Numbers 5:29
27 When he has made her drink the water, if she has defiled herself and been unfaithful to her husband, then the water that brings a curse will enter her and cause bitter suffering; her belly will swell, her thigh will shrivel, and she will become accursed among her people.
28 But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be unaffected and able to conceive children.
This is the law of jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,
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.
31 The husband will be free from guilt, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.”
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
- This is the law of jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,
- KJV
- This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;
- WEB
- “‘This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes astray, and is defiled,
- ASV
- This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled;
- DARBY
- This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth astray to another instead of her husband and is defiled,
- BLB
- This [is] the law of jealousy, when a wife goes astray [while] under her husband and defiles herself,
- ÅB
- Dette er skinnsyke-loven: Når en kvinne er utro mot sin mann og lar seg vanære,
- OTB
- "‘Dette er loven om sjalusi når en kone går på avveie og gjør seg uren mens hun er gift med sin mann,
- B1930
- Dette er skinnsyke-loven: Når en kvinne er utro mot sin mann og lar sig vanære,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Numbers 5:19
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.
Read in contextNumbers 5:12
“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him
Read in contextLeviticus 15:32–33
This is the law of him who has a discharge, of the man who has an emission of semen whereby he is unclean,
Read in contextIsaiah 5:7–8
For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the plant of His delight. He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.
Read in contextNumbers 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 contextLeviticus 13:59
This is the law concerning a mildew contamination in wool or linen fabric, weave, or knit, or any leather article, for pronouncing it clean or unclean.”
Read in contextLeviticus 14:54–57
This is the law for any infectious skin disease, for a scaly outbreak,
Read in contextLeviticus 11:46
This is the law regarding animals, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that crawl along the ground.
Read in context