“If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife.
Parallel translations
- WEB “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.
- KJV And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
- BSB If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife.
- NASB “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and sleeps with her, he must pay a dowry for her to be his wife.
- NLT “If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to anyone and has sex with her, he must pay the customary bride price and 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
A man who seduces an unbetrothed virgin must pay the bride-price and marry her. Sexual sin carries real obligations toward the one wronged.
Overview
This law protects a woman's honor and future by requiring the seducer to take responsibility through marriage and the customary dowry. It restrains predatory behavior and upholds the seriousness of sexual relations within God's design. The call to honor and protect rather than exploit reflects the purity and faithfulness ultimately embodied in Christ and His bride, the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Deut 22:28–29If 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;
- Gen 34:2–4Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 22:16 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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