Numbers 30:5

5 But if her father holds her back when he hears of what she has done, none of her vows and pledges are valid. God will release her since her father held her back.

Numbers 30:5 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 30:5

But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth
Disapproves of her vow, and expresses his dislike of it, and declares it null and void; which, if done at all, is to be done on the same day he hears it, and not on another day, as Aben Ezra observes; not the day following, and much less on a third or fourth day and it might be done on a sabbath day ^F21:

not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she bound her soul,
shall stand;
but become null and void, she being at the control of her father, and having nothing in her own power, and at her own disposal, to vow or consecrate, but wholly in the power and at the disposal of her father:

and the Lord shall forgive her;
the breach of her vow, it shall not be imputed to her as a sin:

because her father disallowed her;
so that it was no fault of hers that it was not fulfilled; though she might be blameworthy to make one, without previously obtaining his consent, and making it rashly without his previous knowledge, she not being at her own hands; and in this respect may be said to be forgiven by the Lord, which supposes some fault committed.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F21 Misn. Sabbat, c. 24. sect. 5.

Numbers 30:5 In-Context

3 "When a woman makes a vow to God and binds herself by a pledge as a young girl still living in her father's house,

4 and her father hears of her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then she has to make good on all her vows and pledges.

5 But if her father holds her back when he hears of what she has done, none of her vows and pledges are valid. God will release her since her father held her back.

6 "If she marries after she makes a vow or has made some rash promise or pledge,

7 and her husband hears of it but says nothing to her, then she has to make good on whatever she vowed or pledged.