Numbers 5:24 kjv
And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter.
Numbers 5:24 nkjv
And he shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter her to become bitter.
Numbers 5:24 niv
He shall make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and this water that brings a curse and causes bitter suffering will enter her.
Numbers 5:24 esv
And he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain.
Numbers 5:24 nlt
He will make the woman drink the bitter water that brings on the curse. When the water enters her body, it will cause bitter suffering if she is guilty.
Numbers 5 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked... | God sees all hidden things. |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord... | Lord reveals hidden counsel of the heart. |
| Psa 44:21 | Would not God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart. | God's omniscience, knowing the heart. |
| Jer 17:10 | "I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind, to give... " | God tests the inner person and deeds. |
| Lk 8:17 | For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest... | Truth will eventually be revealed. |
| Job 34:21-22 | For his eyes are on the ways of mortals, and he sees all their steps... | God sees all, no darkness hides evildoers. |
| Prov 5:3-5 | For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, but in the end she is bitter | Adultery leads to bitter consequences. |
| Prov 6:27-29 | Can a man carry fire in his lap and his clothes not be burned?... | Sin of adultery brings self-inflicted harm. |
| Deut 28:15, 20 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord... then all these curses | General principle of curse for disobedience. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows... | Sowing and reaping; consequences of actions. |
| Rom 2:5-6 | But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath | Unrepentant sin brings wrath/judgment. |
| Jas 1:15 | Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin... | Sin's progression leads to internal decay. |
| Heb 13:4 | Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undef | God will judge the sexually immoral. |
| Lev 18:20 | "You shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife... " | Specific prohibition against adultery. |
| Eph 5:3 | But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even | Purity and holiness in the church. |
| 1 Cor 6:18 | Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits... | Sin against one's own body. |
| Deut 22:22 | "If a man is found lying with a married woman, both of them shall die... | Strict legal consequence for proven adultery. |
| Mal 3:5 | "Then I will draw near to you for judgment... against those who oppress | God as the ultimate judge of injustice. |
| Exod 15:26 | "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord... I will put | Obedience brings blessings, disobedience brings suffering. |
| 2 Cor 13:5 | Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith... | Self-examination in light of divine truth. |
| Prov 26:27 | Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back... | Consequences of malicious actions. |
| Zech 5:3 | Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the whole | The curse spreading across a land due to sin. |
| Prov 10:29 | The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright, but destruction is | Different outcomes for righteous and wicked. |
Numbers 5 verses
Numbers 5 24 Meaning
Numbers 5:24 describes a crucial step in the ordeal of bitterness (or jealousy), where the Israelite priest administers "the water that causes the curse" to a woman suspected of adultery. This water, ritually prepared with dust from the tabernacle floor and the ink of the curse scroll, is ingested. The verse states that this water will then enter her to cause "bitterness," implying an internal manifestation of divine judgment if she is guilty. It highlights the divine, not magical, nature of the judgment, which would reveal her hidden sin or confirm her innocence.
Numbers 5 24 Context
Numbers chapter 5 primarily addresses issues of purity and holiness within the Israelite camp, starting with the expulsion of the unclean (5:1-4) and dealing with restitution for wrongs (5:5-10). Verses 11-31 specifically detail the "ordeal of bitterness," or the "trial by ordeal" for a wife suspected of adultery by her jealous husband when there is no witness or direct proof of her guilt. This unique legal-religious ritual establishes a mechanism for divine intervention to discern truth in the absence of human evidence, preserving justice and social order. It served as a divine means to reveal hidden sin or confirm innocence, preventing unchecked accusations and ensuring divine retribution where human justice fell short. The ritual protects both the wronged husband and potentially falsely accused wife, allowing God to be the ultimate arbiter.
Numbers 5 24 Word analysis
- He shall make… drink (וְהִשְׁקָה, v’hishqah): This is a Hifil (causative) conjugation of the verb שָׁקָה (shaqah), "to drink." The causative implies the priest actively "gives to drink" or "causes to drink." It underscores the priestly authority and the formal, ritualistic nature of the act. The priest acts as an intermediary, carrying out the Lord's prescribed procedure.
