Leviticus 19:20 - “‘If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl, pledged to be married to another man, and not ransomed, or given her freedom; they shall be punished. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
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What does "Leviticus 19:20" mean?
Leviticus 19:20 addresses a specific situation: a man having sexual relations with a female slave who is betrothed to another man, but hasn't yet been formally married to him or freed from slavery. Let's break down the key elements and its possible interpretations:
"If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl...": This establishes the scenario: sexual intercourse between a man and a female slave.
"...pledged to be married to another man...": The slave girl is betrothed. Betrothal in ancient Israelite society was a legally binding agreement, creating obligations similar to marriage, although the couple did not yet live together or have full marital relations.
"...and not ransomed, or given her freedom...": The woman remains a slave and hasn't been bought back (ransomed) or set free. Her status as a slave is crucial for understanding the verse.
"...they shall be punished...": Both the man and the slave girl are subject to some form of punishment. The Hebrew word for "punished" (בִּקֹּרֶת, biqqōret) is somewhat vague, and its specific meaning is debated.
"...They shall not be put to death, because she was not free.": This is the key point. The verse explicitly states that the penalty is not death. The reason given is that the woman is still a slave; therefore, her capacity for consent and responsibility are limited.
Interpretations and Implications:
1. Degrees of Sin: The law differentiates the severity of the sin based on the woman's status. Adultery with a free, married woman was a capital offense (Deuteronomy 22:22). However, since the woman here is a slave and only betrothed, the crime is considered less severe. The man is still held responsible for his actions.
2. Property Rights: The verse reflects the legal status of slaves as property. Her owner has some say in her life and marriage arrangement.
3. Mitigation of Responsibility: Because the woman is a slave, her freedom to refuse the man's advances is severely limited. The law acknowledges this reduced capacity for consent, which is why the penalty is not death.
4. Purpose of Punishment: The "punishment" likely involved some form of restitution or payment to the woman's owner or to the man to whom she was betrothed. The exact nature of the punishment is unspecified in the verse. It may also be seen as a purification ritual or fine.
5. Potential Exploitation: The Torah regulations generally aim to protect vulnerable members of society. The regulation here addresses a scenario in which enslaved women, who would have been particularly vulnerable to exploitation, were victimized.
In summary, Leviticus 19:20 addresses a complex scenario involving slavery, betrothal, and sexual relations. It mitigates the punishment for the man and woman involved, because of the lack of freedom the woman had.
Leviticus 19:20 - “‘If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl, pledged to be married to another man, and not ransomed, or given her freedom; they shall be punished. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
What does "Leviticus 19:20" mean?
Leviticus 19:20 addresses a specific situation: a man having sexual relations with a female slave who is betrothed to another man, but hasn't yet been formally married to him or freed from slavery. Let's break down the key elements and its possible interpretations:
"If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl...": This establishes the scenario: sexual intercourse between a man and a female slave.
"...pledged to be married to another man...": The slave girl is betrothed. Betrothal in ancient Israelite society was a legally binding agreement, creating obligations similar to marriage, although the couple did not yet live together or have full marital relations.
"...and not ransomed, or given her freedom...": The woman remains a slave and hasn't been bought back (ransomed) or set free. Her status as a slave is crucial for understanding the verse.
"...they shall be punished...": Both the man and the slave girl are subject to some form of punishment. The Hebrew word for "punished" (בִּקֹּרֶת, biqqōret) is somewhat vague, and its specific meaning is debated.
"...They shall not be put to death, because she was not free.": This is the key point. The verse explicitly states that the penalty is not death. The reason given is that the woman is still a slave; therefore, her capacity for consent and responsibility are limited.
Interpretations and Implications:
1. Degrees of Sin: The law differentiates the severity of the sin based on the woman's status. Adultery with a free, married woman was a capital offense (Deuteronomy 22:22). However, since the woman here is a slave and only betrothed, the crime is considered less severe. The man is still held responsible for his actions.
2. Property Rights: The verse reflects the legal status of slaves as property. Her owner has some say in her life and marriage arrangement.
3. Mitigation of Responsibility: Because the woman is a slave, her freedom to refuse the man's advances is severely limited. The law acknowledges this reduced capacity for consent, which is why the penalty is not death.
4. Purpose of Punishment: The "punishment" likely involved some form of restitution or payment to the woman's owner or to the man to whom she was betrothed. The exact nature of the punishment is unspecified in the verse. It may also be seen as a purification ritual or fine.
5. Potential Exploitation: The Torah regulations generally aim to protect vulnerable members of society. The regulation here addresses a scenario in which enslaved women, who would have been particularly vulnerable to exploitation, were victimized.
In summary, Leviticus 19:20 addresses a complex scenario involving slavery, betrothal, and sexual relations. It mitigates the punishment for the man and woman involved, because of the lack of freedom the woman had.