the family line.

• betrothed:

  • "betrothed": Hebrew: מְאֹרָשָׂה (me'orasa). This key term indicates a woman who has entered into a legal, binding agreement to marry a man, though the marriage has not yet been physically consummated or celebrated with a full wedding ceremony. This status conveyed rights and obligations almost equivalent to being married, meaning any sexual act outside of this betrothal was treated with the severity of adultery.

• to a husband:

  • "husband": Hebrew: אִישׁ (ish). While primarily meaning "man," in this context, it clearly refers to the specific man to whom the young woman is legally bound through betrothal, indicating his rights and the woman's obligation to him.

• and a man meets her in the city:

  • "meets": Hebrew: וּמְצָאָהּ (umetsa'ah). Simply means "finds" or "meets."
  • "in the city": Hebrew: בָעִיר (ba'ir). This geographical detail is paramount. A city, being a populated area, implies that assistance or witnesses would be readily available if a struggle or distress cry occurred. The fact that the woman did not cry out for help, by law, presumed consent on her part, transforming the act into adultery.

• and lies with her:

  • "lies with her": Hebrew: וְשָׁכַב עִמָּהּ (w'shakháv imáhh). A common biblical idiom for sexual intercourse. It directly describes the physical act that constitutes the offense.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "young woman, a virgin, betrothed": This specific combination of descriptors—her age, her untouched sexual status, and her legal bond to a man—defines the precise identity of the female involved in this specific legal case. Each descriptor adds a layer of status and expectation crucial for understanding the nature of the transgression and its implications. Her virginity makes the violation more egregious for her betrothed's claim, and her betrothal makes the act a form of adultery rather than simple fornication or seduction.
  • "a man meets her in the city and lies with her": This phrase details the context and nature of the act. The "city" is the defining element of culpability; it establishes the environment where calling for help is possible. The absence of a cry is then interpreted as consent. This specific location differentiates this act from an assault in an isolated place, shifting the legal focus from rape to a consensual act deemed adulterous due to the betrothal.

Deuteronomy 22 23 Bonus section

This law reflects a society with strong patriarchal structures where women's honor was often tied to their virginity and their fidelity to their husband or betrothed. However, it also served as a protective measure. By legally recognizing betrothal as a serious commitment, it provided women with a certain legal status and prevented men from engaging in casual relationships that could lead to widespread sexual immorality without legal consequence. The distinction between a public setting (city) and a private setting (field) highlights an underlying legal principle regarding implied consent and victim's opportunity for self-defense or recourse. The strict punishment served as a strong deterrent, aiming to maintain moral order and familial stability in a covenant community dedicated to Yahweh. It also indirectly educated the community about the seriousness with which God viewed sexual sin and faithfulness within committed relationships.

Deuteronomy 22 23 Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:23 highlights the profound significance of betrothal in ancient Israel. Unlike modern engagements, an Israelite betrothal was a legal status conferring quasi-marital rights, awaiting only the consummation ceremony to be a full marriage. This law serves multiple purposes: it protects the legal integrity of marriage, safeguards a man’s established right to his betrothed, and enforces sexual purity within the community. The crucial distinction made by this law rests upon the location of the offense. In a city, where a cry for help could be heard, the absence of such a cry implicated the betrothed virgin in consensual sexual intercourse. This consent transformed the act from a forced violation (rape) into a transgression against her betrothal covenant, which was then categorized as adultery. As per Deuteronomy 22:24, both parties in this consensual adultery scenario were to be executed. This severe penalty underscores the high value placed on sexual purity and the sanctity of the covenant of marriage within the Mosaic Law, emphasizing a robust communal moral framework designed to prevent social chaos and uphold divine standards. The law’s specific details aimed for clear legal definitions and predictable justice.