Deuteronomy 20:7
Has any man become pledged to a woman and not married her? Let him return home, or he may die in battle and another man marry her.”
And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
What man is there who has pledged to be married to a wife, and has not taken her? Let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.”
And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.
Read Deuteronomy 20 in context
Related passages
From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, grouped by the word they explain.
- betrothed a wife
- It was customary among the Jews to contract matrimony, espouse, or betroth, and for a considerable time to leave the parties in the houses of the respective parents; and when the bridegroom had made proper preparations, then the bride was brought home to his house, and the marriage consummated. The provisions in this verse refer to a case of this kind; though the Jews extend it to him who had newly consummated his marriage, and even to him who had married his brother's wife. It was deemed a peculiar hardship for a person to be obliged to go to battle, who had left a house unfinished, newly purchased land half tilled, or a wife with whom he had just contracted marriage.
- Deuteronomy 22:23–25; Deuteronomy 24:5; Matthew 1:18
- lest he die
- Deuteronomy 28:30; Luke 14:18–20; 2 Timothy 2:4