Numbers 30:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard [them; then] whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But if her husband makes them null and void on the day he hears them, then whatever she said, vows or binding obligation, will not stand; her husband has voided them; and ADONAI will forgive her.

Berean Standard Bible:

But if her husband nullifies them on the day he hears of them, then nothing that came from her lips, whether her vows or pledges, shall stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the LORD will absolve her.

American Standard Version:

But if her husband made them null and void in the day that he heard them, then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and Jehovah will forgive her.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But if her husband^{H376} hath utterly^{H6565} made them void^{H6565} on the day^{H3117} he heard^{H8085} them; then whatsoever proceeded^{H4161} out of her lips^{H8193} concerning her vows^{H5088}, or concerning the bond^{H632} of her soul^{H5315}, shall not stand^{H6965}: her husband^{H376} hath made them void^{H6565}; and the LORD^{H3068} shall forgive^{H5545} her.

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Commentary for Numbers 30:12

**Themes:**
Numbers 30:12 touches on the themes of vows, marriage, and gender roles within the context of Israelite society. The verse highlights the authority of a husband over his wife's vows and the power to annul them. It also reflects the idea of divine forgiveness when human authorities (in this case, the husband) nullify such vows.

**Historical Context:**
This verse is part of a larger section, Numbers 30:2-16, which deals with the legalities of vows made by women. In ancient Israel, a woman's autonomy was limited, especially concerning religious and financial matters. If a woman made a vow or a binding pledge (a bond of her soul), her father or husband could invalidate it upon hearing about it. This reflects the patriarchal structure of Israelite society, where women were often under the authority of male relatives.

In the case of Numbers 30:12, if a married woman made a vow and her husband heard about it and chose to nullify it on the same day, then the vow was considered invalid, and God would forgive her for not fulfilling it. This law underscores the importance of a husband's role in the decision-making process of the family and the religious significance of vows in Israelite culture. It also illustrates the belief in a God who understands and forgives human circumstances, especially within the established social order.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6565
   There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּרַר
   Transliteration: pârar
   Pronunciation: paw-rar'
   Description: a primitive root; to break up (usually figuratively), i.e. to violate, frustrate; [idiom] any ways, break (asunder), cast off, cause to cease, [idiom] clean, defeat, disannul, disappoint, dissolve, divide, make of none effect, fail, frustrate, bring (come) to nought, [idiom] utterly, make void.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
4. Strong's Number: H8085
   There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַע
   Transliteration: shâmaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
   Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4161
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוֹצָא
   Transliteration: môwtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: mo-tsaw'
   Description: or מֹצָאxlit môtsâ corrected to môtsâʼ; from יָצָא; a going forth, i.e. (the act) an egress, or (the place) an exit; hence, a source or product; specifically, dawn, the rising of the sun (the East), exportation, utterance, a gate, a fountain, a mine, a meadow (as producing grass); brought out, bud, that which came out, east, going forth, goings out, that which (thing that) is gone out, outgoing, proceeded out, spring, vein, (water-) course (springs).
   
6. Strong's Number: H8193
   There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂפָה
   Transliteration: sâphâh
   Pronunciation: saw-faw'
   Description: or (in dual and plural) שֶׂפֶת; probably from סָפָה or שָׁפָה through the idea of termination (compare סוֹף); the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.); band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
   
7. Strong's Number: H5088
   There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֶדֶר
   Transliteration: neder
   Pronunciation: neh'-der
   Description: or נֵדֶר; from נָדַר; a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised; vow(-ed).
   
8. Strong's Number: H632
   There are 99 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֱסָר
   Transliteration: ʼĕçâr
   Pronunciation: es-sawr'
   Description: or אִסָּר; from אָסַר; an obligation or vow (of abstinence); binding, bond.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5315
   There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
   Transliteration: nephesh
   Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
   Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
   
10. Strong's Number: H6965
    There are 596 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קוּם
    Transliteration: qûwm
    Pronunciation: koom
    Description: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising).
    
11. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
    
12. Strong's Number: H5545
    There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: סָלַח
    Transliteration: çâlach
    Pronunciation: saw-lakh'
    Description: a primitive root; to forgive; forgive, pardon, spare.