Exodus 22:16 kjv
And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
Exodus 22:16 nkjv
"If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife.
Exodus 22:16 niv
"If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife.
Exodus 22:16 esv
"If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.
Exodus 22:16 nlt
"If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sex with her, he must pay the customary bride price and marry her.
Exodus 22 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:24 | Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. | Marital union, becoming "one flesh" |
| Gen 29:18 | Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, "I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel." | Example of serving/paying a bride-price (mohar) |
| Gen 34:12 | Ask of me as large a bride-price as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the girl to be my wife. | Dinah's case, emphasis on bride-price (mohar) after defilement |
| Deut 22:20-21 | If the evidence of virginity was not found... she shall be stoned... | Penalty for unproven virginity at marriage |
| Deut 22:28-29 | If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed... lies with her... he shall pay the father fifty shekels of silver and she shall be his wife... | Similar law, but for rape, father can refuse, specified price |
| Lev 18:6 | None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. | General prohibition against illicit sexual relations |
| Lev 20:10 | If a man commits adultery with the wife of another man... both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. | Contrast: adultery with betrothed/married woman |
| Lev 21:13 | And he shall take a wife in her virginity. | Requirement for High Priest to marry a virgin |
| Num 36:3 | If they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the people of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers... | Concern over inheritance and marriage ties |
| Prov 5:8 | Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house... | Warning against immoral women/illicit relations |
| Prov 5:20-23 | Why should you be intoxicated... for your own wickedness will seize him... | Consequences of unlawful sexual immorality |
| 1 Cor 6:18 | Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. | New Testament emphasis on avoiding sexual immorality |
| 1 Cor 7:2 | But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. | Marriage as the appropriate context for sexual intimacy |
| Eph 5:3 | But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. | Call to purity in Christ |
| Heb 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. | Sanctity of marriage and judgment on immorality |
| Col 3:5 | Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. | Putting off earthly sins, including sexual immorality |
| 1 Thess 4:3-5 | For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God. | Divine will for sexual purity and self-control |
| Ex 21:2 | When you buy a Hebrew servant... in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. | Laws protecting the vulnerable (indentured servants) |
| Ex 22:17 | If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the dowry of virgins. | Clause related to this verse if marriage is refused by father |
| Hos 2:19-20 | And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice... | Metaphorical "betrothal" of God to Israel |
| Ezek 16:8 | ...I spread the corner of my garment over you... I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine. | Symbolic marriage covenant, akin to taking a wife |
Exodus 22 verses
Exodus 22 16 Meaning
Exodus 22:16 addresses a situation where an unbetrothed virgin is enticed and has sexual relations with a man. The law stipulates that the man is required to pay a bride-price, known as mohar, and marry her, thereby legitimized her status and providing her with the necessary honor and security within the community. This ordinance aims to protect the social and economic standing of the woman by compelling the man to take responsibility for his actions, rather than allowing her to be shamed or made unmarriageable.
Exodus 22 16 Context
Exodus 22:16 is situated within the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 20:22–23:33), which elaborates on the Ten Commandments and provides detailed civil and religious laws for the nascent Israelite nation. These laws cover various aspects of daily life, including personal injury, property rights, and social conduct. Specifically, verses 16 and 17 address situations involving seduction and unchastity, following earlier laws regarding theft and property damage, but preceding those on sorcery, idolatry, and treatment of vulnerable persons. This placement underscores the significance of sexual purity, family honor, and legal responsibility within Israelite society. The law aims to establish justice, protect individuals, and maintain societal order in a culture where virginity was highly valued and crucial for a woman's marital prospects and social standing.
Exodus 22 16 Word analysis
- And if a man: (Hebrew: wĕ’îsh) – Introduces a specific hypothetical case involving an adult male (ish), signifying personal responsibility.
- entice: (Hebrew: yaphteh, Piel stem of pathah (פָּתָה)) – This term signifies persuasion, seduction, or deception, implying the woman was misled into a non-coerced (but not fully consented, in a modern sense) sexual act. It differentiates this scenario from forcible rape.
- a maid: (Hebrew: na‘arāh (נַעֲרָה)) – Refers to a young, unmarried woman, implicitly a virgin, which is further clarified by "that is not betrothed."
- that is not betrothed: (Hebrew: lo’-ʾĕrūšāh (לֹא־אֲרֻשָׁה)) – This phrase is crucial. ʾĕrūšāh denotes a woman already promised or engaged to another man. The "not betrothed" distinction is vital as seduction of a betrothed woman would be considered adultery, carrying a far graver penalty, typically death, as per Deuteronomy 22:23-24. This clarifies the legal boundaries and the lesser nature of the offense in this context, mitigating it to one of reparation rather than capital punishment.
- and lie with her: (Hebrew: wĕshākhāv ‘immāhh) – A straightforward and common Hebrew idiom denoting sexual intercourse. This confirms the physical act has taken place.
- he shall surely endow her: (Hebrew: hafqēd yafqīdennāh) – This uses the infinitive absolute with the imperfect form (hafqēd from natan in some interpretations, but primarily Hiphil of paqad meaning to deliver, commit, charge, give, or more directly "give an endowment"). The construction emphasizes the mandatory nature ("surely, indeed") of paying the mohar (מֹהַר), or bride-price/endowment. This payment serves as compensation to the woman's family for the loss of her virginity, validating her honor, and providing her security. This is distinct from a "dowry" which typically comes from the bride's family to the groom.
- to be his wife: (Hebrew: lĕʾishtô) – This indicates the ultimate purpose and required outcome of the man's action: the legitimation of the relationship through marriage. This action rectifies the woman's status, ensuring she is not left dishonored or unmarriageable, which would have severe social and economic consequences for her in ancient Israelite society. The forced marriage served to restore the woman's social standing.
Exodus 22 16 Bonus section
- The absence of the woman's family's right to refuse the marriage (unlike in Deuteronomy 22:29 for rape) for a seduced virgin emphasizes the imperative for the seducer to take full responsibility, even if it leads to an undesired marriage for him. The primary goal is rehabilitation for the woman and restoration of societal order.
- The payment of the mohar was not a punishment but an act of legitimation, providing economic compensation and symbolizing the man's commitment to supporting his new wife. This tradition existed in other ancient Near Eastern cultures but was adapted within Israelite law to prioritize protection of the vulnerable.
- This law, though seemingly harsh by modern standards of personal autonomy, was progressive for its time, especially compared to some contemporary cultures where a defiled woman might be subject to greater shame or even violence. It reflects the Biblical emphasis on life, family, and rectifying wrongs.
Exodus 22 16 Commentary
Exodus 22:16 is a critical legal provision in the Torah designed to protect the honor and future of unbetrothed virgin women in ancient Israel. The law does not condone premarital sexual relations but rather offers a specific remedy when such a situation occurs due to enticement. Unlike cases of forcible rape where the father might have the option to refuse marriage, here, the obligation to marry and pay the mohar (bride-price) appears compulsory on the man's part. This mandatory action ensured that the woman was not discarded and disgraced, thereby securing her marital prospects and economic well-being. It highlights a patriarchal society's approach to social justice, focusing on restitution and preventing social disorder by re-establishing the woman within the accepted marital framework. This demonstrates a deep concern for communal order and individual dignity within God's covenant people.