Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 22:23
If there is a virgin pledged in marriage to a man, and another man encounters her in the city and sleeps with her,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The lawgiver addresses the Israelite assembly, placing this statute between the adultery ruling in Deuteronomy 22:22 and its execution in Deuteronomy 22:24.
The words — כִּי (ki) functions as a conditional marker translating to "if," while מְאֹרָשָׂה (me'orasah) specifies a woman formally pledged or betrothed to a man.
The thread — This betrothal status appears in Matthew 1:18 regarding Mary and in Deuteronomy 20:7 concerning military exemption.
Why it lands — The text states the factual condition of a pledged virgin found by another man in the city, establishing the legal premise for the judgment detailed in Deuteronomy 22:24.
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
If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;
Cross-references
- Matthew 1:18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
- Deuteronomy 20:7 Has any man become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man marry her.”