Numbers 30

1 Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, "This is what the LORD has commanded [about vows]:

2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD that he will do something or swears an oath that he won't do something, he must not break his word. He must do everything he said he would do.

3 "A young girl, who still lives in her father's house, might make a vow to the LORD that she will do something or swear an oath that she won't do something.

4 If her father says nothing to her when he hears about it, her vow or oath must be kept.

5 But if her father objects when he hears about it, her vow or oath doesn't have to be kept. The LORD will free her [from this vow or oath] because her father objected.

6 "An unmarried woman might make a vow that she will do something or carelessly promise that she won't do something. When she marries,

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.

12 But if her husband cancels it when he hears about it, nothing she said in her vow or oath has to be kept. Her husband has canceled it, and the LORD will free her [from this vow or oath].

13 "A husband decides whether or not his wife has to keep any vow to do something or any oath to do without something.

14 If he says nothing to her about it day after day, this means he's decided that she must keep her vow or oath. She must keep it because he said nothing to her when he heard about it.

15 But if he cancels it later, he will suffer the consequences."

16 These are the laws the LORD gave Moses for husbands and wives, and for fathers with young daughters still living at home.

Numbers 30 Commentary

Chapter 30

Vows to be kept. (1,2) The cases wherein vows might be released. (3-16)

Verses 1-2 No man can be bound by his own promise to do what he is already, by the Divine precept, forbidden to do. In other matters the command is, that he shall not break his words, through he may change his mind.

Verses 3-16 Two cases of vows are determined. The case of a daughter in her father's house. When her vow comes to his knowledge, it is in his power either to confirm it or do it away. The law is plain in the case of a wife. If her husband allows her vow, though only by silence, it stands. If he disallows it, her obligation to her husband takes place of it; for to him she ought to be in subjection, as unto the Lord. The Divine law consults the good order of families. It is fit that every man should bear rule in his own house, and have his wife and children in subjection; rather than that this great rule should be broken, or any encouragement be given to inferior relations to break those bonds asunder, God releases the obligation even of a solemn vow. So much does religion secure the welfare of all societies; and in it the families of the earth have a blessing.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 30

Mention being made, in the latter part of the preceding chapter, of vows to be performed to the Lord, besides the sacrifices directed to; here some account is given of them, and men are charged to fulfil, and not break them, Nu 30:1,2 but as to women, if a maid, being in her father's house, made a vow in his hearing, and he silent at it, her vow stood; but if he disapproved of it, it was null and void, Nu 30:3-5 and so a wife, when she vowed a vow in the hearing of her husband, and he said not ought against it, it was valid; but if he objected to it, it stood for nothing, Nu 30:6-8, likewise a widow, or one divorced, that made a vow in her husband's house, before he died, or she was put away from him, and he did not contradict it, it remained in force and to be fulfilled; but if he made it void, it stood not, and she was forgiven, Nu 30:9-12 it being in an husband's power to confirm or make null a vow or oath, made by his wife to afflict her soul; but if he made any void after he heard them, and had been silent, he himself was to bear her iniquity, Nu 30:13-16.