Numbers 5:13

13 and hath slept with another man, and the husband may not take, either prove this, but the adultery is hid, and may not be proved by witnesses, for she is not found in lechery; (and hath slept with another man, but her husband cannot prove it, for the adultery is hidden, or is done in secret, and so cannot be proved by witnesses, for she was not found in lechery;)

Numbers 5:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:13

And a man lie with her carnally
That is, is suspected that he has so done, not that it is a clear case, for it follows;

and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close;
so that it is not known by her husband, nor by any other; "she hath hid herself", so Ainsworth, being in a private place with another man, though warned to the contrary by her husband:

and she be defiled, and [there be] no witness against her;
of her being defiled, though there may be of her being in private with such a man:

neither she be taken [with the manner];
or in the act of uncleanness.

Numbers 5:13 In-Context

11 And the Lord spake to Moses, and said,
12 Speak thou to the sons of Israel (Speak thou to the Israelites), and thou shalt say to them, If a man's wife hath erred, and hath despised her husband,
13 and hath slept with another man, and the husband may not take, either prove this, but the adultery is hid, and may not be proved by witnesses, for she is not found in lechery; (and hath slept with another man, but her husband cannot prove it, for the adultery is hidden, or is done in secret, and so cannot be proved by witnesses, for she was not found in lechery;)
14 (or) if the spirit of jealousy stirreth the husband against his wife, which is either defouled, either she is impeached by false suspicion, (or if the spirit of jealousy stirreth a husband against his wife, and she is either truly defiled, or is impeached by false suspicion,)
15 the man shall bring her to the priest, and he shall offer an offering for her, the tenth part of a measure called (a) saton of barley meal; he shall not pour oil thereupon, neither he shall put incense thereto, for it is the sacrifice of jealousy, and an offering inquiring (about) adultery. (the husband shall bring her to the priest, and he shall offer an offering for her, the tenth of a measure called a seah of barley meal, that is, the tenth of an ephah; he shall not pour oil on it, nor shall he put incense on it, for it is an offering for jealousy, and an offering to inquire about adultery.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.