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F4
Withholding Food, Clothing, or Marital Rights from Our Wife

F4

We are forbidden to afflict our wife by withholding food, clothing, or marital rights.

Category: Marriage & Family

Type: Positive

Form: Explicit

Source dataset: Old Testament

Uniqueness: Unique

Classical commandment: Yes

New Covenant Literal Application

Applies to Person Categories: Everyone

Impossible
Jewish Jewish female
K'rov Yisrael K'rov Yisrael female
Gentile Gentile female
impossible for Gentile female, Jewish female, K'rovat Yisrael female
Mandated
Jewish Jewish male female
K'rov Yisrael K'rov Yisrael male
Gentile Gentile male female
mandated for Gentile female, Gentile male, Jewish female, Jewish male, K'rov Yisrael male

Context: Ancient Understanding — Gentile female, Gentile male, Jewish female, Jewish male, K'rovat Yisrael female, K'rov Yisrael male, impossible, mandated

Context: Modern Understanding — Gentile female, Gentile male, Jewish female, Jewish male, K'rov Yisrael male, mandated

Group Person categories Application Codes
Ancient Understanding Gentile female, Gentile male, Jewish female, Jewish male, K'rovat Yisrael female, K'rov Yisrael male impossible, mandated GFi GMm JFi JMm KFi KMm
Modern Understanding Gentile female, Gentile male, Jewish female, Jewish male, K'rov Yisrael male mandated GFm GMm JFm JMm KMm
More explanation about the icons and New Covenant Literal Application

The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.

Each card above groups one application level such as mandated or optional. The three people icons show whether that application is meant for Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, or Gentile believers, and the male or female symbols show whether it applies to men, women, or both.

Jewish
Jewish
Used for instruction directed to Jewish believers.
K'rov Yisrael
K'rov Yisrael
Used for non-Jewish believers living closely with Israel and Torah practice.
Gentile
Gentile
Used for instruction presented as applying to Gentile believers more broadly.
Male and female symbols
These show whether the instruction is directed to men, women, or both.

This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. The icon view is only a visual summary; the detailed codes and source explanation remain available below for careful study.

Read the full explanation from the source

Bible references

Key NT Scriptures
  • Ephesians 5:25-33
  • 1 Peter 3:7
  • 1 Timothy 5:8
Key OT Scriptures
  • Exodus 21:7-11

Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent

Commentary

Rabbi Michael Rudolph

It is clear from the totality of the Scriptures (and especially from the New Covenant Scriptures), that the overarching commandment is for men to love their wives. The particulars of this Mitzvah in singling out food, clothing, and marital (conjugal sexual) rights is forced upon us because it is treated that way by the classical commentators, and we felt that we should respond accordingly. Many Scriptures address men but are clearly applicable to both men and women. We understand that wives are to love their husbands but the responsibility of this Mitzvah is directed specifically to husbands.

Classical commentators

Maimonides, Meir, and HaChinuch use Exodus 21:9-10 to support their mitzvot that we must not withhold food, clothing, or marital rights from our wives. The context of the Scripture that they use to support their mitzvot is that of a wife who was previously a slave, marries her master, and the master subsequently marries for a second time when his first wife no longer pleases him.


Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2

Related Law of Messiah commandments

Classical Commandments

Maimonides

Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 12th century) organized all 613 Torah commandments into a structured list. These linked items show where this Law of Messiah commandment overlaps with that classical framework.

Meir of Rothenburg

Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg (13th century, Germany) was a leading Talmudic authority. These reference numbers link this commandment to his halachic rulings.

Source and License

Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.

Volume 1 & 2 | Volume 3

License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0

Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.

Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2

Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2

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