Deuteronomy 21:11

Deuteronomy 21:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;
• New International Version (NIV)if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife.
• English Standard Version (ESV)and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you desire to take her to be your wife,
• New King James Version (NKJV)and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and desire her and would take her for your wife,

Context of Deuteronomy 21:11

9In this way, you will not be guilty of the murder. You will remove this evil act from among you. You must do what the Lord says is right. 10When you go to fight a battle against your enemies, the Lord your God will give you power over them. You will take some of them as prisoners. You may see among them a beautiful woman that you want to take as your wife. 12Then you must bring her into your home. She must cut the hair off her head. She must cut her fingernails. 13She must change the clothes that she was wearing when you found her. Let her live in your house and weep for her parents for a whole month. Then you may have sex with her. You will be her husband and she will be your wife.

Deuteronomy 21:11 word by word

וְרָאִיתָ֙ בַּשִּׁבְיָ֔ה אֵ֖שֶׁת יְפַת־תֹּ֑אַר וְחָשַׁקְתָּ֣ בָ֔הּ וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ לְךָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And seestרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• among the captivesשִׁבְיָהshibyâh · captiveH7633
• a beautifulיָפֶהyâpheh · beautifulH3303
• a beautifulתֹּ֫אַרtô'ar · appearanceH8389
• womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• and hast a desireחָשַׁקchâshaq · to desireH2836
• unto her, that thou wouldest have herלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• to thy wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 21:11

• Genesis 6:2The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful. They chose for themselves any of them that they wanted to become their wives.
• Genesis 12:14When Abram arrived in Egypt, the people saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman.
• Genesis 29:18Jacob loved Rachel. He said to Laban, ‘I will work for you for seven years. In return, I want to marry your younger daughter, Rachel.’
• Genesis 34:3He liked Dinah very much. He loved her. He spoke kind words to her so that she would love him too.
• Judges 14:2When he returned home, he said to his father and mother, ‘I have seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah and I want to marry her. Please get her for me as my wife.’
• Proverbs 6:25Do not keep thinking how beautiful her body is. Do not let her use her eyes like a trap to catch you.
• Proverbs 31:10How difficult it is to find a wife who is truly wise! She is worth much more than valuable jewels.
• Numbers 31:18But as for the girls who have not had sex with a man, you may keep them for yourselves.’

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11And seest - a beautiful woman - No forcible possession was allowed even in this case, when the woman was taken in war, and was, by the general consent of ancient nations, adjudged as a part of the spoils. The person to whose lot or share such a woman as is here described fell, might, if he chose, have her for a wife on certain conditions; but he was not permitted to use her under any inferior character.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-14Verses 10-14 By this law a soldier was allowed to marry his captive, if he pleased. This might take place upon some occasions; but the law does not show any approval of it. It also intimates how binding the laws of justice and honour are in marriage; which is a sacred engagement.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-2310-14. When thou goest to war ... and seest among the captives a beautiful woman ... that thou wouldest have her to thy wife--According to the war customs of all ancient nations, a female captive became the slave of the victor, who had the sole and unchallengeable control of right to her person. Moses improved this existing usage by special regulations on the subject. He enacted that, in the event that her master was captivated by her beauty and…Read the comment

Topics related to Deuteronomy 21:11

• Concubinage
• Divorce
• Marriage
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Concubine
• Controversy
• Crucifixion
• Divers
• Rebellious
• Wrought
• Atonement, Day of
• Criticism
• Deuteronomy
• Exodus, the Book of

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings