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Deuteronomy 21:13

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

She must take off the clothes she wore as a prisoner and stay in your house. She should mourn for her father and mother for a full month. After that time, you may marry her and she will become your wife.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse describes giving a captive woman time to grieve her family and transition before marriage, showing consideration for her emotional needs even in difficult circumstances.

📚 Historical Context

In the historical context of ancient Israel, as outlined in the Book of Deuteronomy, this verse is part of laws given to regulate the treatment of female captives taken during warfare, reflecting the realities of a society where conquest and marriage customs were intertwined. It required that a captive woman be allowed to mourn her family for a full month and change out of her captive clothing, ensuring she had time to grieve before entering a marriage and promoting a measure of dignity and protection in a harsh ancient world. This law was situated within the broader Mosaic code, which aimed to temper the brutal practices of neighboring cultures with ethical guidelines from God.

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