Numbers 5:28

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.

Complete Jewish Bible:

But if the woman is not unclean but clean, then she will be innocent and will have children.

Berean Standard Bible:

But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be unaffected and able to conceive children.

American Standard Version:

And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And if the woman^{H802} be not defiled^{H2930}, but be clean^{H2889}; then she shall be free^{H5352}, and shall conceive^{H2232} seed^{H2233}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 5:28

Numbers 5:28 is part of a section in the book of Numbers that deals with the law concerning a woman suspected of adultery, known as the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" or "Sotah" (Numbers 5:11-31). This passage outlines a ritual to determine the innocence or guilt of a woman whose husband suspects her of unfaithfulness without having direct evidence.

**Themes:**
1. **Marital Fidelity:** The verse emphasizes the importance of fidelity within marriage in ancient Israelite society.
2. **Justice and Judgment:** It reflects the legal and ritualistic means by which the Israelites sought to uphold justice, with divine intervention being a crucial aspect of the judicial process.
3. **Ritual and Ceremony:** The passage describes an elaborate ritual, highlighting the role of religious ceremony in resolving personal and legal matters.
4. **Divine Sovereignty:** The outcome of the ordeal is believed to be determined by God, underscoring the belief in divine sovereignty over human affairs.
5. **Gender Relations:** The law reflects the patriarchal nature of Israelite society, where a woman's sexual conduct was closely monitored and controlled by her husband.

**Historical Context:**
- The book of Numbers is part of the Pentateuch, traditionally attributed to Moses, and is set during the time of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt, approximately the 13th century BCE.
- This law would have functioned within a broader ancient Near Eastern context where various cultures had different means of dealing with suspected adultery, often with severe penalties for the woman if found guilty.
- The ritual itself involves the priest preparing a concoction of holy water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor and the ink of a written curse, which the woman must drink. If she is innocent, the potion is said to have no harmful effect, and she will remain unharmed and able to conceive children. If guilty, she would suffer negative physical effects.
- The historical practice of this ritual is uncertain, and its description in the Bible may be more reflective of ideological and theological concerns rather than an actual practice.

In summary, Numbers 5:28 is part of an ancient legal and ritualistic text that addresses the theme of marital fidelity within a patriarchal society, with the belief that God would intervene to reveal the truth and administer justice.

*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: 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.
   
2. 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.
   
3. Strong's Number: H2889
   There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: טָהוֹר
   Transliteration: ṭâhôwr
   Pronunciation: taw-hore'
   Description: or טָהֹר; from טָהֵר; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense); clean, fair, pure(-ness).
   
4. 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.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2232
   There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָרַע
   Transliteration: zâraʻ
   Pronunciation: zaw-rah'
   Description: a primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify; bear, conceive seed, set with sow(-er), yield.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2233
   There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זֶרַע
   Transliteration: zeraʻ
   Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
   Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.