Numbers 5:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which [is] the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:

Complete Jewish Bible:

The cohen will place the woman before ADONAI, unbind the woman's hair and put the grain offering for remembering in her hands, the grain offering for jealousy; while the cohen has in his hand the water of embitterment and cursing.

Berean Standard Bible:

After the priest has the woman stand before the LORD, he is to let down her hair and place in her hands the grain offering of memorial, which is the grain offering for jealousy. The priest is to hold the bitter water that brings a curse.

American Standard Version:

And the priest shall set the woman before Jehovah, and let the hair of the woman’s head go loose, and put the meal-offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal-offering of jealousy: and the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that causeth the curse.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the priest^{H3548} shall set^{H5975} the woman^{H802} before^{H6440} the LORD^{H3068}, and uncover^{H6544} the woman's^{H802} head^{H7218}, and put^{H5414} the offering^{H4503} of memorial^{H2146} in her hands^{H3709}, which is the jealousy^{H7068} offering^{H4503}: and the priest^{H3548} shall have in his hand^{H3027} the bitter^{H4751} water^{H4325} that causeth the curse^{H779}:

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Commentary for Numbers 5:18

Numbers 5:18 is part of a larger section in the Book of Numbers that outlines the law concerning the "test for jealousy" or "ordeal of the bitter water." This ritual was to be performed by a priest when a husband suspected his wife of adultery but had no direct evidence. The historical context of this verse is the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, during which time God gave Moses various laws and rituals to govern the community.

In the specific context of this verse, the priest is instructed to bring the accused woman before the presence of the Lord, likely at the entrance to the Tabernacle, which was the center of Israelite worship at that time. The ritual involves several steps: the priest uncovers the woman's head, which may symbolize her submission to the judgment of God or a removal of protection and status. He then places in her hands the "jealousy offering," a grain offering meant to memorialize the event before the Lord. Alongside this, the priest holds the "bitter water that causeth the curse." This water, which the woman will later drink, is a symbolic means of determining her guilt or innocence. If she is guilty, the water is expected to cause a curse that leads to physical harm; if she is innocent, no harm will come to her, and she will be cleared of the accusation.

The themes present in this verse include the handling of suspicion and jealousy within a marriage, the role of ritual in determining truth, and the involvement of divine judgment in community affairs. It reflects the patriarchal nature of Israelite society, where a woman's fidelity was a matter of significant concern, affecting both familial lineage and social order. The ritual itself is an early example of a judicial procedure that seeks divine intervention to resolve a case where human evidence is insufficient. The verse underscores the gravity with which the Israelites regarded marital infidelity and the belief that God was actively involved in the personal and moral affairs of the community.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5975
   There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָמַד
   Transliteration: ʻâmad
   Pronunciation: aw-mad'
   Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
   
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: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
5. 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.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6544
   There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּרַע
   Transliteration: pâraʻ
   Pronunciation: paw-rah'
   Description: a primitive root; to loosen; by implication, to expose, dismiss; figuratively, absolve, begin; avenge, avoid, bare, go back, let, (make) naked, set at nought, perish, refuse, uncover.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7218
   There are 548 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רֹאשׁ
   Transliteration: rôʼsh
   Pronunciation: roshe
   Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to shake; the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.); band, beginning, captain, chapiter, chief(-est place, man, things), company, end, [idiom] every (man), excellent, first, forefront, (be-)head, height, (on) high(-est part, (priest)), [idiom] lead, [idiom] poor, principal, ruler, sum, top.
   
8. 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.
   
9. 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.
   
10. 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.
    
11. Strong's Number: H3709
    There are 180 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כַּף
    Transliteration: kaph
    Pronunciation: kaf
    Description: from כָּפַף; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power; branch, [phrase] foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.
    
12. 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.
    
13. Strong's Number: H3027
    There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָד
    Transliteration: yâd
    Pronunciation: yawd
    Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
    
14. Strong's Number: H4751
    There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַר
    Transliteration: mar
    Pronunciation: mar
    Description: or (feminine) מָרָה; from מָרַר; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly; [phrase] angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, [idiom] great, heavy.
    
15. Strong's Number: H4325
    There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַיִם
    Transliteration: mayim
    Pronunciation: mah'-yim
    Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
    
16. Strong's Number: H779
    There are 177 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָרַר
    Transliteration: ʼârar
    Pronunciation: aw-rar'
    Description: a primitive root; to execrate; [idiom] bitterly curse.