Keraia
Numbers 5

Numbers 5:15

The Adultery Test · Numbers 5:11–31
Read Numbers 5

Translations

Modern
…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.
Traditional
Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
Literal
…then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. And He shall bring the offering required for her, a tenth of an ephah of barley meal. He shall not pour on it oil and not put on it frankincense, because it is a grain offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, for bringing to remembrance iniquity.
Latin
…adducet eam ad sacerdotem, et offeret oblationem pro illa, decimam partem sati farinæ hordeaceæ: non fundet super eam oleum, nec imponet thus: quia sacrificium zelotypiæ est, et oblatio investigans adulterium.

Original

Hebrew
English
…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.

Notes

Numbers 5:14–15

The husband presented his case to the priest, and the “law of jealousy” (5:29) transferred the husband's jealousy and suspicion to a higher court of appeal.

Numbers 5:11–31

This detailed test for adultery, a "trial by ordeal," is the only one in the Old Testament. Yet, trial by ordeal was common in the ancient Near East. God had a special interest in protecting marriage. It was the foundation of Hebrew society.

The ordeal was intended to promote marital faithfulness. We do not know how often such ordeals actually happened. This procedure relied on God to intervene so that justice occurred when evidence was lacking (see 1 Corinthians 5:5).

Numbers 5:1–31

These laws speak about cleanliness, repayment, and staying faithful in marriage.

Numbers 5:1–10:10

These legal matters were meant to protect the purity of the Israelites, their priests, and the tabernacle. Purity here refers to being clean and set apart for worship.

These rules helped the people remember who they were. Israel was a theocracy (a nation ruled directly by God). God was their true king.

Moses served as God’s main spokesman. Through him, God gave laws and instructions to the people.

Measurements

  • an ephah of barley flour: About 2 qt (2.2 l)

Glossary

Adultery Biblical Concept of Law Cleanness and Uncleanness, Regulations Concerning Courts and Trials Criminal Law and Punishment Curse, Cursed Deuteronomy, Book of Family Life and Relations Miscarriage Numbers, Book of Oath Offerings and Sacrifices Oil Ordeal of Jealousy Water that Brings a Curse, Water of Bitterness, Water of Jealousy

Topics

Adultery: Penalties For Barley used in offerings Frankincense in Making an offering of Memorial Husband: General Scriptures Concerning Jealousy: Law Concerning, when Husband is Jealous for his Wife Measure: An Ephah, Equal to Three Seah, and in Liquid, to a Bath, Containing About a Bushel and a Half Meat-Offerings of Jealousy, Without Oil or Incense Meat-Offerings: Consisted of Barley Meal Offerings: Different Kinds of Jealousy Offerings: Meat: Ordinances Concerning Priest: (The Function he Served Was Superior to That of Other Priests): Judicial Priest: Duties of To Act As Magistrates Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Jealousy Self-Incrimination: General Scriptures Concerning Wife: Unfaithful Woman: Unfaithfulness of, when Married Found out by the Waters of Women: when Jealously Charged with Infidelity, Their Guilt or Innocence Was to be Determined by an Ordeal