Numbers 30:10-16

10 "If a woman makes a promise or pledge while she is married,

11 and if her husband hears about it but says nothing and does not stop her, she must keep her promise or pledge.

12 But if her husband hears about it and cancels it, she does not have to do what she said. Her husband has canceled it, so the Lord will free her from it.

13 A woman's husband may make her keep or cancel any promise or pledge she has made.

14 If he says nothing to her about it for several days, she must keep her promises. If he hears about them and says nothing, she must keep her promises.

15 But if he cancels them long after he heard about them, he is responsible if she breaks her promise."

16 These are commands that the Lord gave to Moses for husbands and wives, and for fathers with daughters living at home.

Numbers 30:10-16 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.