Numbers 5:29

29 “ ‘This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and makes herself impure while married to her husband,

Numbers 5:29 in Other Translations

29 This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;

29 "This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself,

29 “This is the ritual law for dealing with suspicion. If a woman goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,

29 "This is the law of jealousy in a case where a woman goes off and has an affair and defiles herself while married to her husband,

29 "This is the law regarding jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband's authority,

Numbers 5:29 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 5:29

This [is] the law of jealousies
Which was appointed by God to deter wives from adultery, and preserve the people of Israel, the worshippers of him, from having a spurious brood among them; and to keep husbands from being cruel to their wives they might be jealous of, and to protect virtue and innocence, and to detect lewdness committed in the most secret manner; whereby God gave proof of his omniscience, that he had knowledge of the most private acts of uncleanness, and was the avenger of all such. The reasons why such a law was not made equally in favour of women, as of men, are supposed to be these: because of the greater authority of the man over the woman, which would seem to be lessened, if such a power was granted her; because marriage was not so much hurt, or so much damage came to families by the adultery of men, as of women; because women are more apt to be suspicious than men, and in those times more prone to adultery, through their eager desire of children, that they might not lie under reproach {o}:

when a wife goeth aside [to another] instead of her husband, and is
defiled;
is suspected of going aside to another man, and is supposed to be defiled by him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Vid. Salden. ut supra, (Otia, l. 1. Exercitat. 6.) sect. 19.

Numbers 5:29 In-Context

27 If she has made herself impure and been unfaithful to her husband, this will be the result: When she is made to drink the water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering, it will enter her, her abdomen will swell and her womb will miscarry, and she will become a curse.

28 If, however, the woman has not made herself impure, but is clean, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children.

29 “ ‘This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and makes herself impure while married to her husband,

30 or when feelings of jealousy come over a man because he suspects his wife. The priest is to have her stand before the LORD and is to apply this entire law to her.

31 The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.’ ”

Cross References

• 1. S ver 19