Numbers 5:15 kjv
Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
Numbers 5:15 nkjv
then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. He shall bring the offering required for her, one-tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of jealousy, an offering for remembering, for bringing iniquity to remembrance.
Numbers 5:15 niv
then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour on her behalf. He must not pour olive oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder-offering to draw attention to wrongdoing.
Numbers 5:15 esv
then the man shall bring his wife to the priest and bring the offering required of her, a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
Numbers 5:15 nlt
the husband must bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring an offering of two quarts of barley flour to be presented on her behalf. Do not mix it with olive oil or frankincense, for it is a jealousy offering ? an offering to prove whether or not she is guilty.
Numbers 5 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 3:15 | "...enmity... he shall bruise your head..." | Foreshadows consequences of sin and divine judgment. |
| Lev 2:1-16 | Grain offerings: typically include oil and frankincense. | Contrast: Normal offerings show favor, this shows distress. |
| Lev 5:11-13 | Sin offering of the poor: "tenth of an ephah of fine flour, no oil, no frankincense." | Similar unadorned offering linked to sin and humble state. |
| Num 5:11-31 | The entire ritual of the "water of bitterness." | Provides the full procedural context for the offering. |
| Deut 4:24 | "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." | God's divine jealousy against spiritual infidelity. |
| Deut 29:20 | "...the Lord's jealousy will burn against that man..." | Divine jealousy burning against those who turn away. |
| Job 28:11 | "He binds up the streams... what is hidden he brings into the light." | God's power to reveal hidden truths. |
| Pss 44:21 | "Would not God find this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart." | God's omniscient knowledge of human hidden actions. |
| Pss 139:2 | "You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off." | God's perfect knowledge bringing all deeds to light. |
| Prov 27:4 | "Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?" | Human jealousy's destructive power. |
| Isa 63:15 | "Where are Your zealous and mighty power?" | God's zeal and passion for His righteousness. |
| Jer 2:20 | "...you bowed down as a prostitute..." | Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness likened to harlotry. |
| Hos 4:12 | "...spirit of prostitution has led them astray..." | Spiritual infidelity (idolatry) as a core biblical sin. |
| Mal 3:5 | "...I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers..." | God acts as a divine witness against secret sins. |
| Matt 12:36 | "...for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." | All actions, even hidden ones, will be remembered and judged. |
| Luke 12:2 | "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known." | Emphasizes certainty that concealed sins will be exposed. |
| Rom 2:16 | "...in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ..." | God's judgment includes secret human deeds and thoughts. |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | "...the Lord, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts." | God's revelation of all concealed matters and intentions. |
| Heb 4:13 | "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." | God's omnipresence means nothing is hidden from Him. |
| Rev 2:23 | "...I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works." | Divine scrutiny and righteous judgment based on conduct. |
Numbers 5 verses
Numbers 5 15 Meaning
Numbers 5:15 describes the specific steps a man must take when he suspects his wife of infidelity but has no proof. He is commanded to bring his wife to the priest, along with a minimal offering of barley flour. Notably, this offering must have no oil and no frankincense. It is explicitly identified as a "grain offering of jealousy" and a "grain offering of remembrance," whose purpose is to bring "iniquity to remembrance," indicating its function in exposing or confirming hidden sin before God.
Numbers 5 15 Context
Numbers chapter 5 details various laws concerning purity within the Israelite camp. It begins with instructions for isolating those with defiling conditions (such as leprosy or discharge) to maintain ritual purity. This is followed by regulations for making restitution for wrongs committed, underscoring the holiness and justice required within the covenant community. Verses 11-31, of which verse 15 is a part, outline the unique and solemn sotah ritual, or the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water." This ritual was designed to address suspected marital infidelity where there was no human witness or conclusive evidence. It was a divine test, mediated by the priest, which sought to discern truth from falsehood through God's direct intervention. The context highlights God's demand for holiness and moral integrity not only within the tabernacle and its immediate surroundings but also within the foundational institution of marriage, vital for the spiritual health of the entire nation.
Numbers 5 15 Word analysis
- then the man shall bring his wife to the priest: This establishes the official nature of the procedure, involving the husband as accuser (due to suspicion), the wife as the accused, and the priest as the designated mediator and administrator of God's law. It's a formal act, not a domestic quarrel.
- and bring as an offering for her: The offering is brought "for her" (Hebrew: `bʿadah`), meaning it concerns or pertains to her situation. It is part of the solemn inquiry into her suspected unfaithfulness.
