Deuteronomy 25:11-12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-12

Here is, I. The law settled concerning the marrying of the brother's widow. It appears from the story of Judah's family that this had been an ancient usage (Gen. 38:8), for the keeping up of distinct families. The case put is a case that often happens, of a man's dying without issue, it may be in the prime of his time, soon after his marriage, and while his brethren were yet so young as to be unmarried. Now in this case, 1. The widow was not to marry again into any other family, unless all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:11

When men strive together, one with another ,.... Quarrel with one another, and come to blows, and strive for mastery, which shall beat, and be the best man: and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him ; perceiving that his antagonist has more skill or strength, or both, for fighting, and is an more than a match for her husband, who is like to be much bruised and hurt; wherefore, to save him out of the hands of the smiter, she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:12

Then thou shall cut off her hand ,.... Which was to be done not by the man that strove with her husband, or by any bystander, but by the civil magistrate or his order. This severity was used to deter women from such an immodest as well as injurious action, who on such an occasion are very passionate and inconsiderate. Our Lord is thought to refer to this law, Matthew 5:30 ; though the Jewish writers interpret this not of actual cutting off the hand, but of paying a valuable consideration,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 25:11

Verse 11 This Law is apparently harsh, but its severity skews how very pleasing to God is modesty, whilst, on the other hand, He abominates indecency; for, if in the heat of a quarrel, when the agitation of the mind is an excuse for excesses, it was a crime thus heavily punished, for a woman to take hold of the private parts of a man who was not her husband, much less would God have her lasciviousness pardoned, if a woman were impelled by lust to do anything of the sort. Neither can we doubt... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:11-12

But though the childless widow might thus approach and lay hold on the man, no license was thus granted to women to pass beyond the bounds of decency in their approaches to the other sex. Hence the prohibition in these verses. The severe sentence here prescribed was by the rabbins commuted into a fine of the value of the hand. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:11-12

An offending hand. This maybe compared with Matthew 5:30 . 1. Any member of the body may become an instrument of sin. 2. Where there is in any case special danger there should a special watch be kept. 3. Favorite, yet sinful lusts must be crucified, whatever the cost may be. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:11-16

Honesty the best policy. We have first a law of purity, which needs no exposition, but in its holy severity ( Deuteronomy 25:11 , Deuteronomy 25:12 ) was fitted to check all tendency to lewd practices among the women of Israel. Then Moses passes on to speak of the crime of having divers weights and measures, and the effort to make money by dishonest practices. No blessing from God can rest upon such willfully dishonest ones; if his blessing is to be experienced, it must be by a policy... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 25:12

This is the only mutilation prescribed by the Law of Moses, unless we except the retaliation prescribed as a punishment for the infliction on another of bodily injuries Leviticus 24:19-20. The act in question was probably not rare in the times and countries for which the Law of Moses was designed. It is of course to be understood that the act was willful, and that the prescribed punishment would be inflicted according to the sentence of the judges. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-19

Family and business relationships (25:5-19)If a man died having no son, his brother was to have a temporary marital relation with the widow for the purpose of helping her produce a son. Legally, this son would be considered son of the dead man and so would receive his inheritance and carry on his name. If the brother refused to cooperate, he was to be publicly disgraced for allowing the dead man’s name to die out (5-10). (If, however, there were surviving daughters, they could receive the... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Deuteronomy 25:11

"When men strive together with one another, and the wife of the one draweth near to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets; then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall have no pity."This is the only case of mutilation commanded as a punishment in the whole Bible. Even the "Lex Talionis" should be understood more as an admonition for judges to make the penalty fit the crime than as an order to cut off hands or... read more

Group of Brands