Deuteronomy 22:14 - accuses her of shameful things, and gives her a bad name, and says, “I took this woman, and when I came near to her, I didn’t find in her the tokens of virginity”;
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What does "Deuteronomy 22:14" mean?
This verse from Deuteronomy 22:14 describes a scenario where a husband, after marrying a woman, falsely accuses her of not being a virgin at the time of their marriage. Let's break it down:
"Accuses her of shameful things, and gives her a bad name...": The husband is publicly disparaging his wife, making serious and potentially damaging accusations about her sexual purity. This would have severe social consequences for the woman in that time.
"...and says, “I took this woman, and when I came near to her, I didn’t find in her the tokens of virginity”;": He is specifically claiming that he did not find physical evidence that she was a virgin during their first sexual encounter. The "tokens of virginity" would likely refer to the presence of a hymen and/or bleeding during initial intercourse, although medical accuracy of these signs was (and still is) unreliable. The absence of these signs leads him to accuse her of premarital sexual activity.
Context and Significance:
This verse is part of a larger legal section in Deuteronomy that deals with sexual misconduct and marriage laws. It's important to understand the broader context to grasp the verse's significance:
Value of Virginity: In ancient Israelite society, a woman's virginity at the time of marriage was highly valued. It was seen as a reflection of her family's honor and a guarantee of the legitimacy of future offspring.
Consequences for the Woman: If the accusation was proven true (that she was not a virgin), the woman faced severe consequences, including being stoned to death.
Protection for the Woman: The verses following this one outline a legal procedure to determine the truth of the accusation. The woman's parents could present evidence (specifically, the marriage garment stained with blood from the wedding night) to prove her virginity. If they could prove her innocence, the husband would be punished with a fine, lose his right to divorce her, and be publicly shamed.
In summary, Deuteronomy 22:14 presents a case of a husband falsely accusing his wife of lacking virginity at the time of their marriage, highlighting the cultural significance placed on female virginity and the legal framework established to handle such accusations.
Deuteronomy 22:14 - accuses her of shameful things, and gives her a bad name, and says, “I took this woman, and when I came near to her, I didn’t find in her the tokens of virginity”;
What does "Deuteronomy 22:14" mean?
This verse from Deuteronomy 22:14 describes a scenario where a husband, after marrying a woman, falsely accuses her of not being a virgin at the time of their marriage. Let's break it down:
"Accuses her of shameful things, and gives her a bad name...": The husband is publicly disparaging his wife, making serious and potentially damaging accusations about her sexual purity. This would have severe social consequences for the woman in that time.
"...and says, “I took this woman, and when I came near to her, I didn’t find in her the tokens of virginity”;": He is specifically claiming that he did not find physical evidence that she was a virgin during their first sexual encounter. The "tokens of virginity" would likely refer to the presence of a hymen and/or bleeding during initial intercourse, although medical accuracy of these signs was (and still is) unreliable. The absence of these signs leads him to accuse her of premarital sexual activity.
Context and Significance:
This verse is part of a larger legal section in Deuteronomy that deals with sexual misconduct and marriage laws. It's important to understand the broader context to grasp the verse's significance:
Value of Virginity: In ancient Israelite society, a woman's virginity at the time of marriage was highly valued. It was seen as a reflection of her family's honor and a guarantee of the legitimacy of future offspring.
Consequences for the Woman: If the accusation was proven true (that she was not a virgin), the woman faced severe consequences, including being stoned to death.
Protection for the Woman: The verses following this one outline a legal procedure to determine the truth of the accusation. The woman's parents could present evidence (specifically, the marriage garment stained with blood from the wedding night) to prove her virginity. If they could prove her innocence, the husband would be punished with a fine, lose his right to divorce her, and be publicly shamed.
In summary, Deuteronomy 22:14 presents a case of a husband falsely accusing his wife of lacking virginity at the time of their marriage, highlighting the cultural significance placed on female virginity and the legal framework established to handle such accusations.