For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.
Parallel translations
- WEB for he found her in the field, the pledged to be married lady cried, and there was no one to save her.
- BSB When he found her in the field, the betrothed woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.
- NKJV For he found her in the countryside, and the betrothed young woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.
- NASB When he found her in the field, the betrothed girl cried out, but there was no one to save her.
- NLT Since the man raped her out in the country, it must be assumed that she screamed, but there was no one to rescue 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
Because the assault occurred in the field where no one could rescue her, the woman is presumed innocent. Circumstances confirm she was a victim.
Overview
The reasoning concludes the case: she cried out but had no one to save her, so she bears no guilt. The law gives the victim the benefit of the situation, refusing to blame her for crying without rescue. This careful, merciful handling underscores God's compassion for the defenseless and His commitment to true justice.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- 1 Cor 13:7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 22:27 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.