Numbers 5:29

THE MESSAGE

"This is the law of jealousy in a case where a woman goes off and has an affair and defiles herself while married to her husband, or a husband is tormented with feelings of jealousy because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand in the presence of God and go through this entire procedure with her. The husband will be cleared of wrong, but the woman will pay for her wrong."

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
"This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes astray, and is defiled;

King James Version
This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;

Lexham English Bible
"‘This is the regulation of jealousy, when a woman has an affair under her husband and she is defiled,

New Century Version
"‘So this is the teaching about jealousy. This is what to do when a woman does wrong and is unfaithful while she is married to her husband.

New English Translation
"‘This is the law for cases of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself,

Amplified Bible
'This is the law of jealousy: when a wife goes astray [while married] and defiles herself,

New American Standard Bible
'This is the law of jealousy: when a wife, who is under the authority of her husband, goes astray and defiles herself,

Geneva Bible (1587)
This is the law of ielousie, when a wife turneth from her husband and is defiled,

Legacy Standard Bible
‘This is the law of jealousy: when a wife, being under the authority of her husband, goes astray and defiles herself,

Contemporary English Version
This is the ceremony that must take place at my altar when a husband suspects that his wife has been unfaithful. The priest must have the woman stand in my presence and carefully follow these instructions.

Complete Jewish Bible
This is the law for jealousy: when either a wife under her husband's authority goes astray and becomes unclean,

Darby Translation
This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth astray to another instead of her husband and is defiled,

Easy-to-Read Version
"So this is the law about jealousy. This is what you should do when a woman sins against her husband while she is married to him.

English Standard Version
"This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself,

George Lamsa Translation
This is the law of jealousy when a woman does wrong by having lain with another man besides her husband and defiles herself,

Good News Translation
This is the law in cases where a man is jealous and becomes suspicious that his wife has committed adultery. The woman shall be made to stand in front of the altar, and the priest shall perform this ritual.

Christian Standard Bible®
“This is the law regarding jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,

Literal Translation
This is the law of jealousies when a wife turns aside under her husband, and has been defiled;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
This is the lawe of gelousy, whan a wyfe goeth asyde from hir hu?bande, and is defyled:

American Standard Version
This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled;

Bible in Basic English
This is the law for testing a wife who goes with another in place of her husband and becomes unclean;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
This is the lawe of gelousie, when a wyfe goeth aside from her husbande, and is defiled:

JPS Old Testament (1917)
This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled;

King James Version (1611)
This is the law of ielousies, when a wife goeth aside to another in stead of her husband, and is defiled:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
This is the law of jealousy, wherein a married woman should happen to transgress, and be defiled;

English Revised Version
This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled;

Berean Standard Bible
This is the law of jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband's authority,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
This is the lawe of gelousie, if a womman bowith awei fro hir hosebonde, and is defoulid,

Young's Literal Translation
`This [is] the law of jealousies, when a wife turneth aside under her husband, and hath been defiled,

Update Bible Version
This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes aside, and is defiled;

Webster's Bible Translation
This [is] the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth astray [to another] instead of her husband, and is defiled;

World English Bible
"This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes astray, and is defiled;

New King James Version
"This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself,

New Living Translation
"This is the ritual law for dealing with suspicion. If a woman goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband's authority,

New Life Bible
‘This is the law of jealousy. If a wife who is under the power of her husband turns away and makes herself unclean,

New Revised Standard
This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
This, is the law of jealousies, - when a wife shall turn aside to another instead of her husband, and fall into uncleanness;

Douay-Rheims Bible
This is the law of jealousy. If a woman hath gone aside from her husband, and be defiled,

Revised Standard Version
"This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
'This is the law of jealousy: when a wife, being under the authority of her husband, goes astray and defiles herself,

