1330. bethulah

Lexical Summary

bethulah: Virgin

Original Word: בְּתוּלָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: bthuwlah
Pronunciation: beh-too-lah
Phonetic Spelling: (beth-oo-law')
KJV: maid, virgin
NASB: virgin, virgins, maidens
Word Origin: [feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to separate]

1. a virgin (from her privacy)
2. sometimes (by continuation) a bride
3. (figuratively) a city or state

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

maid, virgin

Feminine passive participle of an unused root meaning to separate; a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state -- maid, virgin.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a virgin
NASB Translation
maidens (1), virgin (32), virgins (17).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בְּתוּלָה₅₀ noun feminine virgin (compare Arabic , , Assyrian batultu (also batûlu of young man) 5 R 42:56 see Jerem^{ZA 1886, 399}; Late Hebrew בְּתוּלָא, ) — Genesis 24:16 19t.; construct בְּתוּלַת Deuteronomy 22:19 12t.; plural בְּתוּלוֺת Esther 2:2 7t.; בְּתֻלוֺת Zechariah 9:17; בְּתוּלֹת Exodus 22:16 2t.; בְּתֻלֹת Lamentations 5:11; suffix בְּתוּלֹתָיו Psalm 78:63 3t.; — one living apart in her father's house as a virgin Genesis 24:16 (J) Exodus 22:15 (E) Leviticus 21:3,14 (P) Deuteronomy 22:19; Judges 19:24; 2 Samuel 13:2; Job 31:1; Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 2:32; Jeremiah 31:13; Joel 1:8; נערה בתולה a virgin damsel Deuteronomy 22:23,28; Judges 21:12; 1 Kings 1:2; Esther 2:3; בחור ובתולה Deuteronomy 32:25; 2Chronicles 36:17; Jeremiah 51:22; Ezekiel 9:6; personification of nations בתולת ישׂראל Jeremiah 8:13; Jeremiah 31:4,21; Amos 5:2; בת ציון ׳ב 2 Kings 19:21 (= Isaiah 37:22; on double stative construct see Ges^{§ 130}. 5 Phi^{St. construct 63}) Lamentations 2:13; בת עמי ׳ב Jeremiah 14:17; בת יהודה ׳ב Lamentations 1:15; בת צידון ׳ב Isaiah 23:12; בת בבל ׳ב Isaiah 47:1; ׳ב בת מצרים Jeremiah 46:11; plural virgins Exodus 22:16; 2 Samuel 13:18; Esther 2:2,17,19; Psalm 45:15; Psalm 78:63; Lamentations 1:4; Lamentations 2:10; Lamentations 5:11; Ezekiel 44:22; Amos 8:13; בחורים ובתולות Psalm 148:12; Isaiah 23:4; Zechariah 9:17; Lamentations 1:18; Lamentations 2:21.

Topical Lexicon

Definition and Essential Sense

בְּתוּלָה denotes a young woman whose purity has not been violated. While the term often carries the overt sense of physical virginity, Scripture also elevates it to symbolize spiritual integrity and covenant fidelity. The word appears in narrative, legal, poetic, and prophetic texts, giving it broad theological weight.

Usage in Family and Legal Texts

1. Betrothal and Marriage
• Genesis 24:16 introduces Rebekah as “a virgin (betulah), no man had ever had relations with her,” establishing the moral qualifications for Isaac’s wife.
• Deuteronomy 22 delineates protection for the betulah: false accusations (22:13-19), seduction (22:28-29), and violation (22:23-27) each incur distinct penalties, underscoring the value of her purity and the sanctity of marriage.

2. Bride-Price and Inheritance

Exodus 22:16-17 requires a man who seduces an unbetrothed betulah to pay the bride-price even if the father refuses the marriage. The legislation safeguards both the woman’s dignity and the family’s honor.

Cultic and Ritual Dimensions

Leviticus 21 prescribes that a high priest must marry a betulah from his own people (21:13-15), linking priestly service to an unblemished household. The requirement mirrors the spotless offerings demanded in sacrificial worship, affirming that moral purity parallels ritual purity.

Prophetic Portraits of Zion and Surrounding Nations

1. Israel as the Virgin Daughter
• In lament, Jeremiah cries, “What can I say for you? … O daughter of Jerusalem, O virgin daughter of Zion!” (Lamentations 2:13). The title magnifies Judah’s original consecration to the LORD while grieving her subsequent defilement through idolatry.
• Amos 5:2 portrays tragic fall: “The virgin Israel has fallen; she lies forsaken on her own land, with no one to raise her up.” The imagery juxtaposes expected marital joy with catastrophic judgment.

