Numbers 5:15

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth [part] of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it [is] an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

Complete Jewish Bible:

he is to bring his wife to the cohen, along with the offering for her, two quarts of barley flour on which he has not poured olive oil or put frankincense, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a grain offering for remembering, for recalling guilt to mind.

Berean Standard Bible:

then he is to bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring for her an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, an offering of memorial as a reminder of iniquity.

American Standard Version:

then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and shall bring her oblation for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is a meal-offering of jealousy, a meal-offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Then shall the man^{H376} bring^{H935} his wife^{H802} unto the priest^{H3548}, and he shall bring^{H935} her offering^{H7133} for her, the tenth^{H6224} part of an ephah^{H374} of barley^{H8184} meal^{H7058}; he shall pour^{H3332} no oil^{H8081} upon it, nor put^{H5414} frankincense^{H3828} thereon; for it is an offering^{H4503} of jealousy^{H7068}, an offering^{H4503} of memorial^{H2146}, bringing^{H2142} iniquity^{H5771} to remembrance^{H2142}.

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Commentary for Numbers 5:15

Numbers 5:15 is part of a larger section in the Pentateuch that outlines various laws and rituals for the Israelites, including those pertaining to situations of suspected marital infidelity. The verse specifically describes the ritual that a husband must follow if he is consumed by jealousy and suspects his wife of being unfaithful, despite there being no witnesses to confirm the act.

In this context, the husband is to bring his wife to the priest along with an offering known as the "meal offering of jealousy." This offering is distinct from other grain offerings in that it is made with barley meal, a less expensive grain, and is prepared without oil and frankincense, which were typical components of meal offerings that made them more pleasing in smell and taste. The absence of these elements in the jealousy offering may symbolize the somber and serious nature of the accusation and the potential for sin to have entered the relationship.

The offering itself serves multiple purposes: it is a tangible expression of the husband's suspicion, a "memorial" offering that brings the woman's alleged iniquity before the Lord, and a ritual that initiates a process to discern the truth of the matter. The ritual continues with the priest performing specific actions, including the writing of a curse on a scroll and the woman taking an oath of innocence, followed by the consumption of a mixture of holy water and dust from the tabernacle floor, which is believed to bring about divine judgment in the form of a curse if she is guilty or affirm her innocence if she has not been unfaithful.

This passage reflects the ancient Israelite legal system's approach to resolving complex social issues, emphasizing the role of divine intervention in establishing justice and maintaining social order within the community. It also highlights the gravity with which the Israelites regarded marital fidelity and the sanctity of marriage, as well as the intricate connection between religious practice and daily life in ancient Israelite society.

*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: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
3. Strong's Number: H802
   There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִשָּׁה
   Transliteration: ʼishshâh
   Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
   Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3548
   There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כֹּהֵן
   Transliteration: kôhên
   Pronunciation: ko-hane'
   Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7133
   There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קׇרְבָּן
   Transliteration: qorbân
   Pronunciation: kor-bawn'
   Description: or קֻרְבָּן; from קָרַב; something brought near the altar, i.e. a sacrificial present; oblation, that is offered, offering.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6224
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֲשִׂירִי
   Transliteration: ʻăsîyrîy
   Pronunciation: as-ee-ree'
   Description: from עֶשֶׂר; tenth; by abbreviation, tenth month or (feminine) part; tenth (part).
   
7. Strong's Number: H374
   There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֵיפָה
   Transliteration: ʼêyphâh
   Pronunciation: ay-faw'
   Description: or (shortened) אֵפָה ; of Egyptian derivation; an ephah or measure for grain; hence, a measure in general; ephah, (divers) measure(-s).
   
8. Strong's Number: H8184
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׂעֹרָה
   Transliteration: sᵉʻôrâh
   Pronunciation: seh-o-raw'
   Description: or שְׂעוֹרָה (feminine meaning the plant); and (masculine meaning the grain); also שְׂעֹר; or שְׂעוֹר; from שָׂעַר in the sense of roughness; barley (as villose); barley.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7058
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קֶמַח
   Transliteration: qemach
   Pronunciation: keh'-makh
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to grind; flour; flour, meal.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3332
    There are 51 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָצַק
    Transliteration: yâtsaq
    Pronunciation: yaw-tsak'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to pour out (transitive or intransitive); by implication, to melt or cast as metal; by extension, to place firmly, to stiffen or grow hard; cast, cleave fast, be (as) firm, grow, be hard, lay out, molten, overflow, pour (out), run out, set down, stedfast.
    
11. Strong's Number: H8081
    There are 176 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֶׁמֶן
    Transliteration: shemen
    Pronunciation: sheh'-men
    Description: from שָׁמַן; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness; anointing, [idiom] fat (things), [idiom] fruitful, oil(-ed), ointment, olive, [phrase] pine.
    
12. Strong's Number: H5414
    There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָתַן
    Transliteration: nâthan
    Pronunciation: naw-than'
    Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
    
13. Strong's Number: H3828
    There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לְבוֹנָה
    Transliteration: lᵉbôwnâh
    Pronunciation: leb-o-naw'
    Description: or לְבֹנָה; from לָבָן; frankincense (from its whiteness or perhaps that of its smoke); (frank-) incense.
    
14. Strong's Number: H4503
    There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִנְחָה
    Transliteration: minchâh
    Pronunciation: min-khaw'
    Description: from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary); gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice.
    
15. Strong's Number: H7068
    There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קִנְאָה
    Transliteration: qinʼâh
    Pronunciation: kin-aw'
    Description: from קָנָא; jealousy or envy; envy(-ied), jealousy, [idiom] sake, zeal.
    
16. Strong's Number: H2146
    There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זִכְרוֹן
    Transliteration: zikrôwn
    Pronunciation: zik-rone'
    Description: from זָכַר; a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing); memorial, record.
    
17. Strong's Number: H2142
    There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זָכַר
    Transliteration: zâkar
    Pronunciation: zaw-kar'
    Description: a primitive root; also as denominative from זָכָר; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male; [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well.
    
18. Strong's Number: H5771
    There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָוֺן
    Transliteration: ʻâvôn
    Pronunciation: aw-vone'
    Description: or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin.