A Project Genesis website

JewishAnswers.org

Ask the Rabbi: answers from Project Genesis rabbis

,

Illegitimacy

Question

Does the Torah say anything about bastards?

Answer

The Hebrew word usually translated "bastard" is MAMZER (Deut.23:3). A mamzer is a child born from an incestuous or adulterous union; a child born to an unmarried woman is not a mamzer.