בְּתוּלִים
𐤁𐤕𐤅𐤋𐤉𐤌
bᵉthûwlîym
H1331 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State or condition of being a virgin; virginity in the collective, abstract, or conceptual sense. Refers to the quality or status of sexual inexperience, particularly in young women, but can also denote ritual or social purity. In some contexts, may refer concretely to the physical signs or tokens associated with virginity, such as evidence presented in legal disputes.
Semantic Range
virginity; the state or quality of being a virgin; tokens of virginity; evidence of sexual inexperience; collective virginity; (rarely) maidens as a category
Root / Etymology
From the root בתל (ב-ת-ל), which means 'to be separated' or 'to be kept apart'; the noun בְּתוּלִים is a plural form derived from בְּתוּלָה (bethulah, 'virgin'), which itself denotes a female who is separated or protected, often with the implication of sexual inexperience. The plural form expresses the state or collective category of virginity ('virginities'), or functions as an abstract noun referring to the concept itself.
Historical & Contextual Notes
בְּתוּלִים is the standard Biblical Hebrew term for 'virginity', primarily referencing the status assigned to unmarried women prior to sexual activity. In ancient Israelite society, virginity carried significant social and legal implications, especially concerning marriage contracts and family honor (cf. Deuteronomy 22:13–21, where בְּתוּלִים refers to the tokens or proof of virginity presented as evidence). It is abstract in form but can be used concretely regarding physical evidence. While בְּתוּלִים is grammatically masculine plural, it frequently functions as an abstract noun. Distinct from בְּתוּלָה ('virgin', a person), it denotes the condition or collective category. In later biblical and post-biblical usage, the term retains or expands its conceptual value. English translations may not always distinguish between בְּתוּלִים (the state) and בְּתוּלָה (the individual), sometimes obscuring nuances present in the Hebrew text. The word may also reflect broader ancient Near Eastern values about purity and social roles for women.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
masculine plural of the same as בְּתוּלָה; (collectively and abstractly) virginity; by implication and concretely, the tokens of it; [idiom] maid, virginity.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בתל (b-t-l) — to be separated, to be kept apart, to be protected
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1328 | בְּתוּאֵל | Betu-El |
| H1329 | בְּתוּל | and Bethul |
| H1330 | בְּתוּלָה | set-apart maiden |
Word Forms
8 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1331-05 |
בְּתוּלִֽים | betulim | HNcbpa |
virginity | separated virginities | 2 |
H1331-02 |
בְּתוּלֵ֧י | betuley | HNcbpc |
the evidence of virginity | virginities of | 2 |
H1331-06 |
בְתוּלֶ֑י/הָ | vetuleyha | HNcbpc/Sp3fs |
of her virginity | her virginities | 1 |
H1331-01 |
בְּתוּלַ֔/י | betulay | HNcbpc/Sp1cs |
my virginity | my virginity | 1 |
H1331-07 |
בְתוּלִ֖ים | vetulim | HNcbpa |
virginity | protected separations | 1 |
H1331-03 |
בְּתוּלֶ֖י/הָ | betuleyha | HNcbpc/Sp3fs |
her virginity | her virginities | 1 |
H1331-08 |
בִ/בְתוּלֶ֖י/הָ | vivetuleyha | HR/Ncbpc/Sp3fs |
in her virginity | in her virginity | 1 |
H1331-04 |
בְּתוּלֵי/הֶֽן | betuleyhen | HNcbpc/Sp3fp |
of their virginity | their virginities | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1331-08 |
Leviticus 21:13 | בִ/בְתוּלֶ֖י/הָ | vivetuleyha | HR/Ncbpc/Sp3fs |
in her virginity | in her virginity |
H1331-05 |
Deuteronomy 22:14 | בְּתוּלִֽים | betulim | HNcbpa |
virginity | separated virginities |
H1331-02 |
Deuteronomy 22:15 | בְּתוּלֵ֧י | betuley | HNcbpc |
the evidence of virginity | virginities of |
H1331-05 |
Deuteronomy 22:17 | בְּתוּלִ֔ים | betulim | HNcbpa |
virginity | separated virginities |
H1331-02 |
Deuteronomy 22:17 | בְּתוּלֵ֣י | betuley | HNcbpc |
the virginity | virginities of |
H1331-07 |
Deuteronomy 22:20 | בְתוּלִ֖ים | vetulim | HNcbpa |
virginity | protected separations |
H1331-01 |
Judges 11:37 | בְּתוּלַ֔/י | betulay | HNcbpc/Sp1cs |
my virginity | my virginity |
H1331-03 |
Judges 11:38 | בְּתוּלֶ֖י/הָ | betuleyha | HNcbpc/Sp3fs |
her virginity | her virginities |
H1331-04 |
Ezekiel 23:3 | בְּתוּלֵי/הֶֽן | betuleyhen | HNcbpc/Sp3fp |
of their virginity | their virginities |
H1331-06 |
Ezekiel 23:8 | בְתוּלֶ֑י/הָ | vetuleyha | HNcbpc/Sp3fs |
of her virginity | her virginities |