Numbers 5 28

Numbers 5:28 kjv

And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.

Numbers 5:28 nkjv

But if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she shall be free and may conceive children.

Numbers 5:28 niv

If, however, the woman has not made herself impure, but is clean, she will be cleared of guilt and will be able to have children.

Numbers 5:28 esv

But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children.

Numbers 5:28 nlt

But if she has not defiled herself and is pure, then she will be unharmed and will still be able to have children.

Numbers 5 verses

Numbers 5 28 Meaning

Numbers 5:28 declares the outcome for a woman accused of marital infidelity who is proven innocent by the divine ordeal of the bitter water. If the ritual confirms her purity and she has not defiled herself, then she will be legally and ritually acquitted, pronounced guiltless, and subsequently, God will bless her womb enabling her to conceive and bear children. This outcome signifies divine vindication and the restoration of her status, trust, and fertility within the marriage.

Numbers 5 28 Context

Numbers chapter 5 details several laws related to maintaining the sanctity and purity of the Israelite camp and, by extension, the purity of their relationship with God. It begins with instructions for expelling the unclean from the camp (5:1-4), then moves to restitution for wrongs committed (5:5-10), and concludes with the law of the suspected adulteress (5:11-31). This "ordeal of bitter water" (Hebrew: Sotah) addresses a specific and sensitive marital situation: when a husband suspects his wife of infidelity but lacks direct evidence. In a society without formal investigative methods, this ritual provided a means for divine intervention and justice, protecting both the sanctity of marriage and the innocent wife. The verse 28 marks the conclusion of this unique judicial process, offering a clear divine blessing and vindication for the accused wife if she is proven pure, standing in stark contrast to the severe physical consequences outlined for the guilty (vv. 21-22). It underscores God's commitment to marital purity and His capacity to reveal hidden truths.

Numbers 5 28 Word analysis

• "But if" (וְאִם - və'im):
  • Word: "And if." Introduces a conditional clause, specifically presenting the positive alternative to the preceding negative outcome (for the guilty woman).
  • Significance: Marks a clear bifurcation in the consequences of the ritual. It pivots the narrative from potential curse to definitive blessing.
• "the woman" (הָאִשָּׁה - ha'ishah):
  • Word: "The woman/wife." Refers specifically to the accused wife who has undergone the ritual.
  • Significance: Highlights her centrality in the divine ordeal.
• "has not defiled herself" (לֹא נִטְמְאָה - lo nitm'ah):
  • Words: "not been made unclean." nitm'ah is from the root ṭāmē’ (טָמֵא), meaning "unclean," "impure," "defiled." Here in the Niphal stem, it signifies being defiled or becoming unclean reflexively.
  • Significance: Refers to both ritual and moral defilement through sexual sin. This is the crucial finding of the ordeal – her fidelity is confirmed.
• "and is pure" (וּטְהֹרָה הִוא - u'ṭəhôrāh hi'):
  • Words: "and she is pure." ṭəhôrāh (טְהֹרָה) comes from the root ṭāhôr (טָהוֹר), meaning "clean," "pure." The explicit statement re-emphasizes her moral and ritual blamelessness.
  • Significance: Reinforces the verdict of innocence, serving as a direct counter to the defilement implied by the accusation. It is a declarative statement of her clean state before God.
• "then she shall be free" (וְנִקְּתָה - vəniqətâh):
  • Word: "and she shall be acquitted/declared innocent/cleared." From the root nāqāh (נָקָה), meaning "to be clear," "to be innocent," "to be acquitted."
  • Significance: This is a legal-ritual declaration of innocence. It signifies public vindication from suspicion, restoring her honor and legal standing. It means she is 'freed' from the charge and its implications.
• "and conceive offspring" (וְנִזְרְעָה זֶרַע - vənizre'ah zera):
  • Words: "and she shall be sown seed." nizre'ah is from zāra’ (זָרַע) meaning "to sow," used idiomatically here for conception/pregnancy. zera (זֶרַע) means "seed," "offspring."
  • Significance: This is the practical, tangible sign of God's blessing and confirmation of her purity. In ancient Israel, fertility was highly valued as a divine gift, while barrenness was often associated with divine displeasure or punishment. Her ability to conceive signifies God's favor, restores her dignity, validates her marital purity, and blesses her household. It directly contrasts with the "thigh fall away and her womb discharge" for the guilty woman (v. 21).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But if the woman has not defiled herself and is pure": This phrase establishes the condition for the positive outcome. It reiterates that the woman’s true spiritual and physical state of purity is the basis for God’s favorable verdict. The dual phrasing "not defiled herself and is pure" serves for emphatic confirmation of her innocence.
• "then she shall be free and conceive offspring": This clause details the twofold blessing and vindication. "Free" indicates her legal and social exoneration, restoring her good name. "Conceive offspring" denotes God’s direct intervention in her fertility, demonstrating divine blessing and removing any stigma of barrenness that could have been linked to an unfaithful life. This concrete physical blessing proves her innocence to the community beyond mere words.

Numbers 5 28 Bonus section

• Divine Judiciary: This ordeal underscores the biblical principle that God is the ultimate Judge who "weighs the hearts" (Prov 21:2) and "judges righteously" (Ps 7:9), seeing what humans cannot. It prevents false accusations from ruining an innocent life and forces genuine introspection.
• Contrast with Pagan Practices: Unlike contemporary pagan "ordeals" often involving dangerous physical tests (e.g., swimming through rivers, drinking poisons where survival meant innocence), the Israelite ritual relied on God's supernatural, non-lethal, internal action. The "bitter water" was symbolic, and any physical manifestation was entirely divine, not human-induced. This distinguishes Yahweh’s justice system from those of surrounding nations, emphasizing His mercy and precision.
• Protection for Women: While it appears to be an ordeal for the woman, it simultaneously served as a form of protection. Without it, an accused woman, even if innocent, might have faced severe social ostracization or worse based solely on unsubstantiated jealousy. The ritual provided a divine mechanism for clearing her name, preventing miscarriages of human justice.
• Covenantal Fertility: The emphasis on conceiving offspring aligns with God's original blessing for humanity (Gen 1:28) and repeated covenant promises (Exod 23:26, Deut 7:13-14), where fertility and numerous descendants were signs of divine favor and adherence to the covenant. Conversely, barrenness could symbolize covenant unfaithfulness or divine displeasure (Deut 28:18).

Numbers 5 28 Commentary

Numbers 5:28 serves as the culmination of the highly symbolic and ritualistic "Ordeal of Bitter Water," showcasing the Lord’s just and discerning character in an ancient context. In a society where private acts of adultery were hard to prove or disprove, this ritual bypassed human testimony to rely solely on divine judgment. For the innocent woman, the test brought public vindication, not suffering. The "freedom" declared is not merely from legal charges but from the stigma of suspicion, enabling her reintegration and honor within her family and community. The promise to "conceive offspring" is paramount; it counters the curse of barrenness prescribed for the guilty (Num 5:21) and bestows one of the most cherished blessings in ancient Israel – the gift of children. This demonstrated divine favor affirms her faithfulness and restores the peace and fruitfulness of the marital union. The verse beautifully illustrates how God, in His infinite wisdom, provides means for truth to surface and for justice to prevail, even in ambiguous human circumstances, providing tangible blessings as a witness to righteousness.