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 hands them over to you and you take them captive, 11 suppose you see among the captives a beautiful woman whom you desire and want to marry, 12 and so you bring her home to your house: she shall shave her head, pare her nails,(A) 13 discard her captive’s garb, and remain in your house a full month mourning for her father and mother; after that you may go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. 14 But if you are not satisfied with her, you shall let her go free and certainly not sell her for money. You must not treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.

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