King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 22:21 Mean?

Deuteronomy 22:21 in the King James Version says “Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with sto...” — study this verse from Deuteronomy chapter 22 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.”

Deuteronomy 22:21 · KJV

Context

19

And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.

20

But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:

21

Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.

22

If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

23

If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;

Read Deuteronomy 22 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die—the death penalty for proven premarital unchastity, executed at the father's house to symbolize familial shame. Saqal ba-'avanim (סָקַל בָּאֲבָנִים, "stone with stones") was Israel's standard capital punishment method, requiring community participation and public witness.

Because she hath wrought folly in Israel—nevalah (נְבָלָה, "folly") denotes morally outrageous conduct, covenant-breaking wickedness that threatens community integrity (Genesis 34:7; Joshua 7:15). To play the whore in her father's house—liznot (לִזְנוֹת, "to play the whore") emphasizes the sin occurred while under parental authority, compounding the offense. So shalt thou put evil away from among you—bi'arta ha-ra' (בִעַרְתָּ הָרָע, "purge the evil") is Deuteronomy's repeated formula for capital punishment, emphasizing communal holiness through removing covenant-breakers.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This severe penalty reflects several realities: (1) premarital sex violated covenant standards of sexual purity symbolizing Israel's exclusive relationship with Yahweh, (2) the deception entering marriage under false pretenses broke covenant faith, (3) the father's household bore responsibility for the daughter's conduct, (4) communal holiness required removing persistent covenant-breakers. The New Testament's mercy toward the adulterous woman (John 8:1-11) doesn't nullify God's hatred of sin but reveals Christ bearing the penalty sinners deserve, fulfilling the law's demands through substitutionary atonement. Modern Christians rightly emphasize redemption over execution while affirming the law's testimony to sin's seriousness.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the severity of this punishment reveal the seriousness of sexual sin as covenant-breaking rather than mere private behavior?
  2. How does Christ's mercy toward sexual sinners (John 8:1-11) fulfill rather than contradict the law's demand for holiness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וְהוֹצִ֨יאוּ1 of 22

“Then they shall bring out”

H3318

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

אֶת2 of 22
H853

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

הַֽנַּעֲרָ֜3 of 22

“the damsel”

H5291

a girl (from infancy to adolescence)

אֶל4 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

פֶּ֣תַח5 of 22

“to the door”

H6607

an opening (literally), i.e., door (gate) or entrance way

בֵּ֣ית6 of 22

“house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

אָבִ֑יהָ7 of 22

“in her father's”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

וּסְקָלוּהָ֩8 of 22

“shall stone”

H5619

properly, to be weighty; but used only in the sense of lapidation or its contrary (as if a delapidation)

אַנְשֵׁ֨י9 of 22
H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

עִירָ֤הּ10 of 22

“of her city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

בָּֽאֲבָנִים֙11 of 22

“her with stones”

H68

a stone

וָמֵ֔תָה12 of 22

“that she die”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

כִּֽי13 of 22
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

עָשְׂתָ֤ה14 of 22

“because she hath wrought”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

נְבָלָה֙15 of 22

“folly”

H5039

foolishness, i.e., (morally) wickedness; concretely, a crime; by extension, punishment

בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל16 of 22

“in Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

לִזְנ֖וֹת17 of 22

“to play the whore”

H2181

to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (

בֵּ֣ית18 of 22

“house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

אָבִ֑יהָ19 of 22

“in her father's”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

וּבִֽעַרְתָּ֥20 of 22

“away”

H1197

to be(-come) brutish

הָרָ֖ע21 of 22

“evil”

H7451

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

מִקִּרְבֶּֽךָ׃22 of 22

“from among”

H7130

properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)

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 22:21 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 22:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Deuteronomy 13:5Genesis 34:7Judges 20:6Judges 20:10Deuteronomy 19:19Leviticus 21:9

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