Numbers 5:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

But if thou hast gone aside [to another] instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:

Complete Jewish Bible:

But if you have in fact gone astray while under your husband's authority and become unclean, because some man other than your husband has gone to bed with you . . ."

Berean Standard Bible:

But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority and have defiled yourself and lain carnally with a man other than your husband’—

American Standard Version:

But if thou have gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband:

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

But if thou hast gone aside^{H7847} to another instead of thy husband^{H376}, and if thou be defiled^{H2930}, and some man^{H376} have^{H5414} lain^{H7903} with thee beside^{H1107} thine husband^{H376}:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 5:20

**.Themes:**
Numbers 5:20 is part of a passage that deals with the theme of jealousy and marital unfaithfulness. The primary themes include:

1. **Marital Fidelity:** The importance of faithfulness within marriage is emphasized.
2. **Ritual Purity:** The verse reflects the concern for ritual purity within the community, as infidelity is associated with defilement.
3. **Divine Justice:** It implies a belief in divine intervention in personal matters, with God as the ultimate judge of human actions.
4. **Gender Roles:** It reflects the patriarchal nature of Israelite society, where a woman's sexual behavior was tightly regulated and could have serious social and religious consequences.

**.Historical Context:**
The verse is set within the context of the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land. The Book of Numbers is primarily concerned with organizing the Israelite community and outlining the laws and rituals that would govern their life together.

The specific context of Numbers 5:20 is the "Law of Jealousies" (Numbers 5:11-31), which provides instructions for a ritual to be performed when a husband suspects his wife of adultery. This ritual involves the woman drinking "bitter water" (a mixture of water, dust, and the ink of a written curse), and the outcome is believed to be determined by God, with the woman suffering physical consequences if she is guilty.

This law was part of a broader legal system in ancient Israel that sought to maintain social order and uphold the sanctity of marriage. The harsh penalties for adultery reflected the high value placed on marital fidelity and lineage purity, which were essential for inheritance and social identity in a patriarchal society. The ritual was also a means of dealing with suspicion and potential conflict within the community without resorting to personal vengeance, thus ensuring that disputes were settled through a divinely sanctioned process.

*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: 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.
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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.
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7903
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שְׁכֹבֶת
   Transliteration: shᵉkôbeth
   Pronunciation: shek-o'-beth
   Description: lemma שֶׁכֹבֶת first vowel, corrected to שְׁכֹבֶת; from שָׁכַב; a (sexual) lying with; [idiom] lie.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1107
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בִּלְעֲדֵי
   Transliteration: bilʻădêy
   Pronunciation: bil-ad-ay'
   Description: or בַּלְעֲדֵי; constructive plural from בַּל and עַד, not till, i.e. (as preposition or adverb); except, without, besides; beside, not (in), save, without.