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Contemporary English Version

Deuteronomy 22:17

and accusing her of not being a virgin. But he is wrong, because here is proof that she was a virgin!" Then the bride's parents will show them the bed sheet from the woman's wedding night.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Adultery;   Character;   Church;   Damages and Compensation;   Government;   Husband;   Slander;   Virgin;   The Topic Concordance - Execution;   Whoredom;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Divorce;   Fornication;   Husband;   Virgin;   Women;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Divorce;   Elder;   Family Life and Relations;   Lie, Lying;   Marriage;   Prostitution;   Sexuality, Human;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Wife;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Elder;   Hate, Hatred;   Maid, Maiden;   Woman;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Crimes and Punishments;   Deuteronomy;   Leviticus;   Marriage;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Cloth;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Peculiarities of the Law of Moses;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Maid;   Slander;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Calumny;   Divorce;   ḥuppah;   Pharisees;   Proselyte;   Resurrection;   Sadducees;   Slander;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
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.
Hebrew Names Version
and, behold, he has laid shameful things [to her charge], 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 garment before the Zakenim of the city.
King James Version
And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
Lexham English Bible
and now look he has accused her falsely, saying, "I did not find your daughter a virgin," but here is evidence of the virginity of my daughter'; and they shall spread the cloth out before the elders of the city.
English Standard Version
and behold, he has accused her of misconduct, saying, "I did not find in your daughter evidence of virginity." And yet this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the cloak before the elders of the city.
New Century Version
This man has told lies about my daughter. He has said, ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin,' but here is the proof that my daughter was a virgin." Then her parents are to show the sheet to the elders of the city,
New English Translation
Moreover, he has raised accusations of impropriety by saying, ‘I discovered your daughter was not a virgin,' but this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity!" The cloth must then be spread out before the city's elders.
Amplified Bible
and behold, he has made baseless charges against her, saying, "I did not find in your daughter the evidence of her virginity." But this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread out the garment before the elders of the city.
New American Standard Bible
and behold, he has charged her with shameful behavior, saying, "I did not find your daughter to have evidence of virginity." But this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread out the garment before the elders of the city.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And lo, he layeth slaunderous things vnto her charge, saying, I founde not thy daughter a mayde: loe, these are the tokens of my daughters virginitie: and they shal spreade the vesture before the Elders of the citie.
Legacy Standard Bible
and behold, he has charged her with shameful deeds, saying, "I did not find your daughter a virgin." But this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.
Complete Jewish Bible
so he has brought false charges that he didn't find evidence of her virginity; yet here is the evidence of my daughter's virginity' — and they will lay the cloth before the town leaders.
Darby Translation
and behold, he charges her with things for scandalous talk, saying, I found not thy daughter a virgin; and here are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
Easy-to-Read Version
This man accused my daughter of doing wrong and said, "I did not find the proof that your daughter is a virgin." But here is the proof that my daughter was a virgin.' Then they should show the cloth to the town leaders.
George Lamsa Translation
And, lo, he has given occasion of speech against her, charging her with whoredom, saying, I found not your daughter a virgin; and yet these are the tokens of my daughters virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
Good News Translation
He has made false charges against her, saying that she was not a virgin when he married her. But here is the proof that my daughter was a virgin; look at the bloodstains on the wedding sheet!'
Literal Translation
