Deuteronomy 21:11

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife,

American Standard Version (1901)

and seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and thou hast a desire unto her, and wouldest take her to thee to wife;

Bible in Basic English

If among the prisoners you see a beautiful woman and it is your desire to make her your wife;

Douay-Rheims 1899

And seest in the number of the captives a beautiful woman, and lovest her, and wilt have her to wife,

Free Bible Version

you may see that one of them is a beautiful woman who you like and want to marry.

Geneva Bible 1599

And shalt see among the captiues a beautifull woman, and hast a desire vnto her, and wouldest take her to thy wife,

King James (Authorized) Version

And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;

One Unity Resource Bible

and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you have chasak ·set your affection· for her, and desire to take her as your wife;

Translation for Translators

one of you may see among them a beautiful woman that he likes, and he may want to marry her.

Unlocked Literal Bible

if you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you have a desire for her and wish to take her for yourself as a wife,

Noah Webster Bible

And thou seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire to her, that thou wouldest have her for thy wife:

World English Bible

and see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you are attracted to her, and desire to take her as your wife,

Young's Literal Translation

and hast seen in the captivity a woman of fair form, and hast delighted in her, and hast taken to thee for a wife,

Context

Marrying a Captive Woman

¹⁰When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive,¹¹if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife,¹²then you shall bring her into your house. She must shave her head, trim her nails,

Summary

This verse outlines a procedure for dealing with a female captive taken during war, emphasizing compassion and respect for her dignity. It instructs the Israelites to allow her time to mourn her family before considering marriage, ensuring her well-being and rights are protected. The passage reflects God's concern for justice and care for the vulnerable, even in the context of war. It serves as a reminder to treat others with kindness and understanding, showing the importance of empathy and sensitivity in all situations.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And seest among the captives a beautiful woman,.... Whether a virgin, wife, or widow, according to the Jewish writers, even though another man's wife; so Jarchi (c), and Maimonides (d); the marriages of Gentiles being reckoned by the Jews no marriages: and hast a desire unto her; being captivated with her beauty; some understand this of the strength and rage of lust, but it rather signifies a passionate desire of enjoying her in a lawful way, as follows: that thou wouldest have her to thy wife; to be married to her in a legal manner; for though it was not allowed the Israelites to marry any of the seven nations of Canaan, nor indeed with any of other nations continuing in their idolatry; yet they might marry such as became their captives and servants, and were wholly in their own power; and especially if proselytes to their religion, and which this fair captive was to become before marriage, as is by some gathered from the following things to be done by her; though after all, this was only a permission, because of the hardness of their hearts, as is said of divorce; and that such marriages were not very grateful to God appears, as some have observed, from the ceremonies used before marriage, to render her contemptible; and the easy dismission of her afterwards, according to the sense of some interpreters. (c) Vid. T. Bab. Kiddushin, fol. 21. 2. (d) Hilchot Melachim, c. 8. sect. 3.