2. Foreign Nations

Babylon is mockingly addressed: “Sit in silence… O daughter of the Chaldeans; you will no longer be called the lady of kingdoms” (Isaiah 47:1). The title “virgin daughter of Babylon” highlights impending humiliation for a power once thought inviolable.

Messianic and Soteriological Significance

Isaiah 7:14 is pivotal: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” The New Testament (Matthew 1:23) cites this prophecy regarding the conception of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. The deliberate choice of betulah in the Hebrew text accords with the divine sign’s uniqueness—God’s redemptive intervention enters history through a womb untouched by man.

Metaphorical and Poetic Uses

1. Celebration and Joy

“Then the young women will rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old together” (Jeremiah 31:13). Here betulot embody restored vitality in the promised New Covenant.

2. Death and Mourning

Psalm 148:12 summons “young men and maidens” to praise the LORD, implying that every life stage—even the expectant purity of maidens—belongs to God’s choir.

Historical and Cultural Background

In Ancient Near Eastern societies, a maiden’s virginity secured familial alliances and social stability. Scripture neither romanticizes nor commodifies this status but frames it within covenantal ethics. Guardianship obligations (Numbers 30) and the severe censure of those who prey upon betulot (Judges 19) reveal a counter-cultural protection of the vulnerable.

Occurrences Summary

Approximately fifty Old Testament verses employ betulah. Distribution:

• Pentateuch – Legal and family norms (Exodus 22; Leviticus 21; Deuteronomy 22).
• Historical Books – Narrative identity markers (Judges 21:12; 2 Samuel 13:2).
• Wisdom and Poetry – Liturgical invitation (Psalm 45:14; Psalm 148:12).
• Major Prophets – Sign and judgment oracles (Isaiah 7:14; Jeremiah 31:4).
• Minor Prophets – National lament (Amos 5:2).

Practical Ministry Application

1. Sanctity of the Body

Betulah admonishes believers to honor God with their bodies (compare 1 Corinthians 6:18-20), grounding sexual ethics in biblical revelation rather than cultural trends.

2. Faithful Anticipation

Just as the betulah awaits her bridegroom, the Church lives in vigilant purity for the return of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7-8).

3. Restorative Hope

Passages that mourn Israel’s lost virginity also proclaim renewal (Jeremiah 31:4): “I will build you up again, and you will be rebuilt, O virgin Israel.” Past failure does not nullify God’s capacity to restore holiness.

Conclusion

בְּתוּלָה intertwines personal purity, covenant obligation, prophetic promise, and eschatological hope. Whether denoting an individual maiden or an entire nation, the term directs the reader to God’s redemptive purpose—preserving, purifying, and ultimately presenting a people for Himself “holy and blameless” (Ephesians 1:4).

Forms and Transliterations

בְ֠תוּלָה בְּתֻלֹ֖ת בְּתֻלֽוֹת׃ בְּתוּל֑וֹת בְּתוּל֖וֹת בְּתוּל֣וֹת בְּתוּלַ֖ת בְּתוּלַ֣ת בְּתוּלַת֙ בְּתוּלָ֔ה בְּתוּלָ֕ה בְּתוּלָ֛ה בְּתוּלָ֥ה בְּתוּלָֽה׃ בְּתוּלָה֙ בְּתוּלֹ֖ת בְּתוּלֹ֗ת בְּתוּלֹתֶ֥יהָ בְּתוּלֹתַ֥י בְתוּלָ֔ה בְתוּלָ֖ה בְתוּלָה֙ בְתוּלֽוֹת׃ בתולה בתולה׃ בתולות בתולות׃ בתולת בתולתי בתולתיה בתלות׃ בתלת הַבְּתוּלָ֜ה הַבְּתוּלָה֙ הַבְּתוּלֹ֑ת הַבְּתוּלֹ֖ת הַבְּתוּלֹ֧ת הַבְּתוּלֹֽת׃ הבתולה הבתולת הבתולת׃ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו וּבְתוּלָ֖ה וּבְתוּלָֽה׃ וּבְתוּלָה֩ ובתולה ובתולה׃ ובתולתיו כִּבְתוּלָ֥ה כבתולה לִבְתוּלַ֖ת לבתולת bə·ṯū·lāh ḇə·ṯū·lāh bə·ṯū·laṯ bə·ṯū·lō·ṯay bə·ṯū·lō·ṯe·hā bə·ṯu·lō·wṯ bə·ṯū·lō·wṯ ḇə·ṯū·lō·wṯ bə·ṯu·lōṯ bə·ṯū·lōṯ betuLah bəṯūlāh ḇəṯūlāh betuLat bəṯūlaṯ betuLot bəṯulōṯ bəṯūlōṯ betuloTai bəṯūlōṯay bəṯūlōṯehā betuloTeiha bəṯulōwṯ bəṯūlōwṯ ḇəṯūlōwṯ hab·bə·ṯū·lāh hab·bə·ṯū·lōṯ habbetuLah habbəṯūlāh habbetuLot habbəṯūlōṯ kiḇ·ṯū·lāh kiḇṯūlāh kivtuLah liḇ·ṯū·laṯ liḇṯūlaṯ livtuLat ū·ḇə·ṯū·lāh ū·ḇə·ṯū·lō·ṯāw ūḇəṯūlāh ūḇəṯūlōṯāw uvetuLah uvetuloTav vetuLah vetuLot

