Numbers 30:9

9 "But a widow or a divorced woman must keep her vow or her promise.

Numbers 30:9 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 30:9

But every vow of a widow
The Scripture speaks, as Jarchi says, of a widow from marriage, or that has been married, but a widow from espousals (or that has been only espoused), the husband dead, the power is transmitted, and returns to the father; and with respect to such a case, it is said in the Misnah ^F25

``if the father (of such a betrothed person) dies, the power is not transmitted to the husband; but if the husband dies, the power is transmitted to the father; in this case, greater is the power of a father than of an husband; in others, greater is the power of an husband than of a father, because an husband makes void (the vow of) one at age, but a father does not make void (the vow of) such an one:''

and of her that is divorced:
from her husband on some account or another; now in each of these cases, the one being loosed from the law of her husband by death, and the other by a bill of divorce, if they vowed,

the vows wherewith they have bound their souls shall stand against her;
against either of them, they having none over them to disapprove of, contradict, and make void their vows.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Nedarim, c. 10. sect. 2.

Numbers 30:9 In-Context

7 her husband may hear about it but say nothing to her. Then her vow or oath must be kept.

8 But if her husband objects when he hears about it, he can cancel the vow or promise she made. The LORD will free her [from this vow or promise].

9 "But a widow or a divorced woman must keep her vow or her promise.

10 "A married woman might make a vow that she will do something or swear an oath that she won't do something.

11 Her husband may hear about it but may say nothing and not object. Then her vow or oath must be kept.