King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
This [is] the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside [to another] instead of her husband, and is defiled;
Complete Jewish Bible:
This is the law for jealousy: when either a wife under her husband's authority goes astray and becomes unclean,
Berean Standard Bible:
This is the law of jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husband’s authority,
American Standard Version:
This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
This is the law{H8451} of jealousies{H7068}, when a wife{H802} goeth aside{H7847} to another instead of her husband{H376}, and is defiled{H2930};
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 5:19
- 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:
Numbers 5:12
- Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,
Leviticus 15:32
- This [is] the law of him that hath an issue, and [of him] whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;
Leviticus 15:33
- And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.
Leviticus 7:11
- ¶ And this [is] the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.
Leviticus 13:59
- This [is] the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.
Isaiah 5:7
- For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts [is] the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 5:29
1. Themes:
- Jealousy and Marital Fidelity: The verse addresses the issue of jealousy in a marriage, specifically when a husband suspects his wife of infidelity.
- Legal and Ritual Response: It references a specific legal procedure, known as the "law of jealousies," which outlines how to deal with suspected adultery.
- Purity and Defilement: The text emphasizes the concept of ritual purity and defilement, which are recurring themes in the Pentateuch, particularly in matters of sexual conduct.
2. Historical Context:
- The verse is part of the Book of Numbers, which recounts events in the wilderness during the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.
- The laws given in Numbers, including the law of jealousies, were part of the legal and ritual codes that structured the religious and social life of ancient Israel.
- This particular law reflects the patriarchal society of the time, where a woman's sexual fidelity was of utmost importance to her husband and to the community, both for maintaining family lines and for ritual purity.
- The law of jealousies involves a ritualistic test to determine the innocence or guilt of the accused wife, which was believed to be determined by divine intervention.
- The historical context also includes the establishment of the priestly class and their role in administering such tests and upholding the legal and ritual purity standards of the community.
In summary, Numbers 5:29 deals with the theme of marital fidelity within the broader context of Israelite law and ritual, reflecting the cultural values and social structures of ancient Israelite society.
*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: H8451
There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תּוֹרָה
Transliteration: tôwrâh
Pronunciation: to-raw'
Description: or תֹּרָה; from יָרָה; a precept or statute, especially the Decalogue or Pentateuch; law. - 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. - 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: 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. - 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. - 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.