Numbers 5:18

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

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:

Literal

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.

Latin

Cumque steterit mulier in conspectu Domini, discooperiet caput ejus, et ponet super manus illius sacrificium recordationis, et oblationem zelotypiæ: ipse autem tenebit aquas amarissimas, in quibus cum execratione maledicta congessit.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

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.

Related verses

Numbers 5:22
May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
Revelation 10:9–10
And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
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.
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.
Deuteronomy 29:18
Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit,
Ecclesiastes 7:26
And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.
Isaiah 38:17
Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
Jeremiah 2:19
Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
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!’
Numbers 5:24–26
He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and may cause her bitter suffering.
Proverbs 5:4
…in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.

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 Ordeal of Jealousy Water that Brings a Curse, Water of Bitterness, Water of Jealousy

Topics

Adultery: Penalties For Bitter Water: A Ceremonial Water Used by the Priest Husband: General Scriptures Concerning Jealousy: Law Concerning, when Husband is Jealous for his Wife Offerings: Meat: Ordinances Concerning Priest: Duties of To Act As Magistrates 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

Numbers 5:18

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?