Divorce and Care for the Poor

Deuteronomy 24

Moses gives laws on divorce and remarriage, exempts a newly married man from war for a year, restricts what may be taken as a pledge, requires prompt payment of a poor man's wages, and commands that part of the harvest be left in the field for the stranger, orphan and widow.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonIF anyone hath taken a wife, and cohabited with her, and it should happen that she hath not found favour in his sight, because he hath found something unseemly in her, he may write her a bill of divorce, and put it into her hands, and send her away from his house.

BrentonAnd if any one should take a wife, and should dwell with her, then it shall come to pass if she should not have found favour before him, because he has found some unbecoming thing in her, that he shall write for her a bill of divorcement, and give it into her hands, and he shall send her away out of his house.

GreekἘὰν δέ τις λάβῃ γυναῖκα, καὶ συνοικήσῃ αὐτῇ, καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν μὴ εὕρῃ χάριν ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ, ὅτι εὗρεν ἐν αὐτῇ ἄσχημον πρᾶγμα, καὶ γράψει αὐτῇ βιβλίον ἀποστασίου, καὶ δώσει εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖ αὐτὴν ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ,

KJVWhen a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

JPSWhen a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, then it cometh to pass, if she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, that he writeth her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house,

ThomsonAnd having gone away, she may become another man’s wife.

BrentonAnd if she should go away and be married to another man;

Greekκαὶ ἀπελθοῦσα γένηται ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ,

KJVAnd when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife.

JPSand she departeth out of his house, and goeth and becometh another man’s wife,

ThomsonBut if her last husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorce and put it in her hands and send her away from his house;

Brentonand the last husband should hate her, and write for her a bill of divorcement; and should give it into her hands, and send her away out of his house, and the last husband should die, who took her to himself for a wife;

Greekκαὶ μισήσῃ αὐτὴν ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἔσχατος, καὶ γράψῃ αὐτῇ βιβλίον ἀποστασίου, καὶ δώσει εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐξαποστελεῖ αὐτὴν ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀποθάνῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἔσχατος, ὃς ἔλαβεν αὐτὴν ἐαυτῷ γυναῖκα,

KJVAnd if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;

JPSand the latter husband hateth her, and writeth her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife;

Thomsonor if her last husband, who hath taken her to wife, die; her former husband, who put her away, shall not be liberty to return and take her again to wife, for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God; and you must not defile the land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for a possession.

Brentonthe former husband who sent her away shall not be able to return and take her to himself for a wife, after she has been defiled; because it is an abomination before the Lord thy God, and ye shall not defile the land, which the Lord thy God gives thee to inherit.

Greekοὐ δυνήσεται ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ πρότερος ὁ ἐξαποστείλας αὐτὴν, ἐπαναστρέψας λαβεῖν αὐτὴν ἑαυτῷ γυναῖκα, μετὰ τὸ μιανθῆναι αὐτὴν, ὅτι βδέλυγμά ἐστιν ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου, καὶ οὐ μιανεῖτε τὴν γῆν, ἣν Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου δίδωσί σοι ἐν κλήρῳ.

KJVHer former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

JPSher former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD; and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

ThomsonIf any man hath lately taken a wife, he shall not go out to battle, nor shall he be charged with any business. He shall be free at home one year, that he may cheer his wife whom he hath taken.

BrentonAnd if any one should have recently taken a wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall any thing be laid upon him; he shall be free in his house; for one year he shall cheer his wife whom he has taken.

GreekἘὰν δέ τις λάβῃ γυναῖκα προσφάτως, οὐκ ἐξελεύσεται εἰς πόλεμον, καὶ οὐκ ἐπιβληθήσεται αὐτῷ οὐδὲν πρᾶγμα· ἀθῶος ἔσται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ, ἐνιαυτὸν ἕνα εὐφρανεῖ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ ἣν ἔλαβεν.

KJVWhen a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.

JPSWhen a man taketh a new wife, he shall not go out in the host, neither shall he be charged with any business; he shall be free for his house one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he hath taken.

ThomsonThou shalt not take in pledge an upper, nor a lower millstone, for this is taking a man’s life in pledge.

BrentonThou shalt not take for a pledge the under millstone, nor the upper millstone; for he who does so takes life for a pledge.

GreekΟὐκ ἐνεχυράσεις μύλον, οὐδὲ ἐπιμύλιον, ὅτι ψυχὴν οὗτος ἐνεχυράζει.

KJVNo man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.

JPSNo man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.

ThomsonIf any man be found stealing any of his brethren, the children of Israel, or, having got him in his power, selleth him, the thief shall be put to death. So shalt thou remove evil from among you.

