Numbers 5:14

14 and the spirit of jealousy come upon him and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled -- or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled--

Numbers 5:14 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:14

And the spirit of jealousy come upon him
A thought rises up in his mind, a strong suspicion works in him, which he cannot resist and throw off, but it remains with him, and makes him very uneasy, that his wife has defiled his bed, as it follows:

and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled;
that his wife is defiled by a man; and which is the real case, as it afterwards appears, though at present he is not certain, only has a suspicion of it:

or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his
wife, and she be not defiled;
it is mere jealousy and suspicion, without any foundation for it; and his wife proved a chaste and virtuous woman; yet be it which it would, he being jealous, the following law was to take place, and the following rules to be observed.

Numbers 5:14 In-Context

12 "Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them: `If any man's wife go astray and commit a trespass against him,

13 and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband and be kept secret, and she be defiled and there be no witness against her, neither be she taken in the act,

14 and the spirit of jealousy come upon him and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled -- or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled--

15 then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest. And he shall bring her offering for her, a tenth part of an ephah of barley meal. He shall pour no oil upon it nor put frankincense thereon, for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

16 "`And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD.