if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife,
Parallel translations
- WEB and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you have a desire to her, and desire to take her as your wife;
- KJV And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
- NKJV and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and desire her and would take her for your wife,
- NASB and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and are strongly attracted to her and would take her as a wife for yourself,
- NLT And suppose you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you are attracted to her and want to marry her.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If a soldier desires a beautiful captive woman as a wife, the following law governs how he must proceed. Desire must be channeled through lawful, regulated marriage, not abuse.
Overview
The law acknowledges a real situation and, rather than permitting immediate exploitation, requires the man to take the woman as a full wife under strict conditions. This stands in stark contrast to surrounding cultures. By demanding marriage and the protections that follow, the law upholds the woman's dignity and restrains the conqueror, revealing God's compassion for the powerless.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 31:10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.
- Gen 34:8But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife.
- Gen 12:14–15So when Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.
- Prov 6:25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
- Gen 34:3And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly.
- Gen 29:18–20Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
- Num 31:18but spare for yourselves every girl who has never had relations with a man.
- Gen 6:2the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.
- Judg 14:2–3So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”
- Prov 31:30Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 21:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.