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Numbers 5:19

Faithfulness and loyalty

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.

18 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.

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’—

21 and the priest shall have the woman swear under the oath of the curse—‘then may the LORD make you an attested curse among your people by making your thigh shrivel and your belly swell.

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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 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.
KJV
And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse:
WEB
The priest shall cause her to take an oath and shall tell the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you haven’t gone aside to uncleanness, being under your husband’s authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings a curse.
ASV
And the priest shall cause her to swear, and shall say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou have not gone aside to uncleanness, being under thy husband, be thou free from this water of bitterness that causeth the curse.
DARBY
And the priest shall adjure her, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone astray in uncleanness, in being with another instead of thy husband, be free from this bitter water that bringeth the curse.
BLB
And the priest shall put her under oath and say to the woman, ‘If no man has lain with you, and if you have not gone astray to uncleanness [while] under your husband, be free from these bitter waters that bring the curse.
ÅB
Så skal presten ta kvinnen i ed og si til henne: Så sant ingen har ligget hos deg, og så sant du ikke har vært utro mot din mann og latt deg vanære, så skal du intet mén ha av dette bitterhetens vann som volder forbannelse.
OTB
Presten skal sette kvinnen under ed og si til henne: "Hvis ingen annen mann har hatt seksuell omgang med deg og du ikke har gått på avveie i urenhet mens du var gift med din mann, må dette bitre vannet som bringer forbannelse ikke skade deg.
B1930
Så skal presten ta kvinnen i ed og si til henne: Så sant ingen har ligget hos dig, og så sant du ikke har vært utro mot din mann og latt dig vanære, så skal du intet mén ha av dette bitterhetens vann som volder forbannelse.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Numbers 5:12

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

    Read in context

  • Romans 7:2

    For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 26:63

    But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

    Read in context