Deuteronomy 24:5 kjv
When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.
Deuteronomy 24:5 nkjv
"When a man has taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business; he shall be free at home one year, and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken.
Deuteronomy 24:5 niv
If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.
Deuteronomy 24:5 esv
"When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be liable for any other public duty. He shall be free at home one year to be happy with his wife whom he has taken.
Deuteronomy 24:5 nlt
"A newly married man must not be drafted into the army or be given any other official responsibilities. He must be free to spend one year at home, bringing happiness to the wife he has married.
Deuteronomy 24 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:24 | Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife... | Basis of marriage: leaving and cleaving, forming new unit. |
| Prov 5:18-19 | Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth... | Emphasizes joy and fidelity within marriage. |
| Ecc 9:9 | Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life... | Calls for enjoying the marital relationship. |
| Mal 2:14-15 | The LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless... | Highlights the covenant nature of marriage before God. |
| Mt 19:4-6 | "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave... and the two shall become one flesh’?" | Jesus affirming the Genesis basis and sanctity of marriage. |
| Eph 5:25 | Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her... | Husband's sacrificial love as a model for marital relationship. |
| Eph 5:28 | In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. | Emphasizes intimate bond and care a husband should have for his wife. |
| Col 3:19 | Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. | Commands husbands to show kindness and avoid bitterness towards wives. |
| Deut 20:5-7 | What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go back... | Precedent for exemptions from war for new undertakings, including a new house, vineyard. |
| Deut 20:8 | And the officers shall speak further to the people, saying, ‘What man is there who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house...’ | Other valid reasons for exemption from war service. |
| Ex 23:12 | Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest... | Principle of ordained rest and temporary cessation from duties. |
| 1 Cor 7:3 | The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. | Mutual marital obligations and intimacy. |
| 1 Cor 7:5 | Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time... | Emphasizes consistency of marital intimacy, aligning with the "one year" bond. |
| Gen 1:28 | And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it...” | The command for procreation as a divine blessing and purpose for marriage. |
| Ps 127:3 | Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. | Highlights children as a blessing, for which the early marital period is crucial. |
| Ruth 4:11 | "May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel..." | Importance of wife in establishing the household and lineage. |
| Isa 54:5-6 | For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name... | Uses marriage as a metaphor for God's covenant with Israel, implying deep care. |
| Lk 14:20 | "another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’" | A parallel to personal obligations (even if an excuse in the parable) excusing public duties. |
| Prov 18:22 | He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. | Affirms finding a wife as a divine blessing. |
| Titus 2:4 | that they might teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children... | Practical teaching on a woman's role, emphasizing love for husband. |
| 1 Tim 5:8 | But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith... | Implies importance of providing and caring for one's immediate family. |
| Num 7:10 | And the chiefs presented offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs presented their offering before the altar. | General principle of 'dedication' and 'new beginnings' with a celebratory pause from duty. |
Deuteronomy 24 verses
Deuteronomy 24 5 Meaning
Deuteronomy 24:5 is a compassionate Mosaic law providing for newly married men. It states that a man who has taken a new wife shall be exempt from military service and all other public duties or burdens for a full year. The divine purpose behind this exemption is so that he can remain at home with his new wife during this crucial period and dedicate himself to making her joyful. This commandment underscores the sacredness and importance of establishing a new family unit within the Israelite community, ensuring a solid foundation for the marriage before external pressures intrude.
Deuteronomy 24 5 Context
Deuteronomy 24 forms part of Moses' final discourse to the Israelites before entering the Promised Land. This chapter, specifically verses 1-5, deals with laws pertaining to family and marriage, primarily divorce, remarriage, and then the subject of newlywed exemptions from war. These laws are placed within a broader section of regulations covering various aspects of community life, including ethical conduct, social justice, and protection of the vulnerable.
The immediate context is that of national readiness and communal responsibility alongside individual well-being. Chapter 20 provides general exemptions from military service for those who have built a new house, planted a new vineyard, or are newly betrothed, as well as the faint-hearted. Verse 5 in chapter 24 expands upon and re-emphasizes the military exemption specifically for those with a "new wife," broadening it to include all public obligations and setting a clear duration of one year. This emphasis highlights the profound significance God places on the foundation of the family unit and marital bond as central to the health and continuity of Israelite society.
