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Leviticus 19:20

in Leviticus 19

If a man lies carnally with a slave girl promised to another man but who has not been redeemed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. But they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to a husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; they shall be punished; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.

KJV

And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.

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This verse in Leviticus 19

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

A woman that is a bondmaid - Had she been free, the law required that she should be put to death; (see Deu 22:24); but as she was a slave, she is supposed to have less self-command, and therefore less guilt: but as it is taken for granted she did not make resistance, or did consent, she is to be scourged, and the man is to bring a ram for a trespass-offering.

This site's exposition

whosoever lieth carnally with a woman

on Leviticus 19:20-22

This is the only ruling in the chapter written as a legal case, with a situation, a penalty and a remedy. The woman is a bondmaid betrothed and not yet redeemed, and the outcome turns on her status, since the death sentence Leviticus 20:10 attaches to adultery is withheld here because she was not free. The word rendered scourged is read by some as a formal inquiry into the case rather than a beating, and the commentators differ over which it is and over who bears it. The man brings a ram to the door of the tabernacle, and these are the only verses in the chapter that send anyone to the altar.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

It was for the honour of marriage, though but begun by betrothing, that the crime should be punished; but it was for the honour of freedom that it should not be punished as the debauching of a free woman was, so great was the difference then made between bond and free ( Gal. iv. 30 ); but the gospel of Christ knows no such distinction, Col. iii.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Betrothed to an husband - Rather, who has been betrothed to a man. The reference appears to be to a bondwoman who has been betrothed to a fellow-servant by her master. Death was the punishment for unfaithfulness in a betrothed woman in other cases. Compare Deu 22:23-24. She shall be scourged - Or, They shall be chastized (see the margin). The trespass-offering was especially due from the man as having not only sinned with the woman, but inflicted an injury on the rights of the master.

The words behind it

26 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וְ֠אִישׁand a man

    veishH376 →1663 times

  • כִּֽי־if

    ki-H3588 →4482 times

  • יִשְׁכַּ֨בhe will lie with

    yishkavH7901 →212 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • אִשָּׁ֜הa woman

    ʾishahH802 →781 times

  • שִׁכְבַת־a laying of

    shikhvat-H7902 →9 times

  • זֶ֗רַעseed

    zera'H2233 →229 times

  • וְהִ֤ואand she

    vehiv'H1931 →1879 times

  • שִׁפְחָה֙[is] a female slave

    shifchahH8198 →

  • נֶחֱרֶ֣פֶתintended

    necherefetH2778 →

  • לְאִ֔ישׁfor a man

    leishH376 →1663 times

  • וְהָפְדֵּה֙and certainly <to be released>

    vehafedehH6299 →59 times

  • לֹ֣אnot

    lo'H3808 →5168 times

  • נִפְדָּ֔תָהshe had been released

    nifdatahH6299 →59 times

  • א֥וֹor

    ʾoH176 →321 times

  • חֻפְשָׁ֖הfreedom

    chufshahH2668 →

  • לֹ֣אnot

    lo'H3808 →5168 times

  • נִתַּן־it had been given

    nitan-H5414 →2011 times

  • לָ֑הּto <the> her

    lah

  • בִּקֹּ֧רֶתcompensation

    bikoretH1244 →

  • תִּהְיֶ֛הit will be

    tihyehH1961 →3559 times

  • לֹ֥אnot

    lo'H3808 →5168 times

  • יוּמְת֖וּthey will be put to death

    yumetuH4191 →839 times

  • כִּי־for

    ki-H3588 →4482 times

  • לֹ֥אnot

    lo'H3808 →5168 times

  • חֻפָּֽשָׁה׃she had been given freedom

    chupashahH2666 →

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

3 in all, six open

Where this verse is studied

About Leviticus

Moses and Aaron Appear before Pharaoh, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Moses and Aaron Appear before Pharaoh, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Leviticus: the study guide →Read Leviticus 19 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Leviticus 19 →