- one-tenth of an ephah: (`asarit hā'êphāh`) This small measure (approximately 2.2 liters) indicates a humble, modest quantity of flour. It suggests a plea of distress rather than an opulent offering of thanks or worship.
- of barley flour: (`qemah se'ōrîm`) Barley was considered the cheapest and coarsest grain, typically used as animal feed or by the poor. Its use here signifies a low, common, and somewhat demeaning offering, reflecting the potential humiliation and the seriousness of suspected secret sin. It sharply contrasts with the fine flour usually used in other grain offerings.
- and he shall pour no oil on it: (`lo'-yiṣoq alāhâ šemen`) Oil was a symbol of joy, blessing, prosperity, consecration, and God's favor in most offerings (e.g., Lev 2:1). Its explicit omission here signals a situation devoid of joy or blessing, a state of distress, and reflects the absence of God's favorable countenance upon potential sin.
- and put no frankincense on it: (`we´lō' yittēn 'alāh lebônâh`) Frankincense, an expensive and fragrant spice, symbolized a pleasant aroma to God, honor, and a memorial (`azkarah`) in other grain offerings (e.g., Lev 2:1). Its deliberate absence signifies that this offering is not a pleasing aroma, an act of honor, or joyful devotion. It underscores the solemn, even unpleasant, nature of uncovering hidden sin.
- for it is a grain offering of jealousy: (`kî minḥat qena'ot hûw´`) `Qena'ot` (jealousy) refers to the fervent suspicion or zeal, here stemming from the husband's concern for his wife's purity. It also resonates with God's fierce zeal against covenant unfaithfulness. The offering is thus motivated by and addresses the intense emotion surrounding potential betrayal.
- a grain offering of remembrance: (`minḥat zikkārôn`) `Zikkārôn` (remembrance, memorial) signifies that the offering functions to bring a matter to God's "remembrance." It serves as a spiritual petition for God to bring the hidden truth to light, invoking His omniscience.
- bringing iniquity to remembrance: (`mazkiret ‘awon`) `Mazkiret` means to call to mind or make manifest. `‘Awôn` refers to sin, guilt, or its punishment. This phrase unequivocally states the ritual's purpose: to reveal, expose, or confront the iniquity (adultery) if it exists, and to make it manifest before God and man.
- "he shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it": This emphatic double negative differentiates the "jealousy offering" from virtually all other `minḥah` (grain offerings). Standard `minḥah` were joyful expressions of worship, partnership, and thanks. The removal of oil (joy, blessing) and frankincense (honor, sweet aroma) highlights that this is an offering of sorrow, humiliation, and distress, aimed not at reconciliation or blessing, but at the divine judgment or revelation of potential sin.
- "for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance": This crucial tripartite description thoroughly defines the offering's unique purpose. It clarifies that its origin is human `jealousy`, its divine effect is `remembrance` (God taking notice and acting), and its consequence is to reveal `iniquity`. The repetition emphasizes that this specific offering is intrinsically tied to addressing the severe issue of suspected, hidden sin, appealing directly to God’s all-knowing nature to uncover the truth.
Numbers 5 15 Bonus section
The "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" in Numbers 5 represents a unique trial by ordeal, distinctive from other ancient Near Eastern practices by its reliance solely on the God of Israel for revelation, rather than magical means or fallible human judgment. It functioned not just as a test, but also as a powerful deterrent against secret sin, knowing that one would have to face a divinely-ordained process. The choice of the most common, cheapest grain signifies not only a humble offering suitable for all classes, but also points to the wife's potential loss of honor. The "jealousy" is a righteous zeal for marital fidelity, reflecting a parallel to God’s own "jealousy" for His people’s faithfulness in the covenant, portraying a deep concern for truth and righteousness at the heart of Israelite society.
Numbers 5 15 Commentary
Numbers 5:15 initiates the procedure for confronting suspected adultery where evidence is lacking, directing the matter to God for discernment. The prescribed offering — a minimal amount of inexpensive barley flour, devoid of customary oil and frankincense — underscores the offering's solemnity and unjoyful nature. This stark imagery communicates distress, absence of blessing, and even humiliation associated with sin. Designated as both a "grain offering of jealousy" (reflecting the human emotion and divine zeal) and a "grain offering of remembrance," its explicit purpose is "bringing iniquity to remembrance." This means the offering serves as a direct plea to the omniscient God to expose hidden sin, validating the sanctity of marriage and illustrating God's commitment to purity and justice within the covenant community. It reveals that secret transgressions cannot ultimately escape God’s divine scrutiny.