Exo 22:16-17 | NET2full | STEP | “ If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged and goes to bed with her, he must surely pay the marriage price for her to be his wife .

‏ Exodus 22:16-17

Moral and Ceremonial Laws

16 ^{▼▼sn The second half of the chapter records various laws of purity and justice. Any of them could be treated in an expository way, but in the present array they offer a survey of God’s righteous standards: Maintain the sanctity of marriage (16-17); maintain the purity of religious institutions (18-20), maintain the rights of human beings (21-28), maintain the rights of Yahweh (29-31).} “If a man seduces a virgin ^{▼▼tn This is the word בְּתוּלָה (betulah); it describes a young woman who is not married or a young woman engaged to be married; in any case, she is presumed to be a virgin.} who is not engaged ^{▼▼tn Or “pledged” for marriage.} and goes to bed ^{▼▼tn Heb “lied down with.” The verb שָׁכַב (shakav) “to lie down” can imply going to bed to sleep or be a euphemism for sexual relations.} with her, he must surely pay the marriage price ^{▼▼tn The verb מָהַר (mahar) means “pay the marriage price,” and the related noun is the bride price. B. Jacob says this was a proposal gift and not a purchase price (Exodus, 700). This is the price paid to her parents, which allowed for provision should there be a divorce. The amount was usually agreed on by the two families, but the price was higher for a pure bride from a noble family. Here, the one who seduces her must pay it, regardless of whether he marries her or not.} for her to be his wife. 17 If her father refuses to give her to him, he must pay money for the bride price of virgins.