Numbers 5:25-31

25 And the priest will take from her hand the meal offering of doubt, waving it before the Lord, and will take it to the altar;

26 And he will take some of it in his hand, burning it on the altar as a sign, and then he will give the woman the bitter water.

27 And it will be that if the woman has become unclean, sinning against her husband, when she has taken the bitter water it will go into her body, causing disease of the stomach and wasting of the legs, and she will be a curse among her people.

28 But if she is clean she will be free and will have offspring.

29 This is the law for testing a wife who goes with another in place of her husband and becomes unclean;

30 Or for a husband who, in a bitter spirit, has doubts in his heart about his wife; let him take her to the priest, who will put in force this law.

31 Then the man will be free from all wrong, and the woman's sin will be on her.

Numbers 5:25-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 5

This chapter contains a repetition of some former laws, concerning putting unclean persons out of the camp, Nu 5:1-4; making restitution in case of trespass against another, Nu 5:5-8; and of giving the offering of all holy things and all hallowed things to the priests, Nu 5:9,10; and a new law concerning jealousy, in a man, of his wife, Nu 5:11-14; when she was to be brought to the priest, and various rites and ceremonies to be used, Nu 5:15-23; who was to give her bitter water as a trial of her chastity, which, if guilty, would have a strange effect upon her, and make her accursed, but if not, would not affect her, and she would be free and happy, Nu 5:24-31.