Deuteronomy 22:4-14

4 "If an Israelite's donkey or cow has fallen down, don't ignore it; help him get the animal to its feet again.
5 "Women are not to wear men's clothing, and men are not to wear women's clothing; the Lord your God hates people who do such things.
6 "If you happen to find a bird's nest in a tree or on the ground with the mother bird sitting either on the eggs or with her young, you are not to take the mother bird.
7 You may take the young birds, but you must let the mother bird go, so that you will live a long and prosperous life.
8 "When you build a new house, be sure to put a railing around the edge of the roof. Then you will not be responsible if someone falls off and is killed.
9 "Do not plant any crop in the same field with your grapevines; if you do, you are forbidden to use either the grapes or the produce of the other crop. 1
10 "Do not hitch an ox and a donkey together for plowing.
11 "Do not wear cloth made by weaving wool and linen together.
12 "Sew tassels on the four corners of your clothes. 2
13 "Suppose a man marries a young woman and later he decides he doesn't want her.
14 So he makes up false charges against her, accusing her of not being a virgin when they got married.

Deuteronomy 22:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 22

In this chapter are various laws, concerning care of a neighbour's cattle gone astray or in distress, and of anything lost by him, De 22:1-4, forbidding one sex to wear the apparel, of another, De 22:5 and the taking away of the dam with the young found in a bird's nest, De 22:6,7, ordering battlements to be made in a new house, De 22:8, prohibiting mixtures in sowing, ploughing, and in garments, De 22:9-11, requiring fringes on the four quarters of a garment, De 22:12, fining a man that slanders his wife, upon producing the tokens of her virginity, De 22:13-19 but if these cannot be produced, then orders are given that she be put to death, De 22:20-21, then follow other laws, punishing with death the adulterer and adulteress, and one that hath ravished a betrothed damsel, De 22:22-27, amercing a person that lies with a virgin not betrothed and she consenting, and obliging him to marry her, and not suffering him to divorce her, De 22:28-29 and another against a man's lying with his father's wife, De 22:30.

Cross References 2

  • 1. 22.9-11Leviticus 19.19.
  • 2. 22.12Numbers 15.37-41.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.