Deu 21:11-13 | NET2full | STEP | if you should see among them an attractive woman whom you wish to take as a wife ,

‏ Deuteronomy 21:11-13

11 if you should see among them ^{▼▼tn Heb “the prisoners.” The pronoun has been used in the translation for stylistic reasons, to avoid redundancy.} an attractive woman whom you wish to take as a wife, 12 you may bring her back to your house. She must shave her head, ^{▼▼sn This requirement for the woman to shave her head may symbolize the putting away of the old life and customs in preparation for being numbered among the people of the Lord. The same is true for the two following requirements.} trim her nails, 13 discard the clothing she was wearing when captured, ^{▼▼tn Heb “she is to…remove the clothing of her captivity” (cf. NASB); NRSV “discard her captive’s garb.”} and stay ^{▼▼tn Heb “sit”; KJV, NASB, NRSV “remain.”} in your house, lamenting for her father and mother for a full month. After that you may sleep with her ^{▼▼tn The verb בּוֹא (boʾ; “to come”) with the preposition אֶל (ʾel; “to”) means “to approach, to come to” (HALOT 113 s.v. בּוֹא) and is a euphemism for coming together for sexual relations. A clearer euphemism has been used for the translation than the more literal “get together with.” See the note at 2 Sam 12:24 on this phrase being only a euphemism.} and become her husband and she your wife.