And, behold, he has laid shameful charges, saying, I have not found in your daughter the tokens of virginity. And yet see these tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and layeth a shamefull thinge to hir charge, and sayeth: I founde not thy doughter a mayde. And lo, these are the tokens of my doughters virginite. And they shal sprede out the clothe before the Elders of the cite.
American Standard Version
and, lo, he hath laid shameful things to her charge, saying, I found not in thy daughter the tokens of virginity; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.
Bible in Basic English
And now he has put shame on her, saying that she is not a virgin; but here is the sign that she is a virgin. Then they are to put her clothing before the responsible men of the town.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And lo, he layeth shamefull thynges vnto her charge, saying, I founde not thy daughter a mayde: and yet these are the tokens of my daughters virginitie. And they shall spreade the vesture before the elders of the citie.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
and, lo, he hath laid wanton charges, saying: I found not in thy daughter the tokens of virginity; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.
King James Version (1611)
And loe, he hath giuen occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid: and yet these are the tokens of my daughters virginity; and they shall spread the cloth before the Elders of the citie.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
and now he has hated her, and attaches reproachful words to her, saying, I have not found tokens of virginity with thy daughter; and these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall unfold the garment before the elders of the city.
English Revised Version
and, lo, he hath laid shameful things to her charge, saying, I found not in thy daughter the tokens of virginity; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.
Berean Standard Bible
And now he has accused her of shameful conduct, saying, 'I discovered your daughter was not a virgin.' But here is the proof of her virginity." And they shall spread out the cloth before the city elders.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that he seye, Y foond not thi douytir virgyn; and lo! these ben the signes of virgynyte of my douytir; thei schulen sprede forth a cloth bifor the eldre men of the citee. And the eldere men of that citee schulen
Young's Literal Translation
and lo, he hath laid actions of words, saying, I have not found to thy daughter tokens of virginity -- and these [are] the tokens of the virginity of my daughter! and they have spread out the garment before the elders of the city.
Update Bible Version
and, look, he has laid shameful things [to her charge], saying, I didn't find in your daughter the tokens of virginity; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.
Webster's Bible Translation
And lo, he hath given occasions of speech [against her], saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these [are the tokens of] my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
World English Bible
and, behold, he has laid shameful things [to her charge], 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 garment before the elders of the city.
New King James Version
Now he has charged her with shameful conduct, saying, "I found your daughter was not a virgin," and yet these are the evidences of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
New Living Translation
He has accused her of shameful conduct, saying, "I discovered that your daughter was not a virgin." But here is the proof of my daughter's virginity.' Then they must spread her bed sheet before the elders.
New Life Bible
He said she has done sinful acts, saying, "I found that your daughter has been with another man." But I brought what will prove that my daughter has not been with another man.' And they will spread the clothing in front of the leaders of the city.
New Revised Standard
now he has made up charges against her, saying, ‘I did not find evidence of your daughter's virginity.' But here is the evidence of my daughter's virginity." Then they shall spread out the cloth before the elders of the town.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and lo! he, hath raised occasions of speech, saying - I found not that thy daughter had the tokens of virginity and yet, these, are the tokens of the virginity of my daughter. And they shall spread out the garment before the elders of the city.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He layeth to her charge a very ill name, so as to say: I found not thy daughter a virgin: and behold these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the ancients of the city:
Revised Standard Version
and lo, he has made shameful charges against her, saying, "I did not find in your daughter the tokens of virginity." And yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and behold, he has charged her with shameful deeds, saying, "I did not find your daughter a virgin." But this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.' And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.

