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

9This is how you will get rid of the guilt of an unsolved murder by doing what the Lord considers right. 10When you go to war with your enemies and the Lord your God hands them over to you, you may take them captive. If you see a beautiful woman among the captives and have your heart set on her, you may marry her. 12Bring her into your home. She must shave her head, cut her nails, 13and no longer wear the clothes she was wearing when you captured her. Then she may live in your house and mourn ⌞the loss of⌟ her father and mother for one month. After that, you may sleep with her. Then you will become husband and 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 other humans were beautiful. So they married any woman they chose.
• Genesis 12:14When Abram arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians saw how very beautiful his wife was.
• Genesis 29:18Jacob loved Rachel. So he offered, “I’ll work seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”
• Genesis 34:3He became very fond of Jacob’s daughter Dinah. He loved the girl and spoke tenderly to her.
• Judges 14:2He went ⌞home⌟ and told his father and mother, “I’ve seen a Philistine woman at Timnah. Now get her for me so that I can marry her.”
• Proverbs 6:25Do not desire her beauty in your heart. Do not let her catch you with her eyes.
• Proverbs 31:10“Who can find a wife with a strong character? She is worth far more than jewels.
• Numbers 31:18But save for yourselves every girl who has never gone to bed with a man.

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