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 24:16
HEB: מַרְאֶה֙ מְאֹ֔ד בְּתוּלָ֕ה וְאִ֖ישׁ לֹ֣א
NAS: beautiful, a virgin, and no
KJV: to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man
INT: upon was very A virgin man and no

Exodus 22:16
HEB: יְפַתֶּ֣ה אִ֗ישׁ בְּתוּלָ֛ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־
NAS: seduces a virgin who
KJV: entice a maid that is not betrothed,
INT: seduces A man A virgin who is not

Exodus 22:17
HEB: יִשְׁקֹ֔ל כְּמֹ֖הַר הַבְּתוּלֹֽת׃ ס
NAS: money equal to the dowry for virgins.
KJV: according to the dowry of virgins.
INT: shall pay to the dowry virgins

Leviticus 21:3
HEB: וְלַאֲחֹת֤וֹ הַבְּתוּלָה֙ הַקְּרוֹבָ֣ה אֵלָ֔יו
NAS: also for his virgin sister,
KJV: And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh
INT: sister his virgin is near to him

Leviticus 21:14
HEB: כִּ֛י אִם־ בְּתוּלָ֥ה מֵעַמָּ֖יו יִקַּ֥ח
NAS: he is to marry a virgin of his own people,
KJV: but he shall take a virgin of his own people
INT: for lo A virgin people marry

Deuteronomy 22:19
HEB: רָ֔ע עַ֖ל בְּתוּלַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֽוֹ־
NAS: defamed a virgin of Israel.
KJV: name upon a virgin of Israel:
INT: an evil and A virgin of Israel shall remain

Deuteronomy 22:23
HEB: (נַעֲרָ֣ה ק) בְתוּלָ֔ה מְאֹרָשָׂ֖ה לְאִ֑ישׁ
NAS: there is a girl who is a virgin engaged
KJV: If a damsel [that is] a virgin be betrothed
INT: become damsel virgin engaged to a man

Deuteronomy 22:28
HEB: (נַעֲרָ֤ה ק) בְתוּלָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־
NAS: a girl who is a virgin, who
KJV: a damsel [that is] a virgin, which is not betrothed,
INT: A man damsel virgin who is not

Deuteronomy 32:25
HEB: בָּחוּר֙ גַּם־ בְּתוּלָ֔ה יוֹנֵ֖ק עִם־
NAS: young man and virgin, The nursling
KJV: both the young man and the virgin, the suckling
INT: young again and virgin the nursling with

Judges 19:24
HEB: הִנֵּה֩ בִתִּ֨י הַבְּתוּלָ֜ה וּפִֽילַגְשֵׁ֗הוּ אוֹצִֽיאָה־
NAS: Here is my virgin daughter
KJV: Behold, [here is] my daughter a maiden, and his concubine;
INT: Here daughter is my virgin and his concubine bring

Judges 21:12
HEB: מֵאוֹת֙ נַעֲרָ֣ה בְתוּלָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־
NAS: 400young virgins who had not known
KJV: young virgins, that had known
INT: hundred young virgins who had not

2 Samuel 13:2
HEB: אֲחֹת֔וֹ כִּ֥י בְתוּלָ֖ה הִ֑יא וַיִּפָּלֵא֙
NAS: that he made himself ill, for she was a virgin, and it seemed hard
KJV: Tamar; for she [was] a virgin; and Amnon
INT: of his sister for was a virgin and it seemed

