Deuteronomy 22:25
New International Version
But if out in the country a man happens to meet a young woman pledged to be married and rapes her, only the man who has done this shall die.

New Living Translation
“But if the man meets the engaged woman out in the country, and he rapes her, then only the man must die.

English Standard Version
“But if in the open country a man meets a young woman who is betrothed, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die.

Berean Standard Bible
But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die.

King James Bible
But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:

New King James Version
“But if a man finds a betrothed young woman in the countryside, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die.

New American Standard Bible
“But if the man finds the girl who is betrothed in the field, and the man seizes her and rapes her, then only the man who raped her shall die.

NASB 1995
“But if in the field the man finds the girl who is engaged, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her shall die.

NASB 1977
“But if in the field the man finds the girl who is engaged, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her shall die.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But if in the field the man finds the girl who is engaged, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her shall die.

Amplified Bible
“However, if the man finds the girl who is engaged (legally betrothed) in the [open] field, and seizes her and is intimate with her [by force], then only the man who lies with her shall be put to death.

Christian Standard Bible
But if the man encounters an engaged woman in the open country, and he seizes and rapes her, only the man who raped her must die.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if the man encounters an engaged woman in the open country, and he seizes and rapes her, only the man who raped her must die.

American Standard Version
But if the man find the damsel that is betrothed in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die:

Contemporary English Version
If an engaged woman is raped out in the country, only the man will be put to death.

English Revised Version
But if the man find the damsel that is betrothed in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if a man rapes an engaged girl out in the country, then only the man must die.

Good News Translation
"Suppose a man out in the countryside rapes a young woman who is engaged to someone else. Then only the man is to be put to death;

International Standard Version
"If a man meets a girl in the country who is engaged to be married and then rapes her, the man alone—the one who had sexual relations with her—must die.

Majority Standard Bible
But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die.

NET Bible
But if the man came across the engaged woman in the field and overpowered her and raped her, then only the rapist must die.

New Heart English Bible
But if the man find the woman who is pledged to be married in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her; then the man only who lay with her shall die:

Webster's Bible Translation
But if a man shall find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man shall force her, and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die:

World English Bible
But if the man finds the lady who is pledged to be married in the field, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And if the man finds the girl who is betrothed in a field, and the man has laid hold on her, and lain with her, then the man who has lain with her has died alone;

Young's Literal Translation
'And if in a field the man find the damsel who is betrothed, and the man hath laid hold on her, and lain with her, then hath the man who hath lain with her died alone;

Smith's Literal Translation
And if in the field the man shall find the betrothed maiden, and the man held fast upon her, and lay with her, and the man that lay with her died alone.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if a man find a damsel that is betrothed, in the field, and taking hold of her, lie with her, he alone shall die:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But if a man discovers, in the countryside, a girl who has been betrothed, and, apprehending her, he lies with her, then he alone shall die.

New American Bible
But if it is in the open fields that a man comes upon the betrothed young woman, seizes her and lies with her, only the man who lay with her shall die.

New Revised Standard Version
But if the man meets the engaged woman in the open country, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and seize her by force, and lie with her; then the man only who lay with her shall die:

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if a man has found a girl in a field who was engaged, and held her by force and had sexual intercourse with her, only the man who had sexual intercourse with her shall be killed.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But if the man find the damsel that is betrothed in the field, and the man take hold of her, and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But if a man find in the field a damsel that is betrothed, and he should force her and lie with her, ye shall slay the man that lay with her only.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Marriage Violations
24you must take both of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death—the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. So you must purge the evil from among you. 25But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die. 26Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin worthy of death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him.…

Cross References
Exodus 22:16-17
If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife. / If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.

Leviticus 20:10
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.

Numbers 35:30-31
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness. / You are not to accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to die; he must surely be put to death.

2 Samuel 13:12-14
“No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not violate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! / Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” / But Amnon refused to listen to her, and being stronger, he violated her and lay with her.

Genesis 34:2-7
When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force. / And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly. / So Shechem told his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as a wife.” ...

Judges 19:25-30
But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. / Early that morning, the woman went back to the house where her master was staying, collapsed at the doorway, and lay there until it was light. / In the morning, when her master got up and opened the doors of the house to go out on his journey, there was his concubine, collapsed in the doorway of the house, with her hands on the threshold. ...

