What are the consequences outlined in Deuteronomy 22:20 for false accusations? Setting the Scene Deuteronomy 22:13-21 describes an Israelite husband who charges his new bride with immorality. Elders investigate the matter: - If he is proven a liar, he is punished (vv. 18-19). - If the charge is proven true—meaning the young woman’s claim to purity was false—verse 20 spells out her fate. The Text Itself “But if this accusation is true, and no proof of the girl’s virginity can be found…” (Deuteronomy 22:20) Consequences for the False Claim Because the bride’s own testimony about her purity was false, three immediate results follow (v. 21): - She is taken to “the door of her father’s house”—the very place where she had lived under parental authority. - The men of her city “stone her to death,” a capital sentence reserved for the gravest offenses (cf. Leviticus 20:10). - Israel is commanded to “purge the evil” from among them, removing both the sin of sexual immorality and the deceit that tried to hide it (see also Deuteronomy 13:5). Why Such Severity? - False testimony undermines covenant community trust (Exodus 20:16). - Sexual impurity threatened the holiness God required of His people (Leviticus 19:2). - Public execution at her father’s doorway underscored the family’s role in fostering righteousness (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Related Passages on False Witness - Proverbs 19:5 — “A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.” - Proverbs 6:16-19 lists “a lying tongue” and “a false witness” among seven abominations. - Revelation 21:8 warns that “all liars” face ultimate judgment. Takeaway for Today God treats deceit—especially accusations that distort truth—as deadly serious. While New-Covenant believers no longer administer Mosaic capital penalties, the principle remains: integrity matters, purity matters, and God expects His people to deal decisively with falsehood (Ephesians 4:25). |
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