בְּתוּלָה

The Hebrew term *bətûlāh* primarily denotes a virgin, highlighting a young woman’s untouched sexual status. This state was of significant importance in ancient Israelite society, carrying implications for marriage, family honor, and legal matters. The term’s usage extends to literal individuals as well as figurative applications, often in reference to cities or nations.

Beyond its literal meaning, *bətûlāh* can also refer to a bride, particularly in poetic or metaphorical contexts, emphasizing the transition from virginity to marriage. The concept of a *bətûlāh* often conveys purity and vulnerability, making it a powerful image in prophetic literature to describe cities or nations that are either unmarred or suffering profound violation.

Biblical law, as seen in passages addressing marriage and priestly regulations, places a high value on this status. The metaphorical uses often draw on the societal understandings of a virgin’s purity and potential for violation to describe the state of a community, as seen in prophecies concerning Jerusalem or Israel. The semantic range thus encompasses both the physical state of virginity and its broader cultural and theological resonances within the biblical text.