Contextual Overview

¹¹ God spoke to Moses: "Tell the People of Israel, Say a man's wife goes off and has an affair, is unfaithful to him by sleeping with another man, but her husband knows nothing about it even though she has defiled herself. And then, even though there was no witness and she wasn't caught in the act, feelings of jealousy come over the husband and he suspects that his wife is impure. Even if she is innocent and his jealousy and suspicions are groundless, he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of two quarts of barley flour for her. He is to pour no oil on it or mix incense with it because it is a Grain-Offering for jealousy, a Grain-Offering for bringing the guilt out into the open. ¹⁶"The priest then is to take her and have her stand in the presence of God . He is to take some holy water in a pottery jar and put some dust from the floor of The Dwelling in the water. After the priest has her stand in the presence of God he is to uncover her hair and place the exposure-offering in her hands, the Grain-Offering for jealousy, while he holds the bitter water that delivers a curse. Then the priest will put the woman under oath and say, ‘If no man has slept with you and you have not had an adulterous affair and become impure while married to your husband, may this bitter water that delivers a curse not harm you. But if you have had an affair while married to your husband and have defiled yourself by sleeping with a man other than your husband'—here the priest puts the woman under this curse—‘may God cause your people to curse and revile you when he makes your womb shrivel and your belly swell. Let this water that delivers a curse enter your body so that your belly swells and your womb shrivels.' "Then the woman shall say, ‘Amen. Amen.' ²³"The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash the words off into the bitter water. He then is to give the woman the bitter water that delivers a curse. This water will enter her body and cause acute pain. The priest then is to take from her hands a handful of the Grain-Offering for jealousy, wave it before God, and bring it to the Altar. The priest then is to take a handful of the Grain-Offering, using it as an exposure-offering, and burn it on the Altar; after this he is to make her drink the water. If she has defiled herself in being unfaithful to her husband, when she drinks the water that delivers a curse, it will enter her body and cause acute pain; her belly will swell and her womb shrivel. She will be cursed among her people. But if she has not defiled herself and is innocent of impurity, her name will be cleared and she will be able to have children. ²⁹"This is the law of jealousy in a case where a woman goes off and has an affair and defiles herself while married to her husband, or a husband is tormented with feelings of jealousy because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand in the presence of God and go through this entire procedure with her. The husband will be cleared of wrong, but the woman will pay for her wrong."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the law: Leviticus 7:11, Leviticus 11:46, Leviticus 13:59, Leviticus 14:54-57, Leviticus 15:32, Leviticus 15:33

when a wife goeth: Numbers 5:12, Numbers 5:15, Numbers 5:19, Isaiah 5:7, Isaiah 5:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 6:21 - the law Numbers 30:16 - General John 4:18 - is not

Cross-References

Genesis 5:9
When Enosh was ninety years old, he had Kenan. After he had Kenan, he lived another 815 years, having more sons and daughters. Enosh lived a total of 905 years. And he died.

Genesis 5:12
When Kenan was seventy years old, he had Mahalalel. After he had Mahalalel, he lived another 840 years, having more sons and daughters. Kenan lived a total of 910 years. And he died.

Genesis 9:24
When Noah woke up with his hangover, he learned what his youngest son had done. He said, Cursed be Canaan! A slave of slaves, a slave to his brothers! Blessed be God , the God of Shem, but Canaan shall be his slave. God prosper Japheth, living spaciously in the tents of Shem. But Canaan shall be his slave.

Isaiah 54:9
"This exile is just like the days of Noah for me: I promised then that the waters of Noah would never again flood the earth. I'm promising now no more anger, no more dressing you down. For even if the mountains walk away and the hills fall to pieces, My love won't walk away from you, my covenant commitment of peace won't fall apart." The God who has compassion on you says so.

Matthew 24:37
"The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away. "The Son of Man's Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up. "Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won't be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation. "But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it and make hash of him. He'll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth chattering."

