Deuteronomy 21:12
Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;
Original Language Analysis
וַֽהֲבֵאתָ֖הּ
Then thou shalt bring
H935
וַֽהֲבֵאתָ֖הּ
Then thou shalt bring
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 10
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ
to thine house
H1004
בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ
to thine house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 10
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וְגִלְּחָה֙
and she shall shave
H1548
וְגִלְּחָה֙
and she shall shave
Strong's:
H1548
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, to be bald, i.e., (causatively) to shave; figuratively to lay waste
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
רֹאשָׁ֔הּ
her head
H7218
רֹאשָׁ֔הּ
her head
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
7 of 10
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
וְעָֽשְׂתָ֖ה
and pare
H6213
וְעָֽשְׂתָ֖ה
and pare
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
8 of 10
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Historical Context
Ancient warfare typically involved immediate rape of female captives—trophy and humiliation. By requiring the soldier to bring the woman home and wait a month, the law introduces cooling-off period and forces consideration of long-term commitment rather than momentary lust.
Questions for Reflection
- How does requiring a waiting period before acting on desire apply to modern decisions about relationships, purchases, and commitments?
- What does bringing someone "home" before intimacy teach about the biblical order of covenant before consummation?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails (גִּלְּחָה אֶת־רֹאשָׁהּ וְעָשְׂתָה אֶת־צִפָּרְנֶיהָ)—The rituals of shaving her head (gillechah) and trimming nails mark transition from one identity to another. Some interpret this as removing her beauty to test the man's commitment; others see it as mourning ritual (cf. Jeremiah 16:6). Either way, the month delay prevents immediate sexual gratification.
Bringing her home to thine house (אֶל־תּוֹךְ בֵּיתֶךָ) signals protection, not immediate exploitation. The woman enters the household sphere before entering the marriage bed—a radical departure from treating captives as sexual objects to be used at the moment of conquest.