BrentonAnd if a man should be caught stealing one of his brethren of the children of Israel, and having overcome him he should sell him, that thief shall die; so shalt thou remove that evil one from yourselves.

GreekἘὰν δὲ ἁλῷ ἄνθρωπος κλέπτων ψυχὴν ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ καταδυναστεύσας αὐτὸν ἀποδῶται, ἀποθανεῖται ὁ κλέπτης ἐκεῖνος· καὶ ἐξαρεῖς τὸν πονηρὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν.

KJVIf a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.

JPSIf a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and he deal with him as a slave, and sell him; then that thief shall die; so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.

ThomsonTake heed to thyself, that in the touch of the leprosy thou be very careful to act according to all the law which the priests, the Levites, may point out to you. Be careful to do in the manner I commanded you.

BrentonTake heed to thyself in regard of the plague of leprosy: thou shalt take great heed to do according to all the law, which the priests the Levites shall report to you; take heed to do, as I have charged you.

GreekΠρόσεχε σεαυτῷ ἐν τῇ ἁφῇ τῆς λέπρας· φυλάξῃ σφόδρα ποιεῖν κατὰ πάντα τὸν νόμον, ὃν ἂν ἀναγγείλωσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ Λευῖται· ὃν τρόπον ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν, φυλάξασθε ποιεῖν.

KJVTake heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.

JPSTake heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you, as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.

ThomsonRemember what the Lord thy God did to Mariam, on the way, as you were coming out of the land of Egypt.

BrentonRemember all that the Lord thy God did to Mariam in the way, when ye were going out of Egypt.

GreekΜνήσθητι ὅσα ἐποίησε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου τῇ Μαριὰμ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, ἐκπορευομένων ὑμῶν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου.

KJVRemember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.

JPSRemember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam, by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt.

ThomsonIf a debt of any kind be due to thee from thy neighbour, thou shalt not go into his house to take his pledge.

BrentonIf thy neighbour owe thee a debt, any debt whatsoever, thou shalt not go into his house to take his pledge:

GreekἘὰν ὀφείλημα ἠ· ἐν τῷ πλησίον σου, ὀφείλημα ὁτιοῦν, οὐκ εἰσελεύσῃ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ ἐνεχυράσαι τὸ ἐνέχυρον αὐτοῦ.

KJVWhen thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.

JPSWhen thou dost lend thy neighbour any manner of loan, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.

ThomsonThou shalt stand without, and the man who is thy debtor shall bring the pledge out to thee.

Brentonthou shalt stand without, and the man who is in thy debt shall bring the pledge out to thee.

GreekἜξω στήσῃ, καὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗ τὸ δάνειόν σού ἐστιν ἐν αὐτῷ, ἐξοίσει σοι τὸ ἐνέχυρον ἔξω.

KJVThou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.

JPSThou shalt stand without, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring forth the pledge without unto thee.

ThomsonAnd if the man be very poor, thou shalt not go to sleep with his pledge.

BrentonAnd if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge.

GreekἘὰν δὲ ὁ ἄνθρωπος πένηται, οὐ κοιμηθήσῃ ἐν τῷ ἐνεχύρῳ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:

JPSAnd if he be a poor man, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge;

ThomsonThou shalt surely restore him his pledge at the going down of the sun, that he may sleep in his garment, and bless thee, and there shall be mercy for thee in the sight of the Lord thy God.

BrentonThou shalt surely restore his pledge at sunset, and he shall sleep in his garment, and he shall bless thee; and it shall be mercy to thee before the Lord thy God.

GreekἈποδόσει ἀποδώσεις τὸ ἐνέχυρον αὐτοῦ πρὸς δυσμαῖς ἡλίου, καὶ κοιμηθήσεται ἐν τῷ ἱματίῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ εὐλογήσει σε, καὶ ἔσται σοι ἐλεημοσύνη ἐναντίον Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου.

KJVIn any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.

JPSthou shalt surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his garment, and bless thee; and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.

ThomsonThou shalt not withhold the wages of a poor and needy man, whether he be one of thy brethren, or of the strangers who are in thy cities.

BrentonThou shalt not unjustly withhold the wages of the poor and needy of thy brethren, or of the strangers who are in thy cities.

GreekΟὐκ ἀπαδικήσεις μισθὸν πένητος καὶ ἐνδεοῦς ἐκ τῶν ἀδελφῶν σου, ἢ ἐκ τῶν προσηλύτων τῶν ἐν ταῖς πόλεσίν σου.

KJVThou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:

JPSThou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates.

ThomsonThou shalt pay him his wages on the very day; let not the sun set upon it. For he is poor, and dependeth on it, and he will cry to the Lord against thee, and it will be a sin in thee.

