Deuteronomy 22:15

Verse

Then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring the proof of her virginity to the city elders at the gate

American Standard Version (1901)

then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate;

Bible in Basic English

Then let the girl's father and mother put before the responsible men of the town, in the public place, signs that the girl was a virgin:

Douay-Rheims 1899

Her father and mother shall take her, and shall bring with them the tokens of her virginity to the ancients of the city that are in the gate:

Free Bible Version

The woman's parents are to bring the proof of her virginity to the elders at the town gate,

Geneva Bible 1599

Then shall the father of the mayde and her mother take and bring the signes of the maydes virginitie vnto the Elders of the citie to the gate.

King James (Authorized) Version

Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:

One Unity Resource Bible

then 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.

Translation for Translators

If that happens, the young woman’s parents must take the sheet that was on the bed when that man and their daughter were married, which still has bloodstains on it, and show it to the elders of the city at the ◄gate of/central meeting place in► the city.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then the father and mother of the girl must take proof of her virginity to the elders at the city gate.

Noah Webster Bible

Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity to the elders of the city in the gate:

World English Bible

then 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.

Young's Literal Translation

'Then hath the father of the damsel — and her mother — taken and brought out the tokens of virginity of the damsel unto the elders of the city in the gate,

Context

Marriage Violations

¹⁴and he then accuses her of shameful conduct and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman and had relations with her, but I discovered she was not a virgin.”¹⁵Then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring the proof of her virginity to the city elders at the gate¹⁶and say to the elders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he has come to hate her.

Summary

Deuteronomy 22:15 addresses the situation where a man accuses his wife of not being a virgin at the time of their marriage. The verse outlines the process for handling such an accusation, requiring the parents to provide evidence of the bride's virginity to the elders of the city. This law emphasizes the importance of truth, integrity, and the sanctity of marriage in the eyes of God. It also serves to protect the innocent party from false accusations and uphold the dignity of the individuals involved in the dispute.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill
Tyndale

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

In such a case the parents of the young woman (הנּער for הנּערה, as in Gen 24:14, Gen 24:28, according to the earliest usage of the books of Moses, a virgin, then also a young woman, e.g., Rut 2:6; Rut 4:12) were to bring the matter before the elders of the town into the gate (the judicial forum; see Deu 21:19), and establish the chastity and innocence of their daughter by spreading the bed-clothes before them. It was not necessary to this end that the parents should have taken possession of the spotted bed-clothes directly after the marriage night, as in customarily done by the Bedouins and the lower classes of the Moslem in Egypt and Syria (cf. Niebuhr, Beschr. v. Arab. pp. 35ff.; Arvieux, merkw. Nachr. iii. p. 258; Burckhardt, Beduinen, p. 214, etc.). It was sufficient that the cloth should be kept, in case such a proof might be required.

Deuteronomy 22:15

Marriage Violations

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

Then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring the proof of her virginity to the city elders at the gate

American Standard Version (1901)

then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate;

Bible in Basic English

Then let the girl's father and mother put before the responsible men of the town, in the public place, signs that the girl was a virgin:

Douay-Rheims 1899

Her father and mother shall take her, and shall bring with them the tokens of her virginity to the ancients of the city that are in the gate:

Free Bible Version

The woman's parents are to bring the proof of her virginity to the elders at the town gate,

Geneva Bible 1599

Then shall the father of the mayde and her mother take and bring the signes of the maydes virginitie vnto the Elders of the citie to the gate.

King James (Authorized) Version

Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel’s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:

One Unity Resource Bible

then 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.

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then the father and mother of the girl must take proof of her virginity to the elders at the city gate.

Noah Webster Bible

Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity to the elders of the city in the gate:

World English Bible

then 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.

Young's Literal Translation

'Then hath the father of the damsel — and her mother — taken and brought out the tokens of virginity of the damsel unto the elders of the city in the gate,

Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill
Tyndale

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:15

Verse

Context

Marriage Violations

Summary

Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Deuteronomy 22:15

Marriage Violations

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes