Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.
Then the man who was with her must pay the young woman's father fifty pieces of silver, and she must become his wife. Because he has violated her, he can never divorce her for as long as he lives.
This verse establishes that a man who violates an unmarried woman must marry her and provide for her permanently, with no option for divorce.
📚 Historical Context
This law was part of ancient Israel's civil code, written around 1400 BC when women had few legal protections and depended entirely on male family members for survival. In that cultural context, an unmarried woman who lost her virginity would likely never find a husband and could face destitution. These laws, while difficult to understand today, were actually protective measures ensuring the woman would have lifelong financial security and social status in a patriarchal society.
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