BrentonThou shalt pay him his wages the same day, the sun shall not go down upon it, because he is poor and he trusts in it; and he shall cry against thee to the Lord, and it shall be sin in thee.

GreekΑὐθημερὸν ἀποδώσεις τὸν μισθὸν αὐτοῦ, οὐκ ἐπιδύσεται ὁ ἥλιος ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, ὅτι πένης ἐστὶ, καὶ ἐν αὐτῷ ἔχει τὴν ἐλπίδα, καὶ καταβοήσεται κατὰ σοῦ πρὸς Κύριον, καὶ ἔσται ἐν σοὶ ἁμαρτία.

KJVAt his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

JPSIn the same day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD and it be sin in thee.

ThomsonFathers shall not be put to death for children; nor the children for fathers. Every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

BrentonThe fathers shall not be put to death for the children, and the sons shall not be put to death for the fathers; every one shall be put to death for his own sin.

GreekΟὐκ ἀποθανοῦνται πατέρες ὑπὲρ τέκνων, καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ οὐκ ἀποθανοῦνται ὑπὲρ πατέρων· ἕκαστος ἐν τῇ ἑαυτοῦ ἁματρίᾳ ἀποθανεῖται.

KJVThe fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

JPSThe fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers; every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

ThomsonThou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, or the orphan, or the widow. Thou shalt not take the garment of a widow in pledge,

BrentonThou shalt not wrest the judgment of the stranger and the fatherless, and widow; thou shalt not take the widow's garment for a pledge.

GreekΟὐκ ἐκκλινεῖς κρίσιν προσηλύτου καὶ ὀρφανοῦ καὶ χήρας·

KJVThou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow’s raiment to pledge:

JPSThou shalt not pervert the justice due to the stranger, or to the fatherless; nor take the widow’s raiment to pledge.

Thomsonbut remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that thence the Lord thy God redeemed thee; therefore I command thee to do this thing.

BrentonAnd thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee from thence; therefore I charge thee to do this thing.

Greekοὐκ ἐνεχυράσεις ἱμαίτιον χήρας, καὶ μνησθήσῃ ὅτι οἰκέτης ἦσθα ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, καὶ ἐλυτρώσατό σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐκεῖθεν· διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.

KJVBut thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

JPSBut thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence; therefore I command thee to do this thing.

ThomsonWhen thou reapest thy harvest in the field, if thou hast forgot a sheaf in thy field, thou shalt not turn back to take it up; it shall be for the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, that the Lord thy God may bless thee, in all the works of thy hands.

BrentonAnd when thou shalt have reaped corn in thy field, and shalt have forgotten a sheaf in thy field, thou shalt not return to take it; it shall be for the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow, that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works of thy hands.

GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀμήσῃς ἀμητὸν ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ σου, καὶ ἐπιλάθῃ δράγμα ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ σου, οὐκ ἀναστραφήσῃ λαβεῖν αὐτό· τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ ἔσται, ἵνα εὐλογήσῃ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν χειρῶν σου.

KJVWhen thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.

JPSWhen thou reapest thy harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go back to fetch it; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hands.

ThomsonAnd when thou gatherest thine olives, thou shalt not turn back to gather what was left behind thee: it shall be for the stranger and the orphan and the widow; and thou shalt remember that thou wast a stranger in the land of Egypt; therefore I command thee to do this thing.

BrentonAnd if thou shouldest gather thine olives, thou shalt not return to collect the remainder; it shall be for the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, and thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt; therefore I command thee to do this thing.

GreekἘὰν δὲ ἐλαιολογῇς, οὐκ ἐπαναστρέψεις καλαμήσασθαι τὰ ὀπίσω σου· τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ ἔσται· καὶ μνησθήσῃ ὅτι οἰκέτης ἦσθα ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ· διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.

KJVWhen thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

JPSWhen thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

ThomsonAnd when thou gatherest in the vintage, thou shalt not glean after thee. The gleanings shall be for the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow;

BrentonAnd whensoever thou shalt gather the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean what thou hast left; it shall be for the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow:

GreekἘὰν δὲ τρυγήσῃς τὸν ἀμπελῶνά σου, οὐκ ἐπανατρυγήσεις αὐτὸν τὰ ὀπίσω σου· τῷ προσηλύτῳ καὶ τῷ ὀρφανῷ καὶ τῇ χήρᾳ ἔσται·

KJVWhen thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

JPSWhen thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it after thee; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

Thomsonand thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt; therefore I command thee to do this thing.

Brentonand thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt; therefore I command thee to do this thing.

Greekκαὶ μνησθήσῃ ὅτι οἰκέτης ἦσθα ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ· διὰ τοῦτο ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι ποιεῖν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο.

KJVAnd thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

JPSAnd thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt; therefore I command thee to do this thing.