- the woman (אֶת־הָאִשָּׁה, et-ha'ishah): Refers specifically to the accused wife. The definite article highlights that this ritual applies to a specific individual in a particular legal circumstance, not a general practice. Her participation is involuntary yet necessitated by her husband's suspicion and the absence of clear evidence.
- the water (אֶת־מֵי, et-mei): Literally "water of." This refers to the specific "holy water" prepared by the priest, which is not ordinary drinking water. Its unique properties derive from the dissolved dust from the Tabernacle floor and the washed-off ink of the inscribed curses.
- that causes the curse / of bitterness (הַמָּרִים, hammarim): From the root מָרַר (marar), meaning "bitter." Here, it refers to the quality of the water or the consequence it produces. It can imply a literal bitter taste or, more significantly, the "bitterness" of suffering, pain, or calamity resulting from divine judgment. This bitterness reflects the internal agony of guilt and its external consequences.
- that causes the curse / the cursed (הַמְאָרְרִים, hame’ararim): A participle from the verb אָרַר (arar), "to curse." This distinctly labels the water as "curse-bringing" or "waters that bring about the curse." It specifies that the water is imbued with the potential for a divine curse, conditional upon the woman's guilt. It's not a magical spell but a medium for God's judgmental power.
- and shall enter into her (וּבָאוּ בָהּ, u'va'u vah): Signifies the internal absorption of the water into the woman's body. The effectiveness of the ordeal lies in the water being taken into her, allowing for an internal, corporeal manifestation of the divine verdict. It implies the reaching of divine truth into the innermost being.
- to cause bitterness (לְמָרִים, lemarim): Again, from the root מָרַר (marar). This phrase reiterates the intended outcome: for the water to manifest "bitterness" within her. If guilty, this "bitterness" refers to the physical effects (swelling, decaying thigh and belly as described in vv. 21, 27) and the deep, spiritual agony and public shame of proven adultery. For the innocent, it would bring no such bitterness.
Numbers 5 24 Bonus section
The "ordeal of bitterness" stands apart from many ancient Near Eastern "river ordeals," which often involved swimming, the outcome determining guilt or innocence based on sinking or floating. Such pagan practices frequently resulted in death or severe physical harm. In contrast, the Israelite ordeal, as described in Numbers 5, had a highly conditional outcome based solely on divine intervention. The physical consequences (swelling belly and decaying thigh) were specifically related to a woman's reproductive capacity and core identity as a wife and potential mother, making the punishment for infidelity deeply symbolic and precise. If innocent, the woman would return unscathed and be able to conceive, showcasing divine affirmation and protection. This points to a deeper theological truth: Yahweh, unlike capricious pagan deities, directly supervises justice with knowledge and intent, providing a mechanism for truth to surface in a way that respects human life while upholding His covenant standards. It is a profound demonstration of God's moral governance and direct involvement in the details of His people's lives.
Numbers 5 24 Commentary
Numbers 5:24 is central to the ritual designed to address marital infidelity in the absence of witnesses. The priest's act of "making the woman drink" underlines the gravity and solemnity of the procedure, positioning it as a divine legal process rather than a mere superstition. The water itself, though described as "cursed" or "bitter," holds no inherent magical power; rather, it serves as the vehicle through which the omniscient God intervenes to manifest hidden truth. The phrase "and the water that causes the curse shall enter into her to cause bitterness" describes the mechanism of divine judgment. For the guilty, the "bitterness" manifests as specific physical ailments and profound public shame, a tangible demonstration of God's response to sin. For the innocent, the water would have no such effect, affirming her righteousness and allowing her to bear children. This ordeal highlights God's demand for purity within His covenant community, His unique ability to discern the secrets of the heart, and His justice in executing judgment. It also served as a powerful deterrent against infidelity and offered a structured, controlled means to resolve suspicions, preventing extra-legal violence or unwarranted social ostracization.