Numbers 5:30

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.

Complete Jewish Bible:

or the spirit of jealousy comes over a husband and he becomes jealous of his wife, then he is to place the woman before ADONAI, and the cohen is to deal with her in accordance with all of this law.

Berean Standard Bible:

or when a feeling of jealousy comes over a husband and he suspects his wife. He is to have the woman stand before the LORD, and the priest is to apply to her this entire law.

American Standard Version:

or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then shall he set the woman before Jehovah, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Or when the spirit{H7307} of jealousy{H7068} cometh{H5674} upon him{H376}, and he be jealous{H7065} over his wife{H802}, and shall set{H5975} the woman{H802} before{H6440} the LORD{H3068}, and the priest{H3548} shall execute{H6213} upon her all this law{H8451}.

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Commentary for Numbers 5:30

Numbers 5:30 is part of a larger passage in the book of Numbers that deals with the trial by ordeal for a woman suspected of adultery, known in Hebrew as the Sotah ritual. The historical context of this verse is the desert wandering of the ancient Israelites after their exodus from Egypt, where God is giving Moses various laws and regulations for the community.

The verse specifically addresses a situation where a husband is overcome by "the spirit of jealousy" and suspects his wife of being unfaithful, despite there being no witnesses to the act. In such a case, the jealous husband was to bring his wife to the priest, who would then administer a ritual to determine her guilt or innocence. This involved the woman drinking holy water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor and ink from a written curse, which was believed to cause harmful effects if she were guilty.

The themes present in this verse include the handling of jealousy and suspicion within the marriage bond, the role of religious authority in personal relationships, and the concept of divine judgment as a means of revealing truth. It reflects the patriarchal nature of Israelite society, where a woman's fidelity was a matter of significant concern, particularly regarding property and inheritance rights. The verse also underscores the belief in divine intervention in human affairs and the sanctity of marriage vows.

In summary, Numbers 5:30 outlines a ritualistic process within ancient Israelite law for dealing with a husband's jealousy over his wife's suspected infidelity. It emphasizes the gravity of marital fidelity, the involvement of religious officials in personal matters, and the appeal to divine judgment to resolve uncertain accusations. This passage is reflective of the broader legal and social framework of the time, which sought to maintain order and uphold moral standards within the community.

*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: H7307
    There are 348 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רוּחַ
    Transliteration: rûwach
    Pronunciation: roo'-akh
    Description: from רוּחַ; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions); air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
  2. 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.
  3. Strong's Number: H5674
    There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָבַר
    Transliteration: ʻâbar
    Pronunciation: aw-bar'
    Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath.
  4. 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.
  5. Strong's Number: H7065
    There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָנָא
    Transliteration: qânâʼ
    Pronunciation: kaw-naw'
    Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) zealous, i.e. (in a bad sense) jealous or envious; (be) envy(-ious), be (move to, provoke to) jealous(-y), [idiom] very, (be) zeal(-ous).
  6. 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.
  7. Strong's Number: H5975
    There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָמַד
    Transliteration: ʻâmad
    Pronunciation: aw-mad'
    Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
  8. Strong's Number: H6440
    There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פָּנִים
    Transliteration: pânîym
    Pronunciation: paw-neem'
    Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
  9. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  10. 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.
  11. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  12. 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.