Deuteronomy 22:21-22

22:21 the men of her city must bring the young woman to the door of her father’s house and stone her to death, for she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by behaving like a prostitute while living in her father’s house. In this way you will purge evil from among you.

22:22 If a man is caught having sexual relations with a married woman both the man who had relations with the woman and the woman herself must die; in this way you will purge evil from Israel.


tn The Hebrew term נְבָלָה (nÿvalah) means more than just something stupid. It refers to a moral lapse so serious as to jeopardize the whole covenant community (cf. Gen 34:7; Judg 19:23; 20:6, 10; Jer 29:23). See C. Pan, NIDOTTE 3:11-13. Cf. NAB “she committed a crime against Israel.”

tn Heb “burn.” See note on Deut 21:21.

tn Heb “lying with” (so KJV, NASB), a Hebrew idiom for sexual relations.

tn Heb “a woman married to a husband.”

tn Heb “burn.” See note on the phrase “purge out” in Deut 21:21.