2 Samuel 13:32-33
But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar. / So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

Matthew 5:27-28
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

John 8:3-11
The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them / and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. / In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?” ...

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 13:9
The commandments “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and any other commandments, are summed up in this one decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; ...

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”


Treasury of Scripture

But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die.

force her, or, take strong hold of her

2 Samuel 13:14
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.

Jump to Previous
Alone Betrothed Country Damsel Die Died Engaged Happens Hold Lady Lies Married Meet Meeting Meets Open Pledged Rapes Seizes Virgin Young
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Alone Betrothed Country Damsel Die Died Engaged Happens Hold Lady Lies Married Meet Meeting Meets Open Pledged Rapes Seizes Virgin Young
Deuteronomy 22
1. Of humanity toward brothers
5. The sex is to be distinguished by apparel
6. The bird is not to be taken with her young ones
8. The house must have battlements
9. Confusion is to be avoided
12. Tassels upon the vesture
13. The punishment of him who slanders his wife
22. of adultery
23. of rape
28. of fornication
30. of incest














But if in the open country
The phrase "in the open country" suggests a setting that is isolated and away from the protection of a community. In ancient Israel, cities were often fortified, and the countryside was less secure. This setting implies vulnerability and a lack of immediate help for the victim. The Hebrew word for "open country" (שָׂדֶה, sadeh) often refers to fields or rural areas, emphasizing the isolation and potential danger present in such locations.

a man encounters a girl
The word "encounters" (Hebrew: מָצָא, matsa) implies a meeting that is not prearranged, suggesting an element of surprise or chance. The "girl" (נַעֲרָה, na'arah) is described as young and of marriageable age, highlighting her vulnerability and the societal expectations placed upon her. This encounter is not consensual, setting the stage for the crime described.

who is pledged to be married
This phrase indicates a betrothal, a formal and binding agreement in ancient Israelite culture, akin to marriage. The Hebrew term for "pledged" (אָרַשׂ, aras) signifies a legal and social commitment. The betrothal period was a time of preparation and expectation, and any violation of this status was considered a grave offense, not only against the individual but also against the community and the family.

and he forces her
The act of forcing (Hebrew: חָזַק, chazaq) implies violence and coercion. This word conveys the severity of the act, emphasizing the lack of consent and the physical and emotional trauma inflicted upon the victim. In the context of ancient law, this act is a direct violation of the woman's autonomy and dignity.

and lies with her
The phrase "lies with her" (שָׁכַב, shakab) is a euphemism for sexual intercourse, used throughout the Hebrew Bible. In this context, it underscores the wrongful nature of the act, as it is done without consent and in violation of the betrothal covenant. This phrase highlights the gravity of the sin, as it disrupts the intended sanctity of marriage.

only the man who has done this must die
The prescription of death for the perpetrator (מוּת, muth) reflects the seriousness with which this crime is viewed in the Mosaic Law. It underscores the value placed on protecting the vulnerable and maintaining social order. The exclusivity of the punishment to the man indicates a recognition of the woman's innocence and the injustice of the act. This commandment serves as a deterrent and a means of upholding justice within the community, reflecting God's desire for righteousness and protection for the oppressed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But if
וְֽאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

the man
הָאִ֗ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

encounters
יִמְצָ֣א (yim·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

a betrothed
הַמְאֹ֣רָשָׂ֔ה (ham·’ō·rā·śāh)
Article | Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 781: To engage for, matrimony

woman
הַֽנַּעֲרָה֙ (han·na·‘ă·rāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5291: A girl, maiden

in the open country,
בַּשָּׂדֶ֞ה (baś·śā·ḏeh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

and he
הָאִ֖ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

overpowers her
וְהֶחֱזִֽיק־ (wə·he·ḥĕ·zîq-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

and rapes
וְשָׁכַ֣ב (wə·šā·ḵaḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

her,
עִמָּ֑הּ (‘im·māh)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

only
לְבַדּֽוֹ׃ (lə·ḇad·dōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

the man
הָאִ֛ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

[has done this]
שָׁכַ֥ב (šā·ḵaḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

must die.
וּמֵ֗ת (ū·mêṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 22:25 But if the man find the lady (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 22:24
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