Deuteronomy 22:30
28 If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered,
29 then the man who lay with her must pay the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she must become his wife because he has violated her. He must not divorce her as long as he lives.
A man is not to marry his father’s wife, so that he will not dishonor his father’s marriage bed.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A man is not to marry his father’s wife, so that he will not dishonor his father’s marriage bed.
- KJV
- A man shall not take his father’s wife, nor discover his father’s skirt.
- WEB
- A man shall not take his father’s wife, and shall not uncover his father’s skirt.
- ASV
- A man shall not take his father`s wife, and shall not uncover his father`s skirt.
- DARBY
- A man shall not take his father's wife, nor uncover his father's skirt.
- BLB
- A man shall not take the wife of his father, and he shall not uncover the skirt of his father.
- ÅB
- Ingen må ekte sin stedmor eller søke seng med henne.
- OTB
- En mann skal ikke gifte seg med sin fars kone, for det ville vanære hans fars seng.
- B1930
- Ingen må ekte sin stedmor eller søke seng med henne.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 27:20
‘Cursed is he who sleeps with his father’s wife, for he has violated his father’s marriage bed.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
Read in contextLeviticus 18:8
You must not have sexual relations with your father’s wife; it would dishonor your father.
Read in context1 Corinthians 5:1
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.
Read in contextLeviticus 20:11
If a man lies with his father’s wife, he has uncovered his father’s nakedness. Both must surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
Read in contextEzekiel 16:8
Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD.
Read in contextRuth 3:9
“Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are a kinsman-redeemer.”
Read in context1 Corinthians 5:13
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
Read in context