Keraia
Numbers 5

Numbers 5:22

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

Translations

Modern
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.’
Traditional
And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.
Literal
And may these waters that cause the curse go into your stomach, and make swell your belly, and your thigh rot.’ And the woman shall say, ‘Amen, Amen.’
Latin
Ingrediantur aquæ maledictæ in ventrem tuum, et utero tumescente putrescat femur. Et respondebit mulier: Amen, amen.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.’

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.

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 Amen: A Word Used to Reenforce a Statement Bitter Water: A Ceremonial Water Used by the Priest Husband: General Scriptures Concerning Jealousy: Law Concerning, when Husband is Jealous for his Wife Oath: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To 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