Numbers 30:16

16 These be the laws, which the Lord ordained to Moses, betwixt the husband and the wife, (and) betwixt the father and the daughter, which is yet in the age of a young damsel, or that yet dwelleth in her father's house unmarried.

Numbers 30:16 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 30:16

These are the statutes which the Lord commanded Moses between
a man and his wife
Relating to vows made by the wife, and confirmed or disannulled by the husband: Aben Ezra adds, if she is at age or in puberty, understanding it of a married and not a betrothed wife:

between the father and his daughter;
if she is not at age, as the same writer observes; for if she is at age he has nothing to do with her vows:

[being yet] in her youth;
not at age, being not twelve years and one day old:

in her father's house;
in his power and jurisdiction, and at his disposal, and so could make her vows void or firm, as he pleased: this power of ratifying or disannulling vows an husband had over his wife, and a father over his daughter, to prevent imprudent and extravagant vows, and the too frequent use of them, the consequences of which might be bad in families.

Numbers 30:16 In-Context

14 That if the husband heareth it, and he is still, and delayeth the sentence in[to] the tother day, she shall yield whatever thing she avowed and promised, for he was still, (and said not against it,) anon as he heard. (But if her husband heareth of it, and he is silent, and delayeth his judgement into the next day, she shall yield whatever that she hath vowed, or hath promised, for he was silent, and said nothing against it, as soon as he heard of it.)
15 Soothly if her husband against-said her avow, and her oath, after that he knew thereof, he shall bear his wickedness. (But if her husband saith against her vow, or her oath, sometime after that he hath learned of it, he shall bear her wickedness, that is, the penalty for not fulfilling the vow.)
16 These be the laws, which the Lord ordained to Moses, betwixt the husband and the wife, (and) betwixt the father and the daughter, which is yet in the age of a young damsel, or that yet dwelleth in her father's house unmarried.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.