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Numbers 5:19

Faithfulness and loyalty

17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:

18 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:

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:

20 But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:

21 Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to 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 unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man’s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,

    Read in context

  • Romans 7:2

    For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 26:63

    But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

    Read in context