Deuteronomy 22:26 - 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;
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Deuteronomy 22:26" mean?
Deuteronomy 22:26 is part of a larger passage (Deuteronomy 22:25-27) that deals with a specific situation: a betrothed woman who is raped in a field. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means in that context:
"but to the lady you shall do nothing": This is the core of the verse. It means the woman is not to be punished. She is not to be held accountable for the rape.
"There is in the lady no sin worthy of death": This explicitly states why the woman is not to be punished. She has committed no crime deserving of death. In the ancient world, adultery or premarital sex could sometimes be punishable by death. This verse clarifies that this does not apply in a case of rape.
"for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and kills him, even so is this matter": This explains the reason why the woman is innocent. The verse draws an analogy to murder. Just as a person who is attacked and killed is not responsible for their own death, a woman who is raped is not responsible for the act committed against her. The attacker, in this case, is the one who is solely responsible. She is an unwilling victim, just like a murder victim. It highlights the fact that the act was forced upon her.
The phrase "rises against his neighbor" implies a violent attack.
In Summary:
The verse establishes the woman's innocence in a case of rape. She is not to be blamed or punished because the act was forced upon her, just as a murder victim is not responsible for their own death. The blame lies entirely with the man who committed the act.
Important Context:
The full passage (Deuteronomy 22:25-27) is critical for understanding this verse. It specifies that the rape occurred "in the field," implying that the woman cried out, but no one was there to help her. This confirms she did not consent. The passage distinguishes this situation from a case where the rape occurred within a town, where it is assumed she could have called for help and been heard (Deuteronomy 22:23-24), in which case she is held responsible and punished.
The passage has significant implications for how sexual assault victims were to be treated in ancient Israelite society, providing a level of protection and understanding that may have been uncommon in the ancient world.
It's important to acknowledge that the legal context of this verse is ancient. While the principle of holding the perpetrator solely responsible for rape is still valid today, the specific legal and societal structures surrounding it are obviously very different.
Deuteronomy 22:26 - 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;
What does "Deuteronomy 22:26" mean?
Deuteronomy 22:26 is part of a larger passage (Deuteronomy 22:25-27) that deals with a specific situation: a betrothed woman who is raped in a field. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means in that context:
"but to the lady you shall do nothing": This is the core of the verse. It means the woman is not to be punished. She is not to be held accountable for the rape.
"There is in the lady no sin worthy of death": This explicitly states why the woman is not to be punished. She has committed no crime deserving of death. In the ancient world, adultery or premarital sex could sometimes be punishable by death. This verse clarifies that this does not apply in a case of rape.
"for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and kills him, even so is this matter": This explains the reason why the woman is innocent. The verse draws an analogy to murder. Just as a person who is attacked and killed is not responsible for their own death, a woman who is raped is not responsible for the act committed against her. The attacker, in this case, is the one who is solely responsible. She is an unwilling victim, just like a murder victim. It highlights the fact that the act was forced upon her.
The phrase "rises against his neighbor" implies a violent attack.
In Summary:
The verse establishes the woman's innocence in a case of rape. She is not to be blamed or punished because the act was forced upon her, just as a murder victim is not responsible for their own death. The blame lies entirely with the man who committed the act.
Important Context:
The full passage (Deuteronomy 22:25-27) is critical for understanding this verse. It specifies that the rape occurred "in the field," implying that the woman cried out, but no one was there to help her. This confirms she did not consent. The passage distinguishes this situation from a case where the rape occurred within a town, where it is assumed she could have called for help and been heard (Deuteronomy 22:23-24), in which case she is held responsible and punished.
The passage has significant implications for how sexual assault victims were to be treated in ancient Israelite society, providing a level of protection and understanding that may have been uncommon in the ancient world.
It's important to acknowledge that the legal context of this verse is ancient. While the principle of holding the perpetrator solely responsible for rape is still valid today, the specific legal and societal structures surrounding it are obviously very different.