Bible Dictionary
AMERCE
To amerce is to impose a fine. Under the Mosaic law, a man who falsely accused his bride of unchastity was fined one hundred shekels of silver.
Definition
To amerce is to impose a fine. The term is a legal expression derived from French and literally refers to being placed at the mercy of the court.
Biblical Usage
In the Mosaic law, a man proven by the elders to have falsely accused his bride of not being a virgin was amerced one hundred shekels of silver.
Historical Background
The fine was imposed after the husband brought the charge to the bride’s father and the elders established that the accusation was false.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-murs': Found in the King James Version only in De 22:19, "And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver." Amerce is a legal term derived from the French (a = "at"; merci = "mercy," i.e. literally, "at the mercy" (of the court)). Here it is used of the imposing of a fine, according to the Law of Moses, upon the man who has been proven by the Elders to have brought a false charge against the virginity of the maid he has married by saying to the father, "I found not thy daughter a maid."</p>