Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 22:17
And now he has accused her of shameful conduct, saying, ‘I discovered that your daughter was not a virgin.’ But here is the proof of her virginity.” And they shall spread out the cloth before the city elders.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The father of the bride addresses the city elders, presenting the marriage garment to counter his son-in-law's claim that she was not a virgin. He speaks at the moment of formal legal confrontation, demanding the elders examine the physical evidence.
The words — The text centers on עֲלִילֹת דְּבָרִים ('a.li.lo.t de.va.ri.m), literally "deeds of words," which denotes fabricated accusations. The verb שׂם (sam), "he has made," frames the husband's allegation as an active construction rather than an objective discovery.
The thread — The procedure of presenting proof before civic authorities appears in Joshua 24:26, where Joshua sets down a stone as a witness before the elders, and Ruth 4:2, where Boaz convenes ten elders to witness a property transaction.
Why it lands — The passage requires a reader to acknowledge that legal proceedings must rely on tangible evidence rather than unverified claims. It demands that communities establish clear, public mechanisms to protect individuals from malicious litigation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.