Numbers 5:13

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and [there be] no witness against her, neither she be taken [with the manner];

Complete Jewish Bible:

that is, if another man goes to bed with her without her husband's knowledge, so that she becomes impure secretly, and there is no witness against her, and she was not caught in the act;

Berean Standard Bible:

by sleeping with another man, and it is concealed from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she was not caught in the act),

American Standard Version:

and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she be not taken in the act;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And a man^{H376} lie^{H7901} with her carnally^{{H7902}{H2233}}, and it be hid^{H5956} from the eyes^{H5869} of her husband^{H376}, and be kept close^{H5641}, and she be defiled^{H2930}, and there be no witness^{H5707} against her, neither she be taken^{H8610} with the manner;

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Commentary for Numbers 5:13

1. Themes:
- Purity and Pollution: The verse reflects the theme of maintaining ritual and moral purity within the Israelite community, particularly concerning marital fidelity.
- Justice and the Law: It addresses the legal procedures for dealing with suspected adultery, emphasizing the need for justice in situations where evidence is lacking.
- Jealousy and Suspicion: The context suggests the theme of jealousy, as the law is invoked when a husband suspects his wife of infidelity without proof.

2. Historical Context:
- The verse is part of the legal code given to Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness, as recorded in the Book of Numbers, which outlines the organization and regulations for the Israelite community during their journey to the Promised Land.
- The laws pertain to the ritual of the "bitter water" (Numbers 5:11-31), known as the Sotah ritual, which was to be followed when a husband suspected his wife of adultery but had no witnesses. This ritual was believed to invoke divine intervention to determine the woman's guilt or innocence.
- The period is during the Exodus, after the Israelites had left Egypt and before they entered Canaan, roughly around the 13th century BCE.
- The social structure was patriarchal, and the laws reflect the concerns of a society where a woman's sexual conduct was tied to her husband's honor and the lineage of potential heirs.

In summary, Numbers 5:13 is part of a legal code concerning suspected marital infidelity, highlighting themes of purity, justice, and jealousy within the historical context of the Israelites' journey to Canaan, reflecting the patriarchal and religious values of the time.

*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: H7901
   There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁכַב
   Transliteration: shâkab
   Pronunciation: shaw-kab'
   Description: a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose); [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7902
   There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁכָבָה
   Transliteration: shᵉkâbâh
   Pronunciation: shek-aw-baw'
   Description: from שָׁכַב; a lying down (of dew, or for the sexual act); [idiom] carnally, copulation, [idiom] lay, seed.
   
4. Strong's Number: H2233
   There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זֶרַע
   Transliteration: zeraʻ
   Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
   Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5956
   There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָלַם
   Transliteration: ʻâlam
   Pronunciation: aw-lam'
   Description: a primitive root; to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively); [idiom] any ways, blind, dissembler, hide (self), secret (thing).
   
6. Strong's Number: H5869
   There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַיִן
   Transliteration: ʻayin
   Pronunciation: ah'-yin
   Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves).
   
7. Strong's Number: H5641
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סָתַר
   Transliteration: çâthar
   Pronunciation: saw-thar'
   Description: a primitive root; to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively; be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret, [idiom] surely.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2930
   There are 142 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טָמֵא
   Transliteration: ṭâmêʼ
   Pronunciation: taw-may'
   Description: a primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated); defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5707
   There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֵד
   Transliteration: ʻêd
   Pronunciation: ayd
   Description: contracted from עוּד; concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince; witness.
   
10. Strong's Number: H8610
    There are 60 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תָּפַשׂ
    Transliteration: tâphas
    Pronunciation: taw-fas'
    Description: a primitive root; to manipulate, i.e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably; catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, [idiom] surely, surprise, take.