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

9By following these instructions, you will do what is right in the Lord’s sight and will cleanse the guilt of murder from your community. 10“Suppose you go out to war against your enemies and the Lord your God hands them over to you, and you take some of them as captives. And suppose you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you are attracted to her and want to marry her. 12If this happens, you may take her to your home, where she must shave her head, cut her nails, 13and change the clothes she was wearing when she was captured. She will stay in your home, but let her mourn for her father and mother for a full month. Then you may marry her, and 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 the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives.
• Genesis 12:14And sure enough, when Abram arrived in Egypt, everyone noticed Sarai’s beauty.
• Genesis 29:18Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father, “I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel, your younger daughter, as my wife.”
• Genesis 34:3But then he fell in love with her, and he tried to win her affection with tender words.
• Judges 14:2When he returned home, he told his father and mother, “A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.”
• Proverbs 6:25Don’t lust for her beauty. Don’t let her coy glances seduce you.
• Proverbs 31:10Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies.
• Numbers 31:18Only the young girls who are virgins may live; 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