Deuteronomy 22:14
And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Public reputation in ancient Israel carried profound consequences. A woman labeled sexually impure faced social ostracism, unmarriageability, and potential economic destitution. The city gate served as the judicial forum where elders adjudicated cases publicly. Marriage consummation typically occurred in the wedding chamber, and physical evidence of virginity (the bloodstained cloth from first intercourse) was preserved by the bride's family as legal proof. This cultural practice, while foreign to modern Western sensibilities, operated within specific historical circumstances where virginity validated family honor and marriage legitimacy.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's law address both the sin of sexual immorality and the sin of false accusation as equally destructive?
- What does this passage teach about the power of words to destroy reputations and the responsibility to speak truthfully?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Give occasions of speech against her ('alilot devarim, עֲלִילֹת דְּבָרִים)—literally "fabrications of words," deliberate false charges. Bring up an evil name upon her (hotsi' shem ra', הוֹצִיא שֵׁם רָע) means to publicly defame someone, destroying their reputation. The husband's specific accusation—I found her not a maid (lo' matsa'ti lah betulim, לֹא־מָצָאתִי לָהּ בְּתוּלִים)—claims the bride wasn't a virgin.
The term betulim (בְּתוּלִים) refers to physical virginity, evidenced by the "tokens" mentioned in verse 15. This public accusation wasn't merely private grievance but legal testimony intended to void the marriage, recover the bride-price, and possibly subject the woman to punishment. The law anticipates malicious false testimony in marriage disputes, recognizing that covenant relationships require truth and that slander destroys community integrity.