Rape, a grievous sin and violation of God's moral law, is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible. It is an act that not only inflicts physical and emotional harm on the victim but also disrupts the social and spiritual fabric of the community. The Bible unequivocally condemns such acts, emphasizing the sanctity of human dignity and the importance of justice.

Old Testament References

1. Genesis 34:1-2: The account of Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, illustrates the severity of rape. "Now Dinah, the daughter Leah had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the daughters of the land. When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the region, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force." This incident led to significant repercussions, including the violent retaliation by Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, highlighting the gravity of the offense.

2. Deuteronomy 22:25-27: The Mosaic Law provides specific instructions regarding rape, particularly in cases where a woman is attacked in the countryside. "But if the man encounters an engaged woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and rapes her, only the man who has done this must die. Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin deserving of death. This case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor." This passage underscores the innocence of the victim and the culpability of the perpetrator.

3. 2 Samuel 13:1-14: The tragic account of Tamar, the daughter of King David, further illustrates the personal and familial devastation caused by rape. Amnon, her half-brother, deceives and violates her, leading to long-lasting consequences within David's household. "But when she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, 'Come, lie with me, my sister!' 'No, my brother!' she cried. 'Do not humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!'"

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly recount instances of rape, the teachings of Jesus and the apostles emphasize the inherent worth and dignity of every individual. The call to love one's neighbor (Matthew 22:39) and the recognition of the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) implicitly condemn any form of sexual violence, including rape.

Theological and Ethical Considerations

From a theological perspective, rape is a profound violation of the imago Dei—the image of God in which every human being is created (Genesis 1:27). It is an affront to God's design for human relationships, which are meant to reflect love, respect, and mutual honor. The Bible's call for justice and righteousness demands that such acts be addressed with seriousness and that victims be treated with compassion and care.

Justice and Restoration

The biblical mandate for justice requires that perpetrators be held accountable for their actions. The law given to Israel served as a deterrent and a means of protecting the vulnerable. Moreover, the Christian community is called to be a place of healing and restoration for those who have suffered from such violence, offering support and advocating for justice in accordance with biblical principles.

In summary, the Bible's treatment of rape is clear in its condemnation of the act and its call for justice and compassion for victims. The Scriptures provide a framework for understanding the seriousness of this sin and the necessity of upholding the dignity and worth of every individual.1. (n.) Fruit, as grapes, plucked from the cluster.

2. (n.) The refuse stems and skins of grapes or raisins from which the must has been expressed in wine making.

3. (n.) A filter containing the above refuse, used in clarifying and perfecting malt, vinegar, etc.

4. (n.) The act of seizing and carrying away by force; violent seizure; robbery.

5. (n.) Sexual connection with a woman without her consent. See Age of consent, under Consent, n.

6. (n.) That which is snatched away.

7. (n.) Movement, as in snatching; haste; hurry.

8. (v. t.) To commit rape upon; to ravish.

9. (v. i.) To rob; to pillage.

10. (n.) One of six divisions of the county of Sussex, England, intermediate between a hundred and a shire.

11. (n.) A name given to a variety or to varieties of a plant of the turnip kind, grown for seeds and herbage. The seeds are used for the production of rape oil, and to a limited extent for the food of cage birds.

RAPE

rap. See CRIMES; PUNISHMENTS.

Whether Rape is a Species of Lust, Distinct from Seduction?
... OF THE PARTS OF LUST (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether rape is a species of lust,
distinct from seduction? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether rape is a species.htm

Of the Rape of the Sabine Women, and Other Iniquities Perpetrated ...
... Book II. Chapter 17."Of the Rape of the Sabine Women, and Other Iniquities
Perpetrated in Rome's Palmiest Days. But possibly we ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 17 of the rape of.htm

Whether Sacrilege Can be a Species of Lust?
... If the maiden be under her father's authority, it will be spiritual seduction; and
if force be employed it will be spiritual rape, which kind of rape even the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether sacrilege can be a.htm

Whether the Unnatural vice is the Greatest Sin among the Species ...
... Now adultery, seduction and rape which are injurious to our neighbor are seemingly
more contrary to the love of our neighbor, than unnatural sins, by which no ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the unnatural vice is 2.htm

Whether Theft and Robbery are Sins of Different Species?
... x) that "he who commits a rape is called a corrupter, and the victim of the rape
is said to be corrupted." Now it is a case of rape whether the woman be ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether theft and robbery are.htm

Gradual Development of Custom, and Its Results. Passionate Appeal ...
... marketable creatures, dragged into the church, blushing at being recognised in public,
quaking at being unveiled, as if they had been invited as it were to rape ...
/.../on the veiling of virgins/chapter iii gradual development of custom.htm

Whether Six Species are Fittingly Assigned to Lust?
... Objection 1: It would seem that six species are unfittingly assigned to lust, namely,
"simple fornication, adultery, incest, seduction, rape, and the unnatural ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether six species are fittingly.htm

Whether a Constant Man Can be Compelled by Fear?
... less grievous than certain others; and chief among them are those which relate to
the person, such as death, blows, the stain resulting from rape, and slavery. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether a constant man can.htm

Chapter xxxix
... The verb "to make sport of" (tsa (ch) cheq) is also euphemistic here
(v.17) as above in v.14 and implies attempted rape. Above (v ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxix.htm

The Flag of the World
... His act is worse (symbolically considered) than any rape or dynamite outrage. ... There
often are for rape, and there almost always are for dynamite. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/v the flag of the.htm

Rape
... 8. (vt) To commit rape upon; to ravish. ... The seeds are used for the production of
rape oil, and to a limited extent for the food of cage birds. Int. ...
/r/rape.htm - 7k

Raped (6 Occurrences)

/r/raped.htm - 8k

Violation (6 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Interruption, as of sleep or peace; disturbance. 5. (n.) Ravishment; rape;
outrage. Multi-Version Concordance Violation (6 Occurrences). ...
/v/violation.htm - 8k

Violate (14 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To disturb; to interrupt. 4. (vt) To commit rape on; to ravish; to
outrage. Multi-Version Concordance Violate (14 Occurrences). ...
/v/violate.htm - 10k

Violence (98 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) Ravishment; rape. 4. (vt) To assault; to injure; also, to bring by violence;
to compel. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. VIOLENCE, VIOLENT. ...
/v/violence.htm - 38k

Oppression (67 Occurrences)
... spirits; an oppression of the lungs. 4. (n.) Ravishment; rape. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. OPPRESSION. o-presh'-un: Used in ...
/o/oppression.htm - 29k

Force (250 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) To do violence to; to overpower, or to compel by violence to one's will;
especially, to ravish; to violate; to commit rape upon. 12. ...
/f/force.htm - 40k

Ravish (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To transport with joy or delight; to delight to ecstasy. 3. (vt) To have
carnal knowledge of (a woman) by force, and against her consent; to rape. ...
/r/ravish.htm - 7k

Rapine (5 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of plundering; the seizing and carrying away by force; spoliation;
pillage; plunder. 2. (n.) Ravishment; rape. 3. (vt) To plunder. ...
/r/rapine.htm - 8k

Rapacity (2 Occurrences)

/r/rapacity.htm - 7k

What is rape culture? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about rape? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about spousal/marital rape? | GotQuestions.org

Rape: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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