Numbers 30:4-14

4 and her father hears of her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then she has to make good on all her vows and pledges.

5 But if her father holds her back when he hears of what she has done, none of her vows and pledges are valid. God will release her since her father held her back.

6 "If she marries after she makes a vow or has made some rash promise or pledge,

7 and her husband hears of it but says nothing to her, then she has to make good on whatever she vowed or pledged.

8 But if her husband intervenes when he hears of it, he cancels the vow or rash promise that binds her. And God will release her.

9 "Any vow or pledge taken by a widow or divorced woman is binding on her.

10 "When a woman who is living with her husband makes a vow or takes a pledge under oath

11 and her husband hears about it but says nothing and doesn't say she can't do it, then all her vows and pledges are valid.

12 But if her husband cancels them when he hears about them, then none of the vows and pledges that she made are binding. Her husband has canceled them and God will release her.

13 Any vow and pledge that she makes that may be to her detriment can be either affirmed or annulled by her husband.

14 But if her husband is silent and doesn't speak up day after day, he confirms her vows and pledges - she has to make good on them. By saying nothing to her when he hears of them, he binds her to them.

Numbers 30:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

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.