2 Samuel 13:18
HEB: בְנוֹת־ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ הַבְּתוּלֹ֖ת מְעִילִ֑ים וַיֹּצֵ֨א
NAS: for in this manner the virgin daughters
KJV: daughters [that were] virgins apparelled.
INT: daughters of the king the virgin robes took

1 Kings 1:2
HEB: הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ נַעֲרָ֣ה בְתוּלָ֔ה וְעָֽמְדָה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י
NAS: a young virgin for my lord
KJV: a young virgin: and let her stand
INT: the king A young virgin her stand before

2 Kings 19:21
HEB: לָעֲגָ֣ה לְךָ֗ בְּתוּלַת֙ בַּת־ צִיּ֔וֹן
NAS: you and mocked you, The virgin daughter
KJV: hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter
INT: has despised and mocked the virgin daughter of Zion

2 Chronicles 36:17
HEB: עַל־ בָּח֥וּר וּבְתוּלָ֖ה זָקֵ֣ן וְיָשֵׁ֑שׁ
NAS: on young man or virgin, old man
KJV: upon young man or maiden, old man,
INT: against men virgin old infirm

Esther 2:2
HEB: לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ נְעָר֥וֹת בְּתוּל֖וֹת טוֹב֥וֹת מַרְאֶֽה׃
NAS: young virgins be sought
KJV: young virgins sought
INT: the king young virgins beautiful apparently

Esther 2:3
HEB: כָּל־ נַעֲרָֽה־ בְ֠תוּלָה טוֹבַ֨ת מַרְאֶ֜ה
NAS: young virgin to the citadel
KJV: young virgins unto Shushan
INT: every young virgin beautiful apparently

Esther 2:17
HEB: לְפָנָ֖יו מִכָּל־ הַבְּתוּלֹ֑ת וַיָּ֤שֶׂם כֶּֽתֶר־
NAS: all the virgins, so that he set
KJV: in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set
INT: his sight all the virgins set crown

Esther 2:19
HEB: וּבְהִקָּבֵ֥ץ בְּתוּל֖וֹת שֵׁנִ֑ית וּמָרְדֳּכַ֖י
NAS: When the virgins were gathered
KJV: And when the virgins were gathered together
INT: were gathered the virgins the second Mordecai

Job 31:1
HEB: אֶ֝תְבּוֹנֵ֗ן עַל־ בְּתוּלָֽה׃
NAS: How then could I gaze at a virgin?
KJV: why then should I think upon a maid?
INT: gaze and maid

Psalm 45:14
HEB: תּוּבַ֪ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ
NAS: in embroidered work; The virgins, her companions
KJV: in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions
INT: will be led to the King the virgins follow her companions

Psalm 78:63
HEB: אָֽכְלָה־ אֵ֑שׁ וּ֝בְתוּלֹתָ֗יו לֹ֣א הוּלָּֽלוּ׃
NAS: His young men, And His virgins had no
KJV: their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
INT: devoured Fire and his virgins had no wedding

Psalm 148:12
HEB: בַּחוּרִ֥ים וְגַם־ בְּתוּל֑וֹת זְ֝קֵנִ֗ים עִם־
NAS: Both young men and virgins; Old men
KJV: Both young men, and maidens; old men,
INT: young again and virgins Old with

Isaiah 23:4
HEB: בַּחוּרִ֖ים רוֹמַ֥מְתִּי בְתוּלֽוֹת׃
NAS: up young men [nor] reared virgins.
KJV: young men, [nor] bring up virgins.
INT: young reared virgins

50 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1330
50 Occurrences

bə·ṯū·lāh — 8 Occ.
bə·ṯū·laṯ — 12 Occ.
bə·ṯū·lō·wṯ — 8 Occ.
bə·ṯū·lō·ṯay — 2 Occ.
bə·ṯū·lō·ṯe·hā — 1 Occ.
hab·bə·ṯū·lāh — 2 Occ.
hab·bə·ṯū·lōṯ — 4 Occ.
kiḇ·ṯū·lāh — 1 Occ.
liḇ·ṯū·laṯ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ṯū·lāh — 3 Occ.
ū·ḇə·ṯū·lō·ṯāw — 1 Occ.
ḇə·ṯū·lāh — 6 Occ.
ḇə·ṯū·lō·wṯ — 1 Occ.