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28 “A man might find a virgin girl who is not engaged and force her to have sexual relations with him. If other people see this happen, 29 he must pay the girl’s father 20 ounces of silver.[a] And the girl will become the man’s wife, because he used her for sexual sin. He cannot divorce her all his life.

30 “A man must not bring shame to his father by marrying his father’s wife.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 22:29 20 ounces of silver This money became the dowry, the money a man paid to a woman’s father to seal the marriage agreement. Often the father saved this money to take care of the woman if something happened to her husband.

28 If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered,(A) 29 he shall pay her father fifty shekels[a] of silver. He must marry the young woman, for he has violated her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives.

30 A man is not to marry his father’s wife; he must not dishonor his father’s bed.[b](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 22:29 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams
  2. Deuteronomy 22:30 In Hebrew texts this verse (22:30) is numbered 23:1.