Then the woman’s father and mother must bring the proof of her virginity to the elders as they hold court at the town gate.
Parallel translations
- WEB then the young lady’s father and mother shall take and bring the tokens of the young lady’s virginity to the elders of the city in the gate.
- KJV Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:
- BSB Then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring the proof of her virginity to the city elders at the gate
- NKJV then the father and mother of the young woman shall take and bring out the evidence of the young woman’s virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.
- NASB then the girl’s father and her mother shall take and bring out the evidence of the girl’s virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.
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
The accused bride's parents bring proof of her virginity to the town elders. The law provides the woman a means of public vindication.
Overview
The parents present evidence of their daughter's chastity to the elders at the gate, the place of justice. This gives the wronged woman and her family a formal way to defend her honor against slander. The provision shows God's care that the innocent be vindicated and that judgments rest on evidence rather than mere accusation.
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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 22:15 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
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