Numbers 5:19

19 And the priest shall adjure her, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone astray in uncleanness, in being with another instead of thy husband, be free from this bitter water that bringeth the curse.

Numbers 5:19 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:19

And the priest shall charge her by an oath
Or give her her oath:

and say unto the woman, if no man hath lain with thee:
besides her husband:

and thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness [with another] instead of
thy husband;
which is but another phrase expressive of the same thing, the sin of adultery:

be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse;
if this is the case, it shall produce no bitter effects, or bring any curse upon thee.

Numbers 5:19 In-Context

17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and the priest shall take of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle, and put it into the water.

18 And the priest shall set the woman before Jehovah, and uncover the woman's head, and put the memorial oblation in her hands, which is the jealousy offering; and in the hand of the priest shall be the bitter water that bringeth the curse.

19 And the priest shall adjure her, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone astray in uncleanness, in being with another instead of thy husband, be free from this bitter water that bringeth the curse.

20 But if thou hast gone astray to another instead of thy husband, and hast been defiled, and a man other than thy husband have lain with thee,

21 -- then the priest shall adjure the woman with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman: Jehovah make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when Jehovah doth make thy thigh to shrink, and thy belly to swell;

Footnotes

• [a]. Or 'if thou being under thy husband hast not gone astray in uncleanness.'