Deuteronomy 25:12
Deuteronomy 25:12 in Multiple Translations
you are to cut off her hand. You must show her no pity.
Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her.
then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall have no pity.
Her hand is to be cut off; have no pity on her.
you are to cut her hand off. Don't show her any mercy.
Then thou shalt cut off her hande: thine eye shall not spare her.
then thou hast cut off her hand, thine eye doth not spare.
then you shall cut off her hand. Your eye shall have no pity.
Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thy eye shall not pity her .
Thou shalt cut off her hand, neither shalt thou be moved with any pity in her regard.
do not act mercifully toward her; cut off her hand.
Berean Amplified Bible — Deuteronomy 25:12
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Deuteronomy 25:12 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/קַצֹּתָ֖ה
אֶת
כַּפָּ֑/הּ
לֹ֥א
תָח֖וֹס
עֵינֶֽ/ךָ
וְ/קַצֹּתָ֖ה
qâtsats
H7112
to cut
Conj | V-Qal-2ms
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
כַּפָּ֑/הּ
kaph
H3709
palm
N-fs | Suff
לֹ֥א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
תָח֖וֹס
chûwç
H2347
to pity
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
עֵינֶֽ/ךָ
ʻayin
H5869
eye
N-cs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Deuteronomy 25:12
וְ/קַצֹּתָ֖ה
qâtsats
H7112
"to cut"
Conj | V-Qal-2ms
This verb means to cut something off, either physically or figuratively. It is used in the Bible to describe cutting off a branch or a piece of wood, and also to describe being cut off from a group or community.
Definition: 1) to cut off 1a) (Qal) to cut off 1b) (Piel) to cut or hew off, cut in two, cut in pieces 1c) (Pual) to be cut or hewn off Aramaic equivalent: qe.tsats (קְצַץ "to cut" H7113)
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: cut (asunder, in pieces, in sunder, off), [idiom] utmost. See also: Exodus 39:3; 2 Kings 24:13; Psalms 46:10.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
כַּפָּ֑/הּ
kaph
H3709
"palm"
N-fs | Suff
In the Bible, this word refers to the palm of the hand, like in Exodus 29 where it describes the priest's hands being filled with offerings. It can also symbolize power or strength, like in Psalm 16. It's about the hand or its shape.
Definition: : palm/hand 1) palm, hand, sole, palm of the hand, hollow or flat of the hand 1a) palm, hollow or flat of the hand 1b) power 1c) sole (of the foot) 1d) hollow, objects, bending objects, bent objects 1d1) of thigh-joint 1d2) pan, vessel (as hollow) 1d3) hollow (of sling) 1d4) hand-shaped branches or fronds (of palm trees) 1d5) handles (as bent)
Usage: Occurs in 180 OT verses. KJV: branch, [phrase] foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon. See also: Genesis 8:9; 2 Chronicles 6:13; Psalms 7:4.
לֹ֥א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
תָח֖וֹס
chûwç
H2347
"to pity"
V-Qal-Imperf-3fs
To pity or have compassion on someone means to show kindness and care for their well-being, like God's compassion for his people. It involves covering or protecting them from harm.
Definition: (Qal) to pity, have compassion, spare, look upon with compassion
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: pity, regard, spare. See also: Genesis 45:20; Ezekiel 5:11; Psalms 72:13.
עֵינֶֽ/ךָ
ʻayin
H5869
"eye"
N-cs | Suff
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : eye 1) eye 1a) eye 1a1) of physical eye 1a2) as showing mental qualities 1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 828 OT verses. KJV: affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). See also: Genesis 3:5; Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 28:67.
Study Notes — Deuteronomy 25:12
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Deuteronomy 25:12 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 25:12
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 25:12
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:12
- Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:12
- Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:12
- Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 25:12
- Barnes' Notes on Deuteronomy 25:12
- Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:12
- Sermons on Deuteronomy 25:12
Context — Widowhood and Marriage
10And his family name in Israel will be called “The House of the Unsandaled.”
