Deuteronomy 22:28

28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered,

Deuteronomy 22:28 in Other Translations

28 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;

28 "If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found,

28 “Suppose a man has intercourse with a young woman who is a virgin but is not engaged to be married. If they are discovered,

28 When a man comes upon a virgin who has never been engaged and grabs and rapes her and they are found out,

28 If a man encounters a young woman, a virgin who is not engaged, takes hold of her and rapes her, and they are discovered,

Deuteronomy 22:28 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:28

If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not
betrothed
That is, meets with one in a field, which is not espoused to a man; and the man is supposed to be an unmarried man, as appears by what follows:

and lay hold on her, and lie with her,
she yielding to it, and so is not expressive of a rape, as ( Deuteronomy 22:25 ) where a different word from this is there used; which signifies taking strong hold of her, and ravishing her by force; yet this, though owing to his first violent seizure of her, and so different from what was obtained by enticing words, professions of love, and promises of marriage, and the like, as in ( Exodus 22:16 Exodus 22:17 ) but not without her consent:

and they be found;
in the field together, and in the fact; or however there are witnesses of it, or they themselves have confessed, it, and perhaps betrayed by her pregnancy.

Deuteronomy 22:28 In-Context

26 Do nothing to the woman; she has committed no sin deserving death. This case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor,

27 for the man found the young woman out in the country, and though the betrothed woman screamed, there was no one to rescue her.

28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered,

29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.

30 A man is not to marry his father’s wife; he must not dishonor his father’s bed.

Cross References

• 1. Exodus 22:16