Deuteronomy 22:23 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 22:23 mean?

Deuteronomy 22:23 sets up a situation where a young woman who is a virgin and is engaged to be married is found in a city with another man, and the two have sexual relations. The verse is introducing a legal case about sexual morality and betrothal in ancient Israel.

Moses is speaking to the Israelites, giving them laws for living as God's people in the land. This verse begins a specific scenario about a "damsel" (young woman) who is both a virgin and betrothed, highlighting the seriousness of sexual relations outside of marriage, especially within the context of engagement. The city setting is important, as it relates to what follows in the next verses about responsibility and consent.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 22:23

• "damsel" (נַעֲרָה, na‘arah): This word refers to a young woman, often unmarried and of marriageable age. The focus is on her youth and unmarried status.
• "virgin" (בְּתוּלָה, bətulah): This word specifically means a woman who has not had sexual relations. The law is addressing a case involving her sexual purity.
• "betrothed" (אָרַשׂ, ’aras): This means legally engaged or pledged to be married. In ancient Israel, betrothal was a binding agreement, almost as serious as marriage itself.
• "city" (עִיר, ‘ir): The mention of a city is significant because it implies a public setting where help could be called for, which affects the judgment in the following verses.

Why Deuteronomy 22:23 matters

• This verse clarifies that engagement in ancient Israel was a binding commitment, and breaking it through sexual relations with someone else was treated very seriously.
• The details about the woman being a virgin and the encounter happening in a city set up the legal distinctions made in the next verses, showing the law’s concern for justice and consent.
• Understanding this verse helps make sense of the broader passage, which deals with different scenarios of sexual misconduct and the community’s responsibility to uphold moral standards.