Numbers 30:1-6

1 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the People of Israel: "This is what God commands:

2 When a man makes a vow to God or binds himself by an oath to do something, he must not break his word; he must do exactly what he has said.

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,

Numbers 30:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 30

Mention being made, in the latter part of the preceding chapter, of vows to be performed to the Lord, besides the sacrifices directed to; here some account is given of them, and men are charged to fulfil, and not break them, Nu 30:1,2 but as to women, if a maid, being in her father's house, made a vow in his hearing, and he silent at it, her vow stood; but if he disapproved of it, it was null and void, Nu 30:3-5 and so a wife, when she vowed a vow in the hearing of her husband, and he said not ought against it, it was valid; but if he objected to it, it stood for nothing, Nu 30:6-8, likewise a widow, or one divorced, that made a vow in her husband's house, before he died, or she was put away from him, and he did not contradict it, it remained in force and to be fulfilled; but if he made it void, it stood not, and she was forgiven, Nu 30:9-12 it being in an husband's power to confirm or make null a vow or oath, made by his wife to afflict her soul; but if he made any void after he heard them, and had been silent, he himself was to bear her iniquity, Nu 30:13-16.