Historically and culturally, ancient societies often placed high demands on men for military service or communal labor. This law, therefore, stands out as a unique and merciful provision by God, ensuring that the personal and intimate foundations of marriage were protected and prioritized above immediate national service. It served as a safeguard against premature marital strife, emotional neglect, and potentially childlessness resulting from early widowhood.
Deuteronomy 24 5 Word analysis
- When a man takes (כִּי-יִקַּח אִישׁ - ki yikkaḥ 'ish): "Takes" here refers to the act of marriage, signifying the covenantal bond and not merely a physical act. It is the beginning of a new household.
- new wife (אִשָּׁה חֲדָשָׁה - ishshah ḥadashah): The adjective ḥadashah means "new" or "fresh." It emphasizes the nascent stage of the marital relationship, signifying the very first year. This implies a first marriage for either the husband or the wife, or at least a new marital union. It underscores the formative period of establishing the relationship and home.
- he shall not go out to war (לֹא יֵצֵא בַּצָּבָא - lo yetze bazzava'): This is an explicit prohibition from active military service. It's not an optional deferment but a commanded exemption, signifying that this initial marital phase takes precedence over even critical national defense.
- or be charged with any business (וְלֹא יַעֲבֹר עָלָיו דָּבָר - welo ya'avor 'alayv davar): Ya'avor here means "to pass over" or "to be laid upon," indicating that no public or communal obligation (davar, a "word," "thing," "matter," or "business") should be imposed on him. This broad phrase covers various forms of public service, corvée labor, or legal/communal duties that would take him away from home or distract him significantly. It’s an overarching protection against civic burdens.
- He shall be free at home (נָקִי יִהְיֶה לְבֵיתוֹ - naqi yihyeh leveito): Naqi means "clean, innocent, exempt." Here, it specifically means "free" or "exempt" from these external duties. Leveito ("to his house/home") signifies his primary domain and place of residence during this year, emphasizing his physical presence within his own household. This phrase secures his presence and undivided attention to the marriage.
- for one year (שָׁנָה אֶחָת - shanah 'eḥat): This specifies the duration of the exemption – a full twelve months. This duration is deemed sufficient time to establish a strong marital bond, settle into domestic life, allow for the possibility of conception, and ensure the initial emotional and practical security of the new wife in her new home.
- and bring joy to the wife whom he has taken (וְשִׂמַּח אֶת-אִשְׁתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר לָקָח - wesimmaḥ 'et-'ishtto 'asher laqaḥ): The Hebrew verb śimmaḥ (from śāmaḥ) means "to gladden," "to cause joy," or "to make happy." This is not a passive allowance but an active, positive commandment. The husband has a direct responsibility and a divine mandate to prioritize his wife's happiness, emotional well-being, and adjustment during this foundational year. This instruction highlights the importance of emotional bonding and intimate fellowship in marriage. The emphasis is on cultivating joy and establishing a loving environment.
Deuteronomy 24 5 Bonus section
This law sets Israel apart from many ancient Near Eastern cultures, which often subjected men to unceasing state demands without such provisions for personal and family life. It exemplifies God's covenantal care extending to the most personal aspects of human life. The "one year" period likely correlates with common practice in some societies where new wives would return to their parents for the birth of a first child, but here, it roots them firmly in the husband's household. The positive command to "bring joy" goes beyond mere abstention from duties; it transforms a period of exemption into a sacred time for cultivating marital delight, emotional well-being, and shared happiness. This speaks volumes about the value God places on spousal companionship and mutual affection as critical elements of a righteous and flourishing household. It ensured stability, encouraged fertility for lineage, and laid the groundwork for a lifelong partnership, thereby contributing to the social and spiritual strength of the nation.
Deuteronomy 24 5 Commentary
Deuteronomy 24:5 reveals a profound divine insight into the foundation of a healthy society: the family. God, through Moses, instituted this law to safeguard the formative year of a new marriage. Far from viewing marriage as merely a societal convenience or a means to procreation, this commandment underscores its relational and emotional core. The man is not only released from external obligations but is explicitly commanded to actively "bring joy" to his wife. This isn't just about presence but about proactive nurture, fostering intimacy, security, and happiness for the newly united couple. This provision prevents immediate disruption to the fledgling union by the demands of war or public service, recognizing that a stable marriage provides a strong basis for societal well-being and future generations. It's a gracious reminder of God's care for His people's most fundamental relationships and the human need for connection and peace in significant life transitions. The principle teaches prioritizing relationship building during key life stages and demonstrates God's compassion in the law.