Numbers 5:20

20 But if you have been with another in place of your husband and have made yourself unclean with a lover:

Numbers 5:20 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:20

But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy
husband
Gone aside from the paths of modesty and chastity, and betook herself to another man's bed instead of her husband's:

and if thou be defiled,
by committing adultery:

and some man hath lain with thee beside thy husband;
these phrases are all synonymous, and a heap of words are made use of to express the sin, and that there might be no evasion of it, and that it might be clear what was intended, this being said on oath.

Numbers 5:20 In-Context

18 And he will make the woman come before the Lord with her hair loose, and will put the meal offering, the offering of a bitter spirit, in her hands; and the priest will take in his hand the bitter water causing the curse;

19 And he will make her take an oath, and say to her, If no man has been your lover and you have not been with another in place of your husband, you are free from this bitter water causing the curse;

20 But if you have been with another in place of your husband and have made yourself unclean with a lover:

21 Then the priest will put the oath of the curse on the woman, and say to her, May the Lord make you a curse and an oath among your people, sending on you wasting of the legs and disease of the stomach;

22 And this water of the curse will go into your body, causing disease of your stomach and wasting of your legs: and the woman will say, So be it.