Numbers 5:19

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness [with another] instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse:

Complete Jewish Bible:

The cohen will make her swear by saying to her, "If no man has gone to bed with you, if you have not gone astray to make yourself unclean while under your husband's authority, then be free from this water of embitterment and cursing.

Berean Standard Bible:

And he is to put the woman under oath and say to her, ‘If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, may you be immune to this bitter water that brings a curse.

American Standard Version:

And the priest shall cause her to swear, and shall say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou have not gone aside to uncleanness, being under thy husband, be thou free from this water of bitterness that causeth the curse.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the priest^{H3548} shall charge her by an oath^{H7650}, and say^{H559} unto the woman^{H802}, If no man^{H376} have lain^{H7901} with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside^{H7847} to uncleanness^{H2932} with another instead of thy husband^{H376}, be thou free^{H5352} from this bitter^{H4751} water^{H4325} that causeth the curse^{H779}:

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Commentary for Numbers 5:19

**Numbers 5:19 Summary and Historical Context:**

**Themes:**
- **Adultery and Jealousy:** The verse addresses the situation of a husband who suspects his wife of adultery, known as the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" or the "Sotah" (a term derived from the Hebrew word for "gone astray"). This ritual is meant to reveal the truth and resolve the husband's jealousy.
- **Divine Judgment:** The ritual is an appeal to divine intervention to determine the woman's guilt or innocence, emphasizing the belief in God's role in justice.
- **Purity and Impurity:** The concern for ritual purity is evident, as the woman is accused of defiling herself, which would have serious implications in the Israelite community.
- **Gender Relations:** The passage reflects the patriarchal nature of Israelite society, where a woman's sexual fidelity is a matter of public concern and her status is closely tied to her marital relationship.

**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** This verse comes from the book of Numbers, which recounts events in the wilderness during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, roughly between the 13th and 16th centuries BCE.
- **Covenant Law:** The laws in Numbers are part of the covenant between God and Israel, which includes various rituals and legal stipulations designed to maintain the community's holiness and order.
- **Cultural Practices:** The ritual described is unique to ancient Israelite culture and reflects the period's understanding of divine justice, the importance of marital fidelity, and the role of religious authorities in personal matters.
- **Religious Leadership:** The priest's role is central to the ritual, underscoring the significance of the priesthood in ancient Israelite society as mediators between God and the people.

In summary, Numbers 5:19 is part of a ritual designed to address suspicions of a wife's infidelity, reflecting the themes of divine justice, sexual purity, and gender dynamics within the historical context of Israelite society under the Mosaic covenant.

*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: H7650
   There are 175 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁבַע
   Transliteration: shâbaʻ
   Pronunciation: shaw-bah'
   Description: a primitive root; properly to be complete, but used only as a denominative from שֶׁבַע; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times); adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for שָׂבַע), take an oath, [idiom] straitly, (cause to, make to) swear.
   
3. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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.
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7847
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂטָה
   Transliteration: sâṭâh
   Pronunciation: saw-taw'
   Description: a primitive root; to deviate from duty; decline, go aside, turn.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2932
   There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טֻמְאָה
   Transliteration: ṭumʼâh
   Pronunciation: toom-aw'
   Description: from טָמֵא; religious impurity; filthiness, unclean(-ness).
   
9. Strong's Number: H5352
   There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָקָה
   Transliteration: nâqâh
   Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be bare, i.e. extirpated; acquit [idiom] at all, [idiom] altogether, be blameless, cleanse, (be) clear(-ing), cut off, be desolate, be free, be (hold) guiltless, be (hold) innocent, [idiom] by no means, be quit, be (leave) unpunished, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] wholly.
   
10. 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.
    
11. 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)).
    
12. 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.