Numbers 5:18

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

¹⁷ Then he is to take some holy water in a clay jar and put some of the dust from the tabernacle floor into the water.

After the priest has the woman stand before the LORD, he is to let down her hair and place in her hands the grain offering of memorial, which is the grain offering for jealousy. The priest is to hold the bitter water that brings a curse.

¹⁹ And he is to put the woman under oath and say to her, ‘If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, may you be immune to this bitter water that brings a curse.

²⁰ But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority and have defiled yourself and lain carnally with a man other than your husband’—

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: After the priest has the woman stand before the LORD, he is to let down her hair and place in her hands the grain offering of memorial, which is the grain offering for jealousy. The priest is to hold the bitter water that brings a curse.
KJV: And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:
WEB: The priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and let the hair of the woman’s head go loose, and put the meal offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal offering of jealousy. The priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that brings a curse.
ASV: And the priest shall set the woman before Jehovah, and let the hair of the woman`s head go loose, and put the meal-offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal-offering of jealousy: and the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that causeth the curse.
DARBY: And the priest shall set the woman before Jehovah, and uncover the woman's head, and put the memorial oblation in her hands, which is the jealousy offering; and in the hand of the priest shall be the bitter water that bringeth the curse.
BLB: And the priest shall have the woman stand before the face of YHWH, and he shall uncover the head of the woman and put in her hands the offering of the memorial, that [is] the grain offering of jealousy. And in his hand the priest shall have the bitter water that brings a curse.

ÅB: Og når presten har stilt kvinnen fram for Herrens åsyn, skal han løse hennes hår og legge ihukommelses-matofferet i hennes hender - et skinnsyke-matoffer er det - og i sin hånd skal presten ha bitterhetens vann, som volder forbannelse.
OTB: Presten skal så la kvinnen stå foran Herren, løse opp håret hennes, og legge i hendene hennes påminnelseofferet, grødeofferet av sjalusi, mens han holder det bitre vannet som bringer forbannelse.
B1930: Og når presten har stilt kvinnen frem for Herrens åsyn, skal han løse hennes hår og legge ihukommelses-matofferet i hennes hender - et skinnsyke-matoffer er det - og i sin hånd skal presten ha bitterhetens vann, som volder forbannelse.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Leviticus 13:45
A diseased person must wear torn clothes and let his hair hang loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’
Read in context
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
Read in context
Numbers 5:15
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.
Read in context
Revelation 2:19–23
I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first.
Read in context
Numbers 5:17
Then he is to take some holy water in a clay jar and put some of the dust from the tabernacle floor into the water.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 11:6
If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. And if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.
Read in context
Numbers 5:24–26
He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and cause her bitter suffering.
Read in context
Hebrews 4:12–13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Read in context