Numbers 5 29

Numbers 5:29 kjv

This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;

Numbers 5:29 nkjv

'This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself,

Numbers 5:29 niv

"?'This, then, is the law of jealousy when a woman goes astray and makes herself impure while married to her husband,

Numbers 5:29 esv

"This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself,

Numbers 5:29 nlt

"This is the ritual law for dealing with suspicion. If a woman goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband's authority,

Numbers 5 verses

Numbers 5 29 Meaning

Numbers 5:29 presents a specific segment of the "law of jealousy," outlining its application when a wife is suspected of unfaithfulness. This verse succinctly states that the preceding elaborate procedure of the bitter water ordeal is applicable to a woman who turns aside from fidelity and thereby defiles herself through an illicit act. It underscores God's concern for marital fidelity and the sanctity of the covenant, providing a divinely instituted process for truth to be revealed in the absence of human witnesses.

Numbers 5 29 Context

Numbers chapter 5 opens a series of regulations concerning the purity of the camp of Israel as they journey through the wilderness. Preceding this verse are laws about expelling those with defiling diseases (leprosy, discharge) and individuals ritually unclean through contact with the dead, emphasizing the need for a holy and unblemished community where God dwells. It then transitions to restitution for wrongs committed, followed by the specific law of the jealousy offering (Num 5:11-31). Verse 29 concludes the initial description of the scenario, highlighting that this detailed procedure for suspicion of infidelity applies directly to a wife who has gone astray and consequently defiled herself. This context demonstrates God's profound concern not only for communal ritual purity but also for the moral integrity and relational purity within the family, seeing marriage as a sacred covenant essential for the stability and holiness of His chosen people. The law serves as a divinely sanctioned legal recourse in cases where concrete evidence of adultery is absent.

Numbers 5 29 Word analysis

• This (זֹאת, zo't): A demonstrative pronoun, emphasizing the immediate and specific nature of the preceding instruction. It points directly to the detailed procedure for the "law of jealousy."
• is the law (תּוֹרַת, to'rat): This term, "Torah," signifies "instruction," "teaching," or "law." It underscores that the process described is a divine statute, not a mere human tradition or local custom. It carries divine authority.
• of jealousy (קְנָאֹת, qəna'ot): Derived from קִנְאָה (qin'ah), meaning "zeal," "passion," or "jealousy." In this context, it refers to the deep emotional state of a husband who suspects his wife's fidelity. Biblically, "jealousy" is also an attribute of God, representing His zealous protection of His covenant and His intense intolerance of anything that violates His holiness (Ex 20:5). Here, it connects the human emotion to the divine concern for marital fidelity, seeing marital infidelity as a serious offense against a covenant witnessed by God.
• when a wife (כִּי אִשָּׁה, ki ish'shah): "When" or "if" (כִּי, ki) indicates a conditional scenario. "Wife" (אִשָּׁה, ish'shah) refers to a married woman, explicitly focusing the law's application.
• goes astray (תִּשְׂטֶה, tis'tah): From the root שָׂטָה (saṭah), meaning "to turn aside," "deviate," "swerve," or "stray." This verb carries moral connotations, signifying a departure from the right path or proper conduct, specifically from marital fidelity. It implies an intentional moral deviation rather than an accidental one.
• and defiles herself (וְהִיא נִטְמְאָה, wəhi' niṭmə'ah): "And she becomes defiled." The verb נִטְמְאָה (niṭmə'ah) is in the Niphal stem, often denoting an action done to oneself or a state of being. It comes from the root טָמֵא (ṭamē), meaning "to be unclean" or "defiled." This highlights the consequence of "going astray": the act of adultery is not merely a social transgression but a deep spiritual and ritual defilement, rendering the individual impure in God's eyes and violating the sacred marriage covenant.

• "This is the law of jealousy": This phrase establishes the divine origin and legal nature of the preceding regulations (Num 5:11-28), setting it apart as an authoritative instruction from God to Israel. It highlights the divine recognition and management of human jealousy within marriage.
• "when a wife goes astray and defiles herself": This clause defines the specific circumstance under which the law of jealousy is invoked. "Goes astray" refers to illicit sexual conduct, and "defiles herself" explicitly links adultery to ritual and moral impurity. This phrasing confirms the husband's suspicion as the trigger, but also sets the ground for God's truth to emerge regarding the actual state of defilement. It underscores the spiritual gravity of adultery as a defilement that renders one unclean before God.

Numbers 5 29 Bonus section

The "ordeal of the bitter water" presented in Numbers 5, including verse 29, is considered unique among ancient Near Eastern law codes. While some cultures had water ordeals, the Israelite one explicitly involved sacred elements (dust from the tabernacle floor, holy water), the dissolving of God's curse, and invoked direct divine intervention. It protected the innocent woman from false accusations, particularly when there were no witnesses, and simultaneously deterred genuine transgressors, as no human lie could escape divine scrutiny. Scholars often view this not just as a test of innocence, but also as a profound statement on the spiritual consequences of covenant breaking, where God Himself acts as judge in the most intimate aspects of life. The perceived physical effects on the guilty (swelling of the abdomen, decaying thigh) served as unmistakable divine condemnation. Some rabbinic traditions suggest this ritual ceased when adultery became widespread in Israel, indicating that its efficacy might have been linked to the prevailing moral and spiritual climate of the people.

Numbers 5 29 Commentary

Numbers 5:29 serves as a concluding summary to the intricate legal process regarding suspected adultery, affirming the specific conditions for its application. It reinforces that the elaborate ordeal described (including the offering, the holy water mixed with dust, and the written curse) is God’s appointed means of addressing grave suspicion within marriage when tangible proof is absent. This law highlights the profound value God places on marital faithfulness and purity within the Israelite community, mirroring His own "jealousy" for the covenant relationship with His people.

Far from being a barbaric practice, the "law of jealousy" provided a structured, religiously sanctioned method for resolving deeply sensitive marital disputes, preventing potential injustices like arbitrary divorce or summary execution based solely on suspicion (compare to Deut 22:20-21). It provided a means for the innocent to be vindicated and the guilty to be exposed by divine intervention, ultimately appealing to God's omniscience where human courts could not ascertain truth. The emphasis on "defiles herself" indicates that adultery was understood not just as a breach of social contract but as an act rendering the person impure before a holy God, thus requiring a divinely orchestrated purification or judgment. This statute was a unique expression of God’s justice and His presence amongst His people, demonstrating that even in personal, hidden sins, He ultimately sees and will act.