Numbers 30:8

8 But if, at the time that her husband hears of it, he expresses disapproval to her, then he shall nullify the vow by which she was obligated, or the thoughtless utterance of her lips, by which she bound herself; and the Lord will forgive her.

Numbers 30:8 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 30:8

But if her husband disallow her on the day that he heard it,
&c.] Expresses his dislike of it; and this he does as soon as he hears it, at least that same day; according to the Jews ^F24, within the space of twenty four hours:

then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered
with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect;
by contradicting it, and forbidding the performance of it; or however by declaring to her, or to others, that it is not agreeable to his mind and will that it should be fulfilled:

and the Lord shall forgive her;
excuse her performance of the vow, and not impute sin to her on that account, nor punish for the breach of it, she being under the cover of her husband, and obliged to submit to his will. According to Jarchi, the Scripture speaks of a woman that vows to be a Nazarite; her husband hears and makes it void; but she does not know it, and transgresses her vow, and drinks wine, and is defiled with the dead, so that she has need of forgiveness, though it is made void; and if vows made void, he adds, have need of pardon, much more those that are not.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 Leo Modena's History of Rites par. 2. c. 4.

Numbers 30:8 In-Context

6 If she marries, while obligated by her vows or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself,

7 and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her at the time that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand.

8 But if, at the time that her husband hears of it, he expresses disapproval to her, then he shall nullify the vow by which she was obligated, or the thoughtless utterance of her lips, by which she bound herself; and the Lord will forgive her.

9 (But every vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, by which she has bound herself, shall be binding upon her.)

10 And if she made a vow in her husband's house, or bound herself by a pledge with an oath,