KJV ORIGINAL
But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
But keep alive for yourselves all the young girls who have never been with a man.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse records Moses giving instructions to spare the lives of young unmarried women during a military campaign against the Midianites.
📚 Historical Context
This command was given during Israel's war against the Midianites, who had led Israel into idolatry and immorality at Baal-peor. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, it was common practice to either kill all captives or integrate survivors into the conquering society. The specific instructions here reflect the military and cultural practices of the time period around 1400 BC.
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