Deuteronomy 22:26
New International Version
Do nothing to the woman; she has committed no sin deserving death. This case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor,

New Living Translation
Do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no crime worthy of death. She is as innocent as a murder victim.

English Standard Version
But you shall do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no offense punishable by death. For this case is like that of a man attacking and murdering his neighbor,

Berean Standard Bible
Do 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.

King James Bible
But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:

New King James Version
But you shall do nothing to the young woman; there is in the young woman no sin deserving of death, for just as when a man rises against his neighbor and kills him, even so is this matter.

New American Standard Bible
And you are not to do anything to the girl; there is no sin in the girl worthy of death, for just as a man rises against his neighbor and murders him, so is this case.

NASB 1995
“But you shall do nothing to the girl; there is no sin in the girl worthy of death, for just as a man rises against his neighbor and murders him, so is this case.

NASB 1977
“But you shall do nothing to the girl; there is no sin in the girl worthy of death, for just as a man rises against his neighbor and murders him, so is this case.

Legacy Standard Bible
But you shall do nothing to the girl; there is no sin in the girl worthy of death, for just as a man rises against his neighbor and murders him, so is this case.

Amplified Bible
But you shall do nothing to the young woman; she has committed no sin worthy of death, for this is the same as when a man attacks his neighbor and murders him.

Christian Standard Bible
Do nothing to the young woman, because she is not guilty of an offense deserving death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do nothing to the young woman, because she is not guilty of an offense deserving death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him.

American Standard Version
but unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbor, and slayeth him, even so is this matter;

Contemporary English Version
Do not punish the woman at all; she has done nothing wrong, and certainly nothing deserving death. This crime is like murder,

English Revised Version
but unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't do anything to the girl. She has not committed a sin for which she deserves to die. This is like the case of someone who attacks and murders another person.

Good News Translation
nothing is to be done to the woman, because she has not committed a sin worthy of death. This case is the same as when one man attacks another man and murders him.

International Standard Version
As for the young lady, don't do anything to her. The young lady did nothing worthy of death. This case is similar to when a man attacks his countryman and kills him.

Majority Standard Bible
Do 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.

NET Bible
You must not do anything to the young woman--she has done nothing deserving of death. This case is the same as when someone attacks another person and murders him,

New Heart English Bible
but to the woman you shall do nothing; there is in the woman no sin worthy of death: for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and kills him, even so is this matter;

Webster's Bible Translation
But to the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbor, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:

World English Bible
but to the lady you shall do nothing. There is in the lady no sin worthy of death; for as when a man rises against his neighbor and kills him, even so is this matter;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you do not do anything to the girl—the girl has no deadly sin; for as a man rises against his neighbor and has murdered him, [taking] a life, so [is] this thing;

Young's Literal Translation
and to the damsel thou dost not do anything, the damsel hath no deadly sin; for as a man riseth against his neighbour and hath murdered him -- the life, so is this thing;

Smith's Literal Translation
And to the maiden thou shalt not do a word; not to the maiden the sin of death: for as a man shall rise up against his friend, and he killed him the soul, so this word.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The damsel shall suffer nothing, neither is she guilty of death : for as a robber riseth against his brother, and taketh away his life, so also did the damsel suffer:

Catholic Public Domain Version
The girl shall suffer nothing, nor is she guilty unto death. For just as a robber rises up against his brother and slays his life, so also did the girl suffer greatly.

New American Bible
You shall do nothing to the young woman, since the young woman is not guilty of a capital offense. As when a man rises up against his neighbor and murders him, so in this case:

New Revised Standard Version
You shall do nothing to the young woman; the young woman has not committed an offense punishable by death, because this case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But to the damsel you shall do nothing; because there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death; for as when a man rises against his neighbor and slays him, even so is this case.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall not do anything to the girl, because the girl is not guilty of a sin of death, for as when a man rises against his neighbor and he kills him, so is this matter.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death; for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the damsel has not committed a sin worthy of death; as if a man should rise up against his neighbour, and slay him, so is this thing;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Marriage Violations
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. 27When he found her in the field, the betrothed woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.…

Cross References
Exodus 23:7
Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

Numbers 35:11-12
designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. / You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.

Numbers 35:25
The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

Numbers 35:31
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 14:5-7
“What troubles you?” the king asked her. “Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead. / And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. / Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”

2 Samuel 14:11
“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

1 Kings 21:10-13
But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” / So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel had instructed in the letters she had written to them. / They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people. ...

Proverbs 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

Isaiah 5:23
who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

Jeremiah 26:15
But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”

Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.

Matthew 27:4
“I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

Luke 23:41
We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

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?” ...

Acts 7:59-60
While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” / Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.


Treasury of Scripture

But to the damsel you shall do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and slays him, even so is this matter:

no sin

Deuteronomy 21:22
And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

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Attacking Attacks Case Cause Damsel Death Deserving Kills Lady Matter Murdering Murders Neighbor Neighbour Offense Punishable Rises Riseth Sin Slayeth Someone Virgin Worthy Young
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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














Do nothing to the young woman
This phrase emphasizes the innocence of the young woman in the context of the law. In Hebrew, the word for "do nothing" is "לא תעשה" (lo ta'aseh), which is a direct command prohibiting any action against her. This reflects the justice and protection embedded in God's law, ensuring that the innocent are not wrongfully punished. The cultural and historical context of ancient Israel was one where women were often vulnerable, and this command serves as a divine safeguard for their protection.

she has committed no sin deserving of death
The Hebrew word for "sin" is "חטא" (chata), which means to miss the mark or to err. The phrase underscores the principle of justice that one should not be punished without cause. In the ancient Near Eastern context, this was a radical assertion of the value of individual justice, contrasting with other contemporary legal systems that might not have afforded such protection to women. It highlights the moral and ethical standards that God set for His people, emphasizing that punishment must be just and deserved.

This case is like that of someone who attacks and murders his neighbor
Here, the comparison to murder underscores the severity of the crime against the woman. The Hebrew word for "attacks" is "פגע" (paga), which implies a violent encounter, and "murders" is "רצח" (ratsach), indicating premeditated killing. This analogy serves to elevate the crime of sexual violence to the level of murder, highlighting its seriousness in the eyes of God. It reflects the biblical principle that all life is sacred and that violence against another person is a grave sin. This comparison also serves to instruct the community on the gravity of such offenses, ensuring that justice is pursued with the same rigor as in cases of murder.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do
תַעֲשֶׂ֣ה (ṯa·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

nothing
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to the young woman,
וְלַֽנַּעֲרָה֙‪‬ (wə·lan·na·‘ă·rāh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5291: A girl, maiden

because
כִּ֡י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

she
לַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ה (lan·na·‘ă·rāh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5291: A girl, maiden

[has committed] no
אֵ֥ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

sin
חֵ֣טְא (ḥêṭ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2399: A crime, its penalty

[worthy] of death.
מָ֑וֶת (mā·weṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

This
הַזֶּֽה׃ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

case
הַדָּבָ֥ר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

is just like
כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

one in which a man
אִ֤ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

attacks
יָק֨וּם (yā·qūm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

his neighbor
רֵעֵ֙הוּ֙ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

and murders him.
וּרְצָח֣וֹ (ū·rə·ṣā·ḥōw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7523: To dash in pieces, kill, to murder


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 22:26 But to the lady you shall do (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 22:25
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