What Does Deuteronomy 22:25 Mean in the King James?
But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The field is only the setting: the Hebrew verb names the man’s seizure, and the sentence falls on him alone.
THE MEANING
The verse identifies the encounter as force: the man takes hold of her and lies with her. Its sentence falls on the man alone, leaving no blame on the woman for being found in the field.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A woman’s isolation makes her responsible for sexual violence against her.
THE ROOT
הֶחֱזִיק
heḥĕzîq
GROWS FROM
חזק
Be strong, make strong, take hold, or prevail.
The English word “force” can sound like a generic label, but the root spans being strong, strengthening, and taking hold. Here its taking-hold sense names the man’s physical overpowering, leaving the action with him rather than describing a mutual encounter.
ALSO GROWS
ḥāzaq: Be strong or prevail.
חָזַק
Strength and overpowering share one root; here the man’s action is the decisive force.
ḥizzēq: Strengthen or make firm.
חִזֵּק
This branch makes the root’s forceful sense visible beside the verse’s taking hold of her.
THE PATTERN
When the text names sexual coercion, it locates the violence in the coercer’s act and holds him accountable.
But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.THE THREAD
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.The Hebrew root חזק (ḥazaq, “be strong; take hold”) appears in both verses: Deuteronomy uses it for “force,” and Samuel for “being stronger.” Both pair that overpowering with “lie with”; Tamar’s refusal is spoken aloud, making explicit the coercion Deuteronomy already locates in the man’s action.
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