Deuteronomy 22:14 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 22:14 mean?

Deuteronomy 22:14 describes a situation where a husband accuses his new wife of not being a virgin at marriage, claiming he found her "not a maid" and bringing up an "evil name" against her. The verse outlines the accusation and the husband's words, which set the stage for the legal process that follows in the next verses.

In this part of Deuteronomy, Moses is giving laws to the Israelites about marriage and accusations of sexual misconduct. The verse shows a husband making a formal complaint against his wife, which in ancient Israelite society was a serious charge affecting her reputation and future. The language reflects the legal customs of the time, where such accusations required investigation and evidence.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 22:14

• "give" (שָׂם, sām): This word means "to set" or "to place," and here it refers to the husband putting forward or bringing up a reason for accusation.
• "occasions" (עֲלִילָה, alilah): This term often means "accusation" or "cause," suggesting the husband is creating grounds for a charge.
• "evil" (רַע, ra): This word means "bad" or "evil," emphasizing the seriousness of the accusation against the wife's character.
• "maid" (בְּתוּלָה, betulah): This word means "virgin," and its use here centers the accusation specifically on the wife's sexual purity at marriage.

Why Deuteronomy 22:14 matters

• This verse clarifies that accusations of sexual misconduct in marriage were not taken lightly but required a formal process, protecting both parties from false claims.
• The verse highlights the importance of reputation ("evil name") in ancient Israelite society and how legal procedures addressed slander.
• Understanding this verse helps make sense of the following verses, which lay out how the community was to investigate and respond to such accusations, showing the balance between justice and protection from false charges.