Domestic Relations

10 “When you go out to battle against your enemies, and (A)the Lord your God hands them over to you and you take them away captive, 11 and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and are strongly attracted to her and would take her as a wife for yourself, 12 then you shall bring her into your home, and she shall (B)shave her head and [a]trim her nails. 13 She shall also [b]remove the clothes of her captivity and shall remain in your house, and (C)weep for her father and mother a full month; and after that you may have relations with her and become her husband and she shall be your wife. 14 But it shall be, if you are not pleased with her, then you shall let her go [c]wherever she wishes; and you certainly shall not sell her for money, you shall not treat her as merchandise, since you have [d](D)humiliated her.

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Footnotes

  1. Deuteronomy 21:12 Lit do
  2. Deuteronomy 21:13 Lit remove from her
  3. Deuteronomy 21:14 Lit according to her soul
  4. Deuteronomy 21:14 I.e., by a forced marriage

Female Captives

10 “When you go out to war against your enemies, and the Lord your God delivers them into your hand, and you take them captive, 11 and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and desire her and would take her for your (A)wife, 12 then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall (B)shave her head and trim her nails. 13 She shall put off the clothes of her captivity, remain in your house, and (C)mourn her father and her mother a full month; after that you may go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. 14 And it shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall set her free, but you certainly shall not sell her for money; you shall not treat her brutally, because you have (D)humbled her.

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