When men strive together, one with another
Quarrel with one another, and come to blows, and strive for mastery, which shall beat, and be the best man:
and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of
the hand of him that smiteth him;
perceiving that his antagonist has more skill or strength, or both, for fighting, and is an more than a match for her husband, who is like to be much bruised and hurt; wherefore, to save him out of the hands of the smiter, she goes up to them to part them, or take her husband's side:
and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets;
or privy parts; in Hebrew his "shameful" parts F24, which through shame are hidden, and modesty forbids to express in proper terms; and such is the purity of the Hebrew language, that no obscene words are used in it; for which reason, among others, it is called the holy tongue. This immodest action was done partly out of affection to her husband, to oblige his antagonist to let go his hold of him; and partly out of malice and revenge to him, to spoil him, and make him unfit for generation, and therefore was to be severely punished, as follows.