Numbers 5:14

12 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him

13 by sleeping with another man, and it is concealed from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she was not caught in the act),

and if a feeling of jealousy comes over her husband and he suspects his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he suspects her even though she has not defiled herself—

15 then he is to bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring for her an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, an offering of memorial as a reminder of iniquity.

16 The priest is to bring the wife forward and have her stand before the LORD.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
and if a feeling of jealousy comes over her husband and he suspects his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he suspects her even though she has not defiled herself—
KJV
And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:
WEB
and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she is defiled; or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she isn’t defiled;
ASV
and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:
DARBY
and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she have been defiled, or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she have not been defiled,
BLB
and if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, and she has defiled herself; or [if] a spirit of jealousy comes upon him, and he becomes jealous of his wife although she has not defiled herself,
ÅB
og det så kommer en skinnsykens ånd over ham, så han blir skinnsyk på sin hustru, og hun virkelig har latt seg vanære, eller det kommer en skinnsykens ånd over ham, så han blir skinnsyk på sin hustru, uaktet hun ikke har latt seg vanære,
OTB
og hvis følelser av sjalusi kommer over hennes mann og han mistenker sin kone når hun er uren—eller hvis han er sjalu og mistenker henne selv om hun ikke er uren—
B1930
og det så kommer en skinnsykens ånd over ham, så han blir skinnsyk på sin hustru, og hun virkelig har latt sig vanære, eller det kommer en skinnsykens ånd over ham, så han blir skinnsyk på sin hustru, uaktet hun ikke har latt sig vanære,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 6:34

    For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.

    Read in context
  • Song of Solomon 8:6

    Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 5:30

    or when a feeling of jealousy comes over a husband and he suspects his wife. He is to have the woman stand before the LORD, and the priest is to apply to her this entire law.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 10:22

    Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

    Read in context
  • Zephaniah 3:8

    Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation— all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.

    Read in context