“If a man finds a girl who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and he seizes her and has sexual relations with her, and they are discovered,
Parallel translations
- WEB If a man finds a lady who is a virgin, who is not pledged to be married, grabs her, and lies with her, and they are found;
- KJV If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;
- BSB If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered,
- NKJV “If a man finds a young woman who is a virgin, who is not betrothed, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are found out,
- NLT “Suppose a man has intercourse with a young woman who is a virgin but is not engaged to be married. If they are discovered,
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
This addresses a man who violates an unbetrothed virgin and the two are discovered. The law provides for the woman's protection and provision.
Overview
This case (vv. 28-29) concerns an unbetrothed virgin, distinct from the earlier laws of adultery and rape of a betrothed woman. Because she has no marriage commitment to protect her, the following verse imposes obligations on the man to safeguard her future. The provision reflects God's concern that a wronged and now vulnerable woman not be left destitute or shamed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 1
- Exod 22:16–17“If a man entices a virgin who isn’t pledged to be married, and lies with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.
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 22:28 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.