College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Deuteronomy 25:11,12
(19) PROTECTION FROM ANOTHER'S WIFE (Deuteronomy 25:11-12)
11 When men strive together one with 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; 12 then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall have no pity.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 25:11, 12
444.
How prudish to fail to translate a plain word meaning testicales! Why do this? What is wrong with facts?
445.
Why such a stringent measure in this action?
AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION 25:11, 12
11 When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draws near to rescue her husband out of the hand of him who is beating him, and puts out her hand, and seizes the other man by the private parts;
12 Then you shall cut off her hand; your eye shall not pity her.
COMMENT 25:11, 12
It was undoubtedly wrong for two Israelites to engage in fisticuffs as a means of settling a matter, but this did not justify either man's wife (apparently the one losing the fight) to use such a method of breaking it up, The man's very life and reproductive abilities were at stake.