King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 22:14 Mean?

Deuteronomy 22:14 in the King James Version says “And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I cam... — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 22 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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:

Deuteronomy 22:14 · KJV


Context

12

Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself. quarters: Heb. wings

13

If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,

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:

15

Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:

16

And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;


Commentary

KJV Study 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.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural 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.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's law address both the sin of sexual immorality and the sin of false accusation as equally destructive?
  2. What does this passage teach about the power of words to destroy reputations and the responsibility to speak truthfully?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וְשָׂ֥ם1 of 19

And give

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

לָהּ֙2 of 19
H0
עֲלִילֹ֣ת3 of 19

occasions

H5949

an exploit (of god), or a performance (of man, often in a bad sense); by implication, an opportunity

דְּבָרִ֔ים4 of 19

of speech

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

וְהוֹצִ֥א5 of 19

against her and bring up

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

עָלֶ֖יהָ6 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

שֵׁ֣ם7 of 19

name

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

רָ֑ע8 of 19

an evil

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

וְאָמַ֗ר9 of 19

upon her and say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶת10 of 19
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָֽאִשָּׁ֤ה11 of 19

this woman

H802

a woman

הַזֹּאת֙12 of 19
H2063

this (often used adverb)

לָקַ֔חְתִּי13 of 19

I took

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

וָֽאֶקְרַ֣ב14 of 19

and when I came

H7126

to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose

אֵלֶ֔יהָ15 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וְלֹֽא16 of 19
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

מָצָ֥אתִי17 of 19

to her I found

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

לָ֖הּ18 of 19
H0
בְּתוּלִֽים׃19 of 19

her not a maid

H1331

(collectively and abstractly) virginity; by implication and concretely, the tokens of it


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 22:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Deuteronomy 22:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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