Deuteronomy 22
World English Bible
WEB1You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray and hide yourself from them. You shall surely bring them again to your brother. 2If your brother isn’t near to you, or if you don’t know him, then you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall be with you until your brother comes looking for it, and you shall restore it to him. 3So you shall do with his donkey. So you shall do with his garment. So you shall do with every lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost and you have found. You may not hide yourself. 4You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely help him to lift them up again. 5A woman shall not wear men’s clothing, neither shall a man put on women’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh your God. 6If you come across a bird’s nest on the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the hen sitting on the young, or on the eggs, you shall not take the hen with the young. 7You shall surely let the hen go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days. 8When you build a new house, then you shall make a railing around your roof, so that you don’t bring blood on your house if anyone falls from there. 9You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest all the fruit be defiled, the seed which you have sown, and the increase of the vineyard. 10You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. 11You shall not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together. 12You shall make yourselves fringes on the four corners of your cloak with which you cover yourself. 13If any man takes a wife, and goes in to her, hates her, 14accuses her of shameful things, gives her a bad name, and says, “I took this woman, and when I came near to her, I didn’t find in her the tokens of virginity;” 15then the young lady’s father and mother shall take and bring the tokens of the young lady’s virginity to the elders of the city in the gate. 16The young lady’s father shall tell the elders, “I gave my daughter to this man as his wife, and he hates her. 17Behold, he has accused her of shameful things, saying, ‘I didn’t find in your daughter the tokens of virginity;’ and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity.” They shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18The elders of that city shall take the man and chastise him. 19They shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver, and give them to the father of the young lady, because he has given a bad name to a virgin of Israel. She shall be his wife. He may not put her away all his days. 20But if this thing is true, that the tokens of virginity were not found in the young lady, 21then they shall bring out the young lady to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she has done folly in Israel, to play the prostitute in her father’s house. So you shall remove the evil from among you. 22If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both die, the man who lay with the woman and the woman. So you shall remove the evil from Israel. 23If there is a young lady who is a virgin pledged to be married to a husband, and a man finds her in the city, and lies with her, 24then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones; the lady, because she didn’t cry, being in the city; and the man, because he has humbled his neighbor’s wife. So you shall remove the evil from among you. 25But if the man finds the lady who is pledged to be married in the field, and the man forces her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die; 26but to the lady you shall do nothing. There is in the lady no sin worthy of death; for as when a man rises against his neighbor and kills him, even so is this matter; 27for he found her in the field, the pledged to be married lady cried, and there was no one to save her. 28If a man finds a lady who is a virgin, who is not pledged to be married, grabs her and lies with her, and they are found, 29then the man who lay with her shall give to the lady’s father fifty shekels of silver. She shall be his wife, because he has humbled her. He may not put her away all his days. 30A man shall not take his father’s wife, and shall not uncover his father’s skirt.
World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org
Overview
Deuteronomy Chapter 22 presents a series of laws that reflect God's concern for justice, morality, and community integrity among the Israelites. The chapter begins with instructions on how to care for lost property, emphasizing the importance of helping one another and maintaining honesty within the community. Verses 1-4 highlight the responsibility of individuals to return lost items to their owners, reinforcing the principle of love for one's neighbor, as seen in #Leviticus 19:18. This call to action illustrates the communal nature of Israelite society and the expectation that each person contributes to the well-being of others.
The chapter continues with laws regarding sexual morality, including the prohibition of adultery and the importance of preserving the sanctity of marriage. In verses 13-30, various scenarios are presented, such as accusations of a bride's unchastity and the consequences of sexual immorality. The severe penalties outlined serve to protect the dignity of individuals and uphold the moral standards set by God. Notably, the law emphasizes the importance of consent and the protection of women, reflecting God's desire for justice and righteousness in relationships. The chapter concludes with a reminder of the seriousness of sexual sin and the need for purity among God's people, reinforcing the call to live in accordance with His commandments. Overall, Deuteronomy 22 serves as a guide for maintaining a holy and just community, rooted in love and respect for one another.
Referenced by
- Numbers 15:38v12Numbers 15:38 commands the Israelites to make tassels on the corners of their garments as a reminder of God's commandments. Deuteronomy 22:12 reiterates this command, emphasizing the importance of remembering and obeying God's laws.
- 2 Corinthians 6:14v102 Corinthians 6:14 advises against being unequally yoked with unbelievers, echoing the principle in Deuteronomy 22:10 about not yoking different animals together, symbolizing the importance of spiritual harmony.
Topics in this chapter
- Holiness
- Purity
- Community
- Responsibility
- Separation
- Compassion
- Covenant
- Community Responsibility
- Justice
- Marriage
- Neighborly Love
- Safety
- Creation Care
- Identity in Christ
- Israel
- Lawgiver
- Love Your Neighbor
- Moses
- Obedience
- Stewardship
- Biblical Ethics
- Care for the Vulnerable
- Created Order
- Cultural Identity in the Bible
- Deuteronomy
- Distinctiveness of Christian Faith
- Environmental Stewardship
- Ethics
- Fidelity
- Foresight
- Gender Distinctions
- Gender Roles in the Bible
- God's Justice
- Identity in Christ
- Integrity
- Kilayim
- Love
- Modesty
- Moral Integrity
- Mosaic Law
- Neighbor
- Prevention
- Promised Land
- Protection
- Relationships in the Bible
- Remembrance
- Respect
- Service
- Set Apart
- Sexual Ethics
- Sexual Morality
- Shamar
- The Commandments
- The Good Samaritan
- Tzitzit
- Wellbeing
Related chapters
- Leviticus 19NeighborLove Your NeighborMosaic Law
- Numbers 15TzitzitEthicsThe Commandments
- Exodus 22Care for the VulnerableMosaic LawSet Apart
- Deuteronomy 24Care for the VulnerableBiblical EthicsDeuteronomy
- 2 Corinthians 6SeparationIdentity in ChristRelationships in the Bible
- Leviticus 20Sexual EthicsMosaic LawSet Apart
- Leviticus 18Sexual EthicsDistinctiveness of Christian FaithCultural Identity in the Bible
- Matthew 22Love Your NeighborEthicsThe Commandments
- Deuteronomy 25Biblical EthicsDeuteronomyMosaic Law
- Luke 10Neighborly LoveThe Good SamaritanNeighbor
- Deuteronomy 21Community ResponsibilityDeuteronomyMosaic Law
- Genesis 2Environmental StewardshipCreation CareMarriage
Your study
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