11If two men are fighting, and the wife of one comes to rescue her husband from the one striking him, and she reaches out her hand and grabs his genitals,
12you are to cut off her hand. You must show her no pity.
13You shall not have two differing weights in your bag, one heavy and one light. 14You shall not have two differing measures in your house, one large and one small.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 19:13 | You must show him no pity. You are to purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, that it may go well with you. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 19:21 | You must show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 7:2 | and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. |
Deuteronomy 25:12 Summary
This verse is saying that if a woman tries to hurt a man by grabbing his private parts, she should be punished severely, as a way of maintaining justice and order in society, as seen in other Bible passages like Exodus 21:24 and Leviticus 24:20. This doesn't mean that women should never defend themselves or their loved ones, but rather that they should do so in a way that is fair and respectful, as described in passages like Proverbs 31:10-12. The goal is to promote justice, fairness, and respect for all people, as reflected in passages like Deuteronomy 16:20 and Micah 6:8. By following God's principles of justice and mercy, we can create a more harmonious and peaceful community, as described in passages like Matthew 5:7 and James 2:13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the punishment for the woman so severe in Deuteronomy 25:12?
The punishment is severe because the woman's action is considered a grave offense, as it is an attack on the man's reproductive organs and a violation of his dignity, as seen in other Bible passages such as Exodus 21:24 and Leviticus 24:20, which emphasize the importance of proportionate punishment.
Does this verse mean that a woman who defends her husband should always have her hand cut off?
No, this verse is addressing a specific situation where the woman's actions are unjustified and excessive, as indicated by the phrase 'reaches out her hand and grabs his genitals' in Deuteronomy 25:11, and is not a general principle for all cases of self-defense, as seen in passages like Proverbs 31:10-12, which describe a virtuous woman who defends her family.
Is this verse still applicable today, or was it only for the Israelites in the Old Testament?
While the specific punishment mentioned in Deuteronomy 25:12 may not be directly applicable today, the principle of consequences for violent or unjust actions is still relevant, as seen in passages like Romans 13:1-4, which emphasize the importance of submitting to governing authorities and respecting the rule of law.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of justice in the book of Deuteronomy?
This verse is part of a larger section in Deuteronomy that emphasizes the importance of justice, fairness, and proportionate punishment, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 25:13-16, which forbid the use of dishonest weights and measures, and Deuteronomy 16:20, which commands the Israelites to 'follow what is altogether just'.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I can apply the principle of justice and fairness in my own life, as reflected in Deuteronomy 25:12 and other Bible passages?
- How can I balance the need for consequences for wrongdoing with the need for mercy and compassion, as seen in passages like Matthew 5:7 and James 2:13?
- What are some situations in which I may be tempted to take matters into my own hands, rather than trusting in God's justice and sovereignty, as described in passages like Psalm 37:1-7 and Romans 12:17-21?
- How can I cultivate a heart of humility and submission to authority, as reflected in passages like Deuteronomy 25:12 and Romans 13:1-4?
- What are some ways in which I can demonstrate kindness and compassion to those who have been wronged or hurt, as seen in passages like Luke 10:25-37 and Galatians 6:2?
Gill's Exposition on Deuteronomy 25:12
Then thou shall cut off her hand,.... Which was to be done not by the man that strove with her husband, or by any bystander, but by the civil magistrate or his order.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Deuteronomy 25:12
When men strive together one with another and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:12
Partly because of the great mischief she did to him, both to his person and posterity, and partly to deter all women from all immodest and impudent carriages, and to secure that modesty which is indeed the guardian of all the virtues, as immodesty is an inlet to all vices, as the sad experience of this degenerate age shows; and therefore it is not strange that it is so severely restrained and punished. Thine eye shall not pity her, which thou wilt be very apt to do, because of the infirmity of her sex, and the urgency of the occasion, this being done for the necessary preservation of her husband.