Contextual Overview

13 Moses said to Israel: Suppose a man starts hating his wife soon after they are married. 14 He might tell ugly lies about her, and say, "I married this woman, but when we slept together, I found out she wasn't a virgin." 15 If this happens, the bride's father and mother must go to the town gate to show the town leaders the proof that the woman was a virgin. 16 Her father will say, "I let my daughter marry this man, but he started hating her 17 and accusing her of not being a virgin. But he is wrong, because here is proof that she was a virgin!" Then the bride's parents will show them the bed sheet from the woman's wedding night. 18 The town leaders will beat the man with a whip 19 because he accused his bride of not being a virgin. He will have to pay her father one hundred pieces of silver and will never be allowed to divorce her. 20 But if the man was right and there is no proof that his bride was a virgin, 21 the men of the town will take the woman to the door of her father's house and stone her to death. This woman brought evil into your community by sleeping with someone before she got married, and you must get rid of that evil by killing her. 22 Moses said: People of Israel, if a man is caught having sex with someone else's wife, you must put them both to death. That way, you will get rid of the evil they have done in Israel.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:18 - seek occasion against us

Cross-References

Genesis 12:2
I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others.
Genesis 13:16
I will give you more descendants than there are specks of dust on the earth, and someday it will be easier to count the specks of dust than to count your descendants.
Genesis 15:5
Then the Lord took Abram outside and said, "Look at the sky and see if you can count the stars. That's how many descendants you will have."
Genesis 17:6
I will give you a lot of descendants, and in the future they will become great nations. Some of them will even be kings.
Genesis 22:1
Some years later God decided to test Abraham, so he spoke to him. Abraham answered, "Here I am, Lord ."
Genesis 22:2
The Lord said, "Go get Isaac, your only son, the one you dearly love! Take him to the land of Moriah, and I will show you a mountain where you must sacrifice him to me on the fires of an altar."
Genesis 22:9
when they reached the place that God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and placed the wood on it. Next, he tied up his son and put him on the wood.
Genesis 22:10
He then took the knife and got ready to kill his son.
Genesis 22:13
Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in the bushes. So he took the ram and sacrificed it in place of his son.
Genesis 22:14
Abraham named that place "The Lord Will Provide." And even now people say, "On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And, lo, he hath given occasion of speech against her,.... In the neighbourhood where they dwell; has been the cause of persons speaking reproachfully of her, as one of ill fame:

saying, l found not thy daughter a maid; so that it seems he said this not only to his neighbours, and before a court of judicature, but to the parents of the damsel:

and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity; which were brought with him, and produced in open court:

and they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city; that they might have ocular proof and evidence of the truth of what he said, by having spread before them the sheet stained with the blood of her virginity upon her husband's first congress with her. It seems that the mother, as well as the father, were present and concerned in this action: for it is said, "they shall spread"; and though the mother might not speak, she was the proper person to bring this cloth and spread it; and indeed it was particularly in her care and keeping; for we are told t, that two persons, called שושבינים, "the friends" of the bride and bridegroom, went first into their bedchamber, and thoroughly examined the bed, whether there was anything relating to the sign of virginity, by which one might impose upon another; and they stood all night keeping watch with great joy and cheerfulness, as if they had been the guards of a king and queen; (to which is thought the allusion is in John 3:29) their business was, when the bridegroom and bride came out, to rush in immediately, and examine all things again; and knowing and owning the former linen sheets in which they had lain, took them and delivered them to the mother. Nor need spreading such a cloth before the court be thought unlikely because of the indecency of it, when it is observed that persons and things much more filthy came under the cognizance and examination of the priests, as leprous, menstruous, and profluvious persons, and their respective disorders; nor is it at all improbable that there should be such evident tokens as are said to be given, when it is observed, especially of the Jewish women, at what a tender age they were marriageable, and were frequently married, namely, when twelve years and one day old. And the Africans, as we are told u, have a custom with them similar to this at a wedding;

"a feast is prepared, and a certain woman waits without, until the bride is lain with; and then a linen cloth, stained with blood, is reached out to her, which she carries in her hands, and shows to the guests, crying out with a loud voice that this was a virgin hitherto not corrupt; then she, with other women, are splendidly received, first by the parents of the bridegroom, and then of the bride; but if she does not appear to be a virgin, she is returned to her parents under the disgrace of all, and the marriage made null and void.''

Indeed there are some Jewish writers, that interpret this cloth in a parabolical and allegorical sense, and understand by it witnesses that; would make the case as clear and plain as the spreading out a cloth or garment. They suppose that before the damsel was lain with she was examined by several matrons, who declaring her to be a virgin, gave it under their hands in writing to her parents, which they were capable of producing in court when there was occasion for it; so Jarchi says, this is a parable; the meaning is, they made things as clear and as plain as a new cloth; with which agrees the Talmud w he seems to have taken it from, where on these words, and they shall spread the cloth, this remark is made; but the literal sense seems best.

t Nachman. apud Fagium in loc. Schindler. Lex: Pentaglott. col. 260, 261. u Joan. Leon. Descript. Africae, l. 3. p. 325. w T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 46. 1.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Deuteronomy 22:17. They shall spread the cloth, c. — A usage of this kind argues a roughness of manners which would ill comport with the refinement of European ideas on so delicate a subject. Attempts have been made to show that the law here is to be understood metaphorically but they so perfectly fail to establish any thing like probability, that it would be wasting my own and my reader's time to detail them. A custom similar to that above is observed among the Mohammedans to the present day.


 
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