King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, [even] the memorial thereof, and burn [it] upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The cohen is to take a handful of the grain offering as its reminder portion and make it go up in smoke on the altar; afterwards, he is to make the woman drink the water.
Berean Standard Bible:
Then the priest is to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar; after that he is to have the woman drink the water.
American Standard Version:
and the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And the priest{H3548} shall take an handful{H7061} of the offering{H4503}, even the memorial{H234} thereof, and burn{H6999} it upon the altar{H4196}, and afterward{H310} shall cause the woman{H802} to drink{H8248} the water{H4325}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 2:2
- And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, [to be] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:
Leviticus 5:12
- Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, [even] a memorial thereof, and burn [it] on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it [is] a sin offering.
Leviticus 2:9
- And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn [it] upon the altar: [it is] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Leviticus 6:15
- And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which [is] upon the meat offering, and shall burn [it] upon the altar [for] a sweet savour, [even] the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
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Commentary for Numbers 5:26
Numbers 5:26 is part of a larger section in the book of Numbers that deals with the law concerning the jealousy offering and the trial by ordeal for a woman suspected of adultery, known as the "sotah" ritual. This ritual was to be performed by the priest when a husband suspected his wife of unfaithfulness without having any witnesses. The verse itself describes a specific action within this ritual.
In the historical context, the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt, and God was providing Moses with detailed laws and rituals to govern the community. The themes of this verse include ritual purity, justice, and the sanctity of marriage. The priest's role was central in mediating between God and the people, and he was responsible for administering the ritual to determine the woman's guilt or innocence.
The verse outlines the procedure where the priest takes a handful of the grain offering—which symbolizes the wife's life and is a means of atonement—and burns it on the altar as a first step in the ritual. This act serves as a memorial before God, acknowledging the seriousness of the accusation and the need for divine judgment. Following this, the woman is made to drink "the water," which is a mixture of holy water and dust from the tabernacle floor, along with the words of a curse written in a scroll and then washed off into the water. The reaction of her body to this potion was believed to indicate her guilt or innocence, with physical affliction signifying guilt.
This verse reflects the ancient Israelite legal practices and the belief in divine intervention in matters of personal morality. It also underscores the gravity with which the community regarded marital fidelity and the role of religious authorities in maintaining social order.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- 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. - Strong's Number: H7061
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָמַץ
Transliteration: qâmats
Pronunciation: kaw-mats'
Description: a primitive root; to grasp with the hand; take an handful. - 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. - Strong's Number: H234
There are 278 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַזְכָּרָה
Transliteration: ʼazkârâh
Pronunciation: az-kaw-raw'
Description: from זָכַר; a reminder; specifically remembrance-offering; memorial. - Strong's Number: H6999
There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָטַר
Transliteration: qâṭar
Pronunciation: kaw-tar'
Description: a primitive root (identical with through the idea of fumigation in a close place and perhaps thus driving out the occupants); to smoke, i.e. turn into fragrance by fire (especially as an act of worship); burn (incense, sacrifice) (upon), (altar for) incense, kindle, offer (incense, a sacrifice). - Strong's Number: H4196
There are 338 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִזְבֵּחַ
Transliteration: mizbêach
Pronunciation: miz-bay'-akh
Description: from זָבַח; an altar; altar. - Strong's Number: H310
There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחַר
Transliteration: ʼachar
Pronunciation: akh-ar'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with. - 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. - Strong's Number: H8248
There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁקָה
Transliteration: shâqâh
Pronunciation: shaw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or furnish apotion to; cause to (give, give to, let, make to) drink, drown, moisten, water. See שָׁכַר, שָׁתָה. - 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)).