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I read somewhere that the consequence for rape, presuming the man does not marry the woman, is just 50 silver sheckels.

This seems like a paltry sum compared to the crime that was committed. Is that all, or is there more?

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  • Welcome to the site. Unless you have a special affinity to the number 2690449, perhaps consider naming your account.
    – mevaqesh
    Sep 9, 2015 at 0:39
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    rapist also may be killed by anyone (for an erva) without trial while trying to rape since he has the status of a rodef. see rambam chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1088917/jewish/…
    – ray
    Sep 9, 2015 at 11:30

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A biblical shekel is 768 p'ruta and fifty are thus 960 grams of silver. That's about US$459.27 today. As Double AA notes (in a comment on the question), though, that's just the fine: the rapist must also pay actual damages.

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    And for rape, it's damages, plus 50 shekels, plus he must marry her if she agrees. "You decide, marry her or pay 50 shekels" is for seduction.
    – Shalom
    Sep 9, 2015 at 9:32
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Fifty shekels was much more than it's silver content indicates - a worker's daily salary was somewhere between 1/2 and one dinar - fifty shekels was 200 dinars.

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    Welcome to Mi Yodeya!
    – Danny Schoemann
    Sep 9, 2015 at 11:16
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    Nice point. That would make 50 shekels about one-year's salary or even more.
    – Daniel
    Sep 9, 2015 at 12:46
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    Excellent point. Incidentally, what is your source for workers' daily salaries?
    – mevaqesh
    Sep 9, 2015 at 15:51
  • @Mevaqesh We find examples in Bava Metzia in chapter השוכר את הפועלים.
    – HaLeiVi
    Sep 9, 2015 at 18:43

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