Deuteronomy 22:16

16 The young woman's father will say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man as a wife, but he hates her.

Deuteronomy 22:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:16

And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders
Not her mother; hence we learn, says Jarchi, that a woman has not power (or is not allowed) to speak before men; that is, in public see ( 1 Corinthians 14:34 ) and it was most proper for a father to appear in court for her, and defend her; and if she had no parents living then, those that brought her up, her guardians, that had the education of her, and placing her out in marriage, were to undertake her cause; or, as Josephus ^F18 says, those that were next akin to her; or, as, Aben Ezra, one appointed by the court:

I gave my daughter unto this man to wife;
and, by the Jewish canons {s}, a man might give his daughter in marriage, but a woman might not:

and he hateth her;
has taken a dislike to her, and wants to be rid of her, and therefore has brought this infamous action against her.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Antiqu. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 23.
F19 Misn. Sotah, c. 3. sect. 8.

Deuteronomy 22:16 In-Context

14 and accuses [her] of shameful conduct, and gives her a bad name, saying, 'I married this woman and was intimate with her, but I didn't find [any] evidence of her virginity,'

15 the young woman's father and mother will take the evidence of her virginity and bring [it] to the city elders at the gate.

16 The young woman's father will say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man as a wife, but he hates her.

17 He has accused her of shameful conduct, saying: 'I didn't find [any] evidence of your daughter's virginity, but here is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.' They will spread out the cloth before the city elders.

18 Then the elders of that city will take the man and punish him.