Abstract: In this article, I undertake a systematic study of the motif of seeing and taking a beautiful woman or object in the Bible, best known in Gen 3:6; 6:2; 12:10–20; and 2 Samuel 11–12. Analyses of the “see, beautiful, take” motif typically consider only two to three examples together, characterizing the idea accordingly (e.g., as about transgression of the mortal–immortal boundary or despotic kingship). In light of two virtually unrecognized examples of the verbal sequence “see, beautiful, take” in Deut 21:10–14 and Josh 7:21–and in addition to a potential Mesopotamian analogue––I suggest that there are two basic forms of the motif: one for the acquiring of women (e.g., in marriage)––especially by dominant males––and the other for “sacrilege.” I propose a model of the motif’s development in the Bible, first from a verbal sequence related to marriage, then to a marriage-related motif, and finally to a motif used for sacrilege, that is, coveting and taking what Yhwh has withheld.
Andrew Geist (2026) studied this question.