What is the meaning of Deuteronomy 22:28? If a man encounters a virgin • Scripture pictures an unexpected meeting—no prior arrangement, no courtship. • The young woman’s virginity highlights her purity and the value God places on sexual integrity (Deuteronomy 22:13–15; 2 Corinthians 11:2). • The passage reminds every generation that God sees every chance encounter and calls men to self-control, not opportunism (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5; Proverbs 6:32). who is not pledged in marriage • Because she is unbetrothed, she has no fiancé to defend her; the responsibility for her protection rests with her family and community (Exodus 22:16-17). • By distinguishing her from a betrothed woman (see Deuteronomy 22:23-27), the law shows that different circumstances call for different remedies, but in every case God defends the vulnerable. • Even today, the principle stands: society must safeguard those who cannot safeguard themselves (James 1:27). and he seizes her • The verb signals force; the act is no mere seduction but a violation (Genesis 34:2; 2 Samuel 13:11-14). • God’s law never excuses coercion. Throughout Scripture, power used to exploit is condemned (Isaiah 10:1-2; Colossians 3:25). • This clause exposes the lie that “consenting adults” is the only moral standard. Consent matters, yet God’s standard is higher: sex belongs within covenant marriage alone. and lies with her • Sexual union creates a one-flesh bond (1 Corinthians 6:16; Genesis 2:24). When that bond is forged outside marriage, it brings guilt, shame, and practical consequences. • In Israel, such an act triggered legal restitution (the next verse requires a fifty-shekel bride price and lifelong marriage, Deuteronomy 22:29). • The New Testament equally warns believers to “flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18), showing that the moral principle transcends covenants. and they are discovered • Sin may be hidden for a season, but “nothing is concealed that will not be revealed” (Luke 12:2-3; Numbers 32:23). • Discovery moves the matter from private shame to public justice, ensuring the man cannot escape accountability. • The father, elders, and community now step in, modeling godly authority that protects and restores (Deuteronomy 22:18; Matthew 18:15-17). summary Deuteronomy 22:28 sets forth God’s protective concern for unmarried women, condemns sexual aggression, and establishes restitution when purity is violated. The law holds the man fully responsible, safeguards the woman’s future, and warns every generation that God sees, judges, and provides a path toward justice. |
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