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Autor: Hussein Hajji Wario
Data: 01.07.2011
Category: Fé no Mundo, Verdade & Pluralismo
A Muslim on Facebook asks, “hussein is this good treatmen [sic] of wojman [sic]” after quoting Deuteronomy 22:28-29. He quotes a rendering of these verses which is off literal translation. His quote, “If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her.”
Muslims have asked this question numerous times to try to portray the Bible as condoning rape and their question has been answered. I am not going to reinvent an answer to this question but enlist a friend, Sam Shamoun, who has already answered the same question.
Sam is an Iraqi Christian who is a Christian apologist at Answering Islam. The following is what he wrote HERE in response to Muslims:
Some Muslims claim that the following passage from the Holy Bible condones rape:
"If a man happens to meet a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her and they are discovered, he shall pay the girl’s father fifty shekels of silver. He must marry the girl, for he has violated (anah) her. He can never divorce her as long as he lives." Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NIV
There are two points to note here. First, even though the verse may seem to be instructing the rapist to marry the victim the passage nowhere sanctions, condones or even approves of rape. This is simply a gross misreading of the text. The injunction is intended to instruct the Israelites on how to deal with and address a rape situation if and when it occurs.
Second, by taking a careful look at the context and consulting the original languages of the Scriptures a strong case can be made that this is citation isn’t even addressing a rape case at all. We must remember that the Holy Bible was not written in English. The OT was written in Hebrew, with parts of it being written in Aramaic. The NT was written in Koine or common Greek. This means that if we want to know whether an English translation has faithfully and accurately translated the inspired author’s intended meaning we must turn to the original language of the sacred text. Once this is done, it will become quite apparent that the Holy Bible does not sanction rape at all.
With this just said, the word which the NIV translates as rape comes from two Hebrew words, taphas and shakab. Here are the meanings listed by the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon in reference to these two words:
Continued...
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Estados Unidos
Thank you for this post! It illustrates the importance of understanding the original languages of the bible as well as the importance of context. I fear that the willingness of many to take certain verses out of context and their willingness to use certain translations to support their views has become a hindrance to reaching others with the true Word of God. It also allows others to derive negative concepts and connotations from the texts that aren’t really there (as in this situation with the Muslims and the condoning of rape). Even though it would be difficult to teach the Hebrew and Greek languages to our churches, I believe that we need to emphasize the importance of proper exegesis and the importance of context to our congregations so that all can be stronger witnesses to the Word of God.
03.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ jdb11583:
Part of that is battling the increasing anti-intellectual sentiment that seems to be growing in the US especially. This idea that intellectuals and the truth are diametrically opposed is causing a great deal of problems.
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ japhia1906:
There definitely is a anti-intellectual sentiment that can be hindering. This is this thought that studying the Bible from an academic perspective will make us "too Liberal" and will direct us away from the true teachings of the scriptures. My experience has been to the contrary. I have felt that my faith and relationship with God has only become stronger because of my academic endeavors
28.11.2011
Estados Unidos
@ jdb11583:
This was a very interesting article and one that goes beyond the specific example regarding rape. It does speak to the need to delve into the word, understand context, strive for solid translations and interpretations, and share information with others. There are so many words and stories in the Bible that can be interpreted from a 21st century perspective that have nothing to do with the meaning for the time it was written or for the purposes the writer was trying to convey.
I do not think, based on the laws God gave us, the life Jesus gave us as an example of how to live, and on the teachings Jesus shared with us, that there was ever an intent for anyone to do harm to another person and that such behavior is not condoned or acceptable to God. To violate another human being in any way is wrong and its evil. It is not of God. Jesus certainly never displayed such behavior as rape and I cannot believe that he would have thought it okay. To the contrary...he demonstrated great respect for women, even women that others in society had cast aside as worthless.
We are doing ourselves and others a disservice when we do not try to study the Bible and glean as much from it as we can in order to serve God in the ways God calls us to. That would include a deep study of the word to be shared from the pulpit or in a Bible study class.
This is a thought-provoking article.
Peace,
L. Sills
07.12.2012
Estados Unidos
I had never thought of the Bible as possibly condoning rape. Since rape is so violent and takes away a girl’s purity that is to be saved for marriage, I assumed automatically that it was and is a sin all of the time whether the rapist tries to make amends or not. However, for those who seek to prove the Gospel as "bad," I can see where they would be able to take the verse and morph it into whatever they want. It was nice to read that when taken back to the original language it could have meant any number of things and that the Bible clearly does not condone rape.
04.12.2012
Estados Unidos
Fantastic post. This gives me a head start. The battle I face in the US is with atheists primarily (and other Christian pastors believe it or not). I have worked out many other controversies such as slavery, flood, genocide, finances, etc. but rape is still on my list. Thanks for the post.
04.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ Mojoe:
You are most welcome. You gave a strong argument on
your position and did not fragment the text to prove your argument. From a
social justice stand point, there is no way that God sits quietly while
humanity destroys the very essence of itself. The woman sometimes seems parallel
with the earth throughout the scriptures with reference to the promise. In a
patriarchal society, the woman has developed a subordinate role to her male
counterpart, which changes the nature of her co-equal-ness that was bestowed on
her at creation.
If God would condone a woman being violated, then her womb is not the essence
of her honor, shame, or worth. What we must also understand is the nature of
Deuteronomy and the Levitical codes. These were the laws of the community, not
the laws of God. The laws or covenant stipulations were the ten sayings that
God gave to Moses; the subsequent laws we find throughout the First Testament
were interpretations of the ten sayings. These laws were developed in order
that the community would honor each other.
04.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ Mojoe:
You are most welcome. You gave a strong argument on
your position and did not fragment the text to prove your argument. From a
social justice stand point, there is no way that God sits quietly while
humanity destroys the very essence of itself. The woman sometimes seems parallel
with the earth throughout the scriptures with reference to the promise. In a
patriarchal society, the woman has developed a subordinate role to her male
counterpart, which changes the nature of her co-equal-ness that was bestowed on
her at creation.
If God would condone a woman being violated, then her womb is not the essence
of her honor, shame, or worth. What we must also understand is the nature of
Deuteronomy and the Levitical codes. These were the laws of the community, not
the laws of God. The laws or covenant stipulations were the ten sayings that
God gave to Moses; the subsequent laws we find throughout the First Testament
were interpretations of the ten sayings. These laws were developed in order
that the community would honor each other.
04.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ Mojoe:
Wendy, well said. Your amazing in how you let God use you to give insight to plight of women and their role in the divine order of God. Giving the thought of the woman’s honor giving life to a child, how can and would God honor a terrible act such as rape.
19.07.2011
Estados Unidos
you have made a very compelling argument for proper exegesis of the text and not for mere proof texting which would allow one to take context away from the text.
03.07.2011
Estados Unidos
@ wallison:
The credit goes to Brother Sam Shamoun of http://www.answeringIslam.org and the Lord who has gifted him mightily. I agree, Sam did a brilliant job! He has written many articles for Answering Islam.
03.07.2011
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