Numbers 30 13

Numbers 30:13 kjv

Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.

Numbers 30:13 nkjv

Every vow and every binding oath to afflict her soul, her husband may confirm it, or her husband may make it void.

Numbers 30:13 niv

Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.

Numbers 30:13 esv

Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself, her husband may establish, or her husband may make void.

Numbers 30:13 nlt

So her husband may either confirm or nullify any vows or pledges she makes to deny herself.

Numbers 30 verses

Numbers 30 13 Meaning

Numbers 30:13 states that any vow or self-imposed restriction a married woman makes, especially those involving self-denial, requires the explicit affirmation or annulment of her husband. Her vow becomes binding only if her husband establishes it; otherwise, he has the authority to make it void. This regulation highlights the husband's headship within the family unit and his responsibility for its well-being, including protecting his wife from ill-advised or excessive religious commitments.

Numbers 30 13 Context

Numbers chapter 30 addresses the intricate laws concerning vows and binding oaths made to the Lord. The chapter systematically outlines who is responsible for a vow's fulfillment and whose authority can affect its validity. It begins with the general principle that a vow made must be kept (Num 30:2). It then details rules for a man, an unmarried woman still in her father's house, a wife, and a widow or divorced woman. For women under the authority of a father or husband, their vows' validity is contingent on the male head of the household's knowledge and permission (Num 30:3-12). Specifically, verse 13 refers to the situation of a married woman whose vow or oath is related to "afflicting herself," usually implying self-denial such as fasting. The broader context establishes the legal framework for the covenant community, emphasizing order, authority, and accountability within family units, mirroring God's divine order. The historical context reflects a patriarchal society where the family head was responsible for its members and its relationship with God, including their spiritual commitments.

Numbers 30 13 Word analysis

• Every: (Heb. kol - כָּל) Denotes universality or entirety. Here, it means that this law applies to all instances of a wife's vows or binding oaths.

• vow: (Heb. neder - נֶדֶר) A voluntary promise made to God, often involving offering a sacrifice or performing a specific act. It's a spontaneous and serious commitment beyond the Mosaic law's direct commands.

• and every binding oath: (Heb. vĕḵol-issar - וְכָל־אִסָּר) An oath or obligation that binds oneself, typically a self-imposed prohibition or restraint. While a "vow" (neder) is often about what one will do, an "oath" (issar) is often about what one will not do or from what one will abstain.

• to afflict herself: (Heb. lĕʿannōṯ naphšāh - לְעַנֹּת נַפְשָׁהּ)

  • lĕʿannōṯ: From the verb ʿanah (עָנָה), meaning "to humble, oppress, afflict, deny oneself." It signifies imposing hardship, often in a spiritual context like fasting or sexual abstinence, as seen on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:29).
  • naphšāh: From nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ), meaning "soul, life, self." Thus, "afflicting herself" means engaging in self-denial or mortification of the physical desires for spiritual purposes.

• her husband: (Heb. ʾīšāh - אִישָׁהּ) The term for a man, in this context, her husband. The possessive suffix -āh indicates "her." This specifies the authority figure in a wife's life concerning her vows.

• may establish it: (Heb. yĕqīmennū - יְקִימֶנּוּ) From the verb qum (קוּם), meaning "to arise, stand, confirm, ratify." The husband's affirmation makes the vow legally and spiritually binding upon the wife. It signifies his explicit consent.

• or her husband may make it void: (Heb. wĕʾīšāh yāfēr - וְאִישָׁהּ יְפִרֶנּוּ)

  • wĕʾīšāh: "And her husband."
  • yāfēr: From the verb parar (פָּרַר), meaning "to break, frustrate, make void, annul." This highlights the husband's power to nullify such commitments, effectively cancelling the vow and freeing his wife from its obligation without sin or guilt (Num 30:8).

• Words-Group analysis:

  • "Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict herself": This specific phrasing highlights that the law is not just about any vow, but particularly those where a wife promises some form of personal asceticism or self-denial. Such vows might impact her well-being, her role in the household, or the marital relationship (e.g., abstinence vows), thus requiring her husband's oversight.
  • "her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void": This emphasizes the husband's decisive and dual authority. He is the ultimate arbiter, holding the power to confirm or cancel, ensuring that vows made within his household align with its unity and well-being. This structure protected the wife from rash or overly burdensome vows and prevented conflicts within the marital covenant.

Numbers 30 13 Bonus section

The specific focus on vows "to afflict herself" (lĕʿannōṯ naphšāh) is significant. This phrase, found only here and in association with the Day of Atonement, typically denotes forms of physical hardship like fasting. In Numbers 30, it encompasses broader self-denial. This detail indicates that while all vows were serious, vows affecting the woman's physical state or her daily life required particular oversight. The husband's right to void these vows ensures that excessive asceticism does not harm her, neglect her duties, or undermine marital intimacy, thus upholding the holistic well-being of the marriage as ordained by God. This legal provision beautifully balances individual religious freedom with the ordered structure of the family unit, showing God's concern for both personal devotion and the sanctity and functionality of the marriage covenant.

Numbers 30 13 Commentary

Numbers 30:13 sets forth a foundational principle of ancient Israelite family law concerning the spiritual autonomy and accountability of a married woman. It is rooted in the divine order of headship, where the husband holds the primary responsibility for the household. While a woman's vows were intrinsically serious before God, their enforceability for a wife depended on her husband's agreement. This provision was not arbitrary or merely about control; it served several crucial purposes. Firstly, it maintained unity within the family, preventing a wife from making religious commitments that could contradict or undermine household harmony, the husband's provisions, or their marital responsibilities (e.g., vows of long-term fasting that could impair health or marital intimacy). Secondly, it offered a layer of protection for the wife, safeguarding her from making ill-considered vows under duress or extreme emotion, or those that might bring undue hardship upon herself or her family. If a husband voided such a vow, the wife was not held culpable by God (Num 30:8). This system underscores God's wisdom in establishing a clear chain of authority and mutual accountability within the covenant of marriage, ensuring that personal piety did not inadvertently conflict with established divine order or the welfare of the family. The New Testament reflects a similar structure of headship within marriage, emphasizing a husband's loving leadership and a wife's respectful submission, both for the glory of God.