Numbers 5:23

Translations

Modern

And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.

Traditional

And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:

Literal

And the priest shall write these oaths in the book, and he shall wipe them off into the bitter water.

Latin

Scribetque sacerdos in libello ista maledicta, et delebit ea aquis amarissimis, in quas maledicta congessit,

Original

Hebrew

English

And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.

Notes

Numbers 5:23–24

The image of drinking curses appears again in Ezekiel 2:8–3:3 and Revelation 10:8–11.

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

2 Chronicles 34:24
…that this is what the LORD says: I am about to bring calamity on this place and on its people, according to all the curses written in the book that has been read in the presence of the king of Judah,
Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
Exodus 17:14
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
Job 31:35
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.
Psalm 51:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.
Psalm 51:9
Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Deuteronomy 31:19
Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites; have them recite it, so that it may be a witness for Me against them.
Jeremiah 51:60–64
Jeremiah had written on a single scroll about all the disaster that would come upon Babylon—all these words that had been written concerning Babylon.
1 Corinthians 16:21–22
This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.

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 Writing

Topics

Adultery: Penalties For Bitter Water: A Ceremonial Water Used by the Priest Books: Erasures In, Alluded To 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

Numbers 5:23

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