Deuteronomy 21:12

Deuteronomy 21:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;
• English Standard Version (ESV)and you bring her home to your house, she shall shave her head and pare her nails.
• New King James Version (NKJV)then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head and trim her nails.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If this happens, you may take her to your home, where she must shave her head, cut her nails,

Context of Deuteronomy 21:12

10When you go to war against your enemies and the Lord your God delivers them into your hands and you take captives, 11if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails 13and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. 14If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.

Deuteronomy 21:12 word by word

וַהֲבֵאתָ֖הּ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וְגִלְּחָה֙ אֶת־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וְעָשְׂתָ֖ה אֶת־צִפָּרְנֶֽיהָ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then thou shalt bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• her homeתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
• to thine houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• and she shall shaveגָּלַחgâlach · to shaveH1548
• her headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• and pareעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• her nailsצִפֹּ֫רֶןtsippôren · fingernailH6856

Cross-references for Deuteronomy 21:12

• 1 Corinthians 11:6For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
• Ephesians 4:22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

Commentaries on Deuteronomy 21:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12She shall shave her head - This was in token of her renouncing her religion, and becoming a proselyte to that of the Jews. This is still a custom in the East; when a Christian turns Mohammedan his head is shaven, and he is carried through the city crying, la alahila allah we Mohammed resooli Allah ; "There is no God but God, and Mohammed is the prophet of God." Pare her nails - צפרניה את ועשתה veasethah eth tsipporneyha, "she shall make her nails." Now…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The shaving the head (a customary sign of purification, Leviticus 14:8; Numbers 8:7), and the putting away “the garment of her captivity,” were designed to signify the translation of the woman from the state of a pagan and a slave to that of a wife among the covenant-people. Consistency required that she should “pare” (dress, compare 2 Samuel 19:24), not “suffer to grow,” her nails; and thus, so far as possible, lay aside everything belonging to her…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
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Shaving her head and cutting her nails showed that the captive woman was leaving her home and family behind. These actions marked her separation from her past life. By doing this, she prepared to join a new family and a new community. These actions symbolized that she was beginning a different stage of life.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 21:12

• Concubinage
• Divorce
• Marriage
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Concubine
• Controversy
• Crucifixion
• Divers
• Mourn
• Nail
• Rebellious
• Wrought
• Atonement, Day of
• Beard

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