Hebrews 11:7
By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn't see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

This [is] the law of jealousies,.... Which was appointed by God to deter wives from adultery, and preserve the people of Israel, the worshippers of him, from having a spurious brood among them; and to keep husbands from being cruel to their wives they might be jealous of, and to protect virtue and innocence, and to detect lewdness committed in the most secret manner; whereby God gave proof of his omniscience, that he had knowledge of the most private acts of uncleanness, and was the avenger of all such. The reasons why such a law was not made equally in favour of women, as of men, are supposed to be these: because of the greater authority of the man over the woman, which would seem to be lessened, if such a power was granted her; because marriage was not so much hurt, or so much damage came to families by the adultery of men, as of women; because women are more apt to be suspicious than men, and in those times more prone to adultery, through their eager desire of children, that they might not lie under reproach o:

when a wife goeth aside [to another] instead of her husband, and is defiled; is suspected of going aside to another man, and is supposed to be defiled by him.

o Vid. Salden. ut supra, (Otia, l. 1. Exercitat. 6.) sect. 19.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The trial of jealousy. Since the crime of adultery is especially defiling and destructive of the very foundations of social order, the whole subject is dealt with at a length proportionate to its importance. The process prescribed has lately been strikingly illustrated from an Egyptian “romance,” which refers to the time of Rameses the Great, and may therefore well serve to illustrate the manners and customs of the Mosaic times. This mode of trial, like several other ordinances, was adopted by Moses from existing and probably very ancient and widely spread institutions.

Numbers 5:15

The offering was to be of the cheapest and coarsest kind, barley (compare 2 Kings 7:1, 2 Kings 7:16, 2 Kings 7:18), representing the abused condition of the suspected woman. It was, like the sin-offering Leviticus 5:11, to be made without oil and frankincense, the symbols of grace and acceptableness. The woman herself stood with head uncovered Numbers 5:18, in token of her shame.

Numbers 5:17

The dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle - To set forth the fact that the water was endued with extraordinary power by Him who dwelt in the tabernacle. Dust is an emblem of a state of condemnation Genesis 3:14; Micah 7:17.

Numbers 5:19

Gone aside ... - literally, “gone astray from” thy husband by uncleanness; compare Hosea 4:12.

Numbers 5:23

Blot them out with the bitter water - In order to transfer the curses to the water. The action was symbolic. Travelers speak of the natives of Africa as still habitually seeking to obtain the full force of a written charm by drinking the water into which they have washed it.

Numbers 5:24

Shall cause the woman to drink - Thus was symbolised both her full acceptance of the hypothetical curse (compare Ezekiel 3:1-3; Jeremiah 15:16; Revelation 10:9), and its actual operation upon her if she should be guilty (compare Psalms 109:18).

Numbers 5:26

The memorial thereof - See the marginal reference. “Memorial” here is not the same as “memorial” in Numbers 5:15.

Numbers 5:27

Of itself, the drink was not noxious; and could only produce the effects here described by a special interposition of God. We do not read of any instance in which this ordeal was resorted to: a fact which may be explained either (with the Jews) as a proof of its efficacy, since the guilty could not be brought to face its terrors at all, and avoided them by confession; or more probably by the license of divorce tolerated by the law of Moses. Since a husband could put away his wife at pleasure, a jealous man would naturally prefer to take this course with a suspected wife rather than to call public attention to his own shame by having recourse to the trial of jealousy. The trial by red water, which bears a general resemblance to that here prescribed by Moses, is still in use among the tribes of Western Africa.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 5:29. This is the law of jealousies — And this is the most singular law in the whole Pentateuch: a law that seems to have been copied by almost all the nations of the earth, whether civilized or barbarian, as we find that similar modes of trial for suspected offences were used when complete evidence was wanting to convict; and where it was expected that the object of their worship would interfere for the sake of justice, in order that the guilty should be brought to punishment, and the innocent be cleared. For general information on this head see at the end of this chapter. Numbers 5:31; Numbers 5:31.