I was thinking more along the lines of someone who was living, yet considered dead. The man who leaves his master and therefore his family is obviously living, yet dead to his family whom he has abandoned. That woman is evidently not bound to him but to her master. I wonder how this worked in real life in Israel. What were the principles that justified this occasion? I know that the term ‘cut off” indicated someone who was considered dead, while living.
In the New Testament it looks something like this.
Romans 7:4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another,
even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Romans 11:15. For if the casting away of them
be the reconciling of the world, what
shall the receiving
of them be, but life from the dead?
Casting away (cut off?)= death, restoration = life from death
Ephesians 2:1 And you
hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:; 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
In Christ, = alive. Apart from Christ = dead. Both conditions are evidenced in a living person.
1 Thess 5:5, 6 Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure* is dead while she liveth.
* from spatale (luxury); to be voluptuous:--live in pleasure, be wanton.