Deuteronomy 22:26
“but to the lady you shall do nothing. There is in the lady no sin worthy of death; for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and kills him, even so is this matter;”
What does Deuteronomy 22:26 mean?
This passage addresses a serious crime, protecting a woman who has been violated against her will. The law recognizes that she has done nothing wrong and bears no guilt for what was forced upon her, just as someone who is attacked and killed bears no responsibility for their own death. It's a statement of profound fairness: the victim is not blamed or punished. In cultures where women were often held responsible for sexual assault, this verse stands out as recognizing her innocence and the actual wrongdoing of her attacker. For anyone who has experienced violence or assault, this ancient law offers a radical message that what happened was never your fault.