Deuteronomy 22:25

25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force^[a] her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:

Deuteronomy 22:25 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:25

But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field
Alone, and where she might cry out, and none hear, nor were any to help her:

and a man force her, and lie with her;
or "take fast and strong hold on her" ^F2; so that she is not able to get out of his hands, and make her escape, he being stronger than she, and so commits a rape upon her:

then the man only that lay with her shall die;
he being guilty of adultery, in lying with a woman espoused to another man, but not she, because she consented not to it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (hb qyzxhw) "et apprehenderit (in) eam", Pagninus, Montanus; "et apprehendens eam", Piscator.

Deuteronomy 22:25 In-Context

23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;

24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

25 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:

26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:

27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.

Footnotes

• [a]. force: or, take strong hold of