Trapp's Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:12
Deuteronomy 25:12 Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity [her].Ver. 12. Cut off her hand.] The instrument of her sin. Thus Cranmer thrust his hand, wherewith he had subscribed a recantation, first into the fire, crying out, "Thou unworthy right hand." An Act of Parliament was here made, in the reign of Philip and Mary, that the authors and sowers of seditious writings should lose their right hands. By virtue whereof John Stubbs and William Page had their right hands cut off, with a cleaver driven through the wrist with the force of a beetle, in the days of Queen Elizabeth, for a book written against the marriage with the Duke of Anjou, entitled, "The Gulf wherein England will be Swallowed up by the French Marriage," &c., which most men presaged would, if it had gone on, have been the ruin of religion. Camden’ s Elisab., fol. 239.
Ellicott's Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:12
Deuteronomy 25:5-10. .(5) If brethren dwell together.—This law is made the subject of a whole treatise in the Talmud, called Yebâmôth. The object of the law was held to be attained if the family of the dead man was perpetuated, and did not become extinct. And therefore the marriage specified was not necessarily between the brother and the brother’s wife, but might be between other representatives of the two persons in question. (See Ruth 4) The law is older than Moses. We first hear of it in the household of Judah the son of Jacob (Genesis 38:8). The violation of the law then was punished with death, not with disgrace only. But that which makes the law most memorable, is the teaching elicited from the lips of our Saviour by the question which the Sadducees raised upon it (see marginal reference). It is worth while to observe that the law itself demands that in some sense there should be a resurrection. Boaz puts it thus (Rth 4:5), “to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.” Why should the name of the dead be kept up, if the dead has passed out of existence? We may well believe that this law was partly intended (like baptism for the dead, or like giving children the names of their departed progenitors) for the express purpose of keeping alive the hope of resurrection in the minds of the chosen people.
(11,12) When men strive together. . . .—Another precept of humanity. In Exodus 21:22, “If men strive and hurt a woman with child,” punishment or compensation must follow. The law in this place is the counterpart of that. Men must be protected as well as women. Putteth forth her hand and taketh him.—“Him,” i.e., him that smiteth her husband. The precept is to enforce modesty as well as to protect humanity.
Cambridge Bible on Deuteronomy 25:12
11, 12. Of Reckless Assault The woman who, even to help her husband, grasps the secrets of another Israelite wrestling with him shall have her hand cut off.—Peculiar to D, and in the Sg. address with brother as in other Sg. passages; but with an opening, and an accumulation of conditions similar to those in other laws probably borrowed by D. The additions may be the superfluous a man and his brother (Deuteronomy 25:11, R.V. one with another) and thine eye shall not pity (Deuteronomy 25:12, cp. Deuteronomy 7:16). Strive, rather are wrestling (as in E, Exodus 21:22; cp. Exodus 2:13, Leviticus 24:10, 2 Samuel 14:6). Secrets, lit. pudenda, only here. The position of the law just here may be due to the catchword his brother, cp. Deuteronomy 25:9. This very special case is probably meant to be typical of others (cp.
Deuteronomy 19:5). The punishment is the only mutilation prescribed by D apart from the jus talionis (Deuteronomy 19:21). It is usually supposed to have had its origin at a time when such an act was the violation of a very sacred taboo. In Ḫ ?ammurabi, §§ 202–205, there are (if the translation can be relied on) parallel crimes. Mutilation is also decreed there for other crimes.
Barnes' Notes on Deuteronomy 25:12
This is the only mutilation prescribed by the Law of Moses, unless we except the retaliation prescribed as a punishment for the infliction on another of bodily injuries Leviticus 24:19-20.
Whedon's Commentary on Deuteronomy 25:12
11, 12. When men strive — According to Van Lennep (Bible Lands, p.
Sermons on Deuteronomy 25:12
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Sixth Commandment by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink expounds on the Sixth Commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill,' emphasizing that it not only forbids murder but also the underlying emotions such as anger and hatred that can l |
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Deception by the Gibeonites by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the deception by the Gibeonites as described in Joshua chapter 9. He emphasizes the importance of heeding the warnings that God gives u |