King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The husband will be clear of guilt, but the wife will bear the consequences of her guilt.'"
Berean Standard Bible:
The husband will be free from guilt, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.”
American Standard Version:
And the man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Then shall the man{H376} be guiltless{H5352} from iniquity{H5771}, and this{H1931} woman{H802} shall bear{H5375} her iniquity{H5771}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Leviticus 20:10
- ¶ And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Romans 2:8
- But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Romans 2:9
- Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Numbers 9:13
- But the man that [is] clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
Psalms 37:6
- And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Leviticus 20:17
- And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it [is] a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 20:20
- And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 5:31
Numbers 5:31 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. This passage, often referred to as the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water," outlines a ritual to be followed when a husband suspects his wife of being unfaithful without having any witnesses to confirm his suspicions.
In the historical context, the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt and before their entry into the Promised Land. The laws given in Numbers were part of the legal and ritual code that God established for the Israelite community through Moses. These laws were meant to maintain the moral and ritual purity of the camp, which was essential for the people's relationship with God.
The specific verse, Numbers 5:31, concludes the ritual by stating the outcomes for the husband and wife involved in the ordeal. If the woman is found guilty through the ritual, she will be punished and bear the consequences of her iniquity—presumably, this meant bearing a curse that would cause her to suffer some physical ailment or infertility. In contrast, if the woman is found innocent, not only is she free from punishment, but the text implies that any future children she bears will be free from the taint of suspicion, and the husband is considered guiltless for bringing the accusation.
The themes of this verse include justice, fidelity, and the seriousness with which adultery was treated in ancient Israelite society. It also reflects the patriarchal nature of that society, as the ritual is initiated by male jealousy and there is no corresponding ordeal for a man suspected of adultery. The verse underscores the importance of marital fidelity and the communal concern for maintaining the integrity of family lines, which were significant aspects of Israelite social and religious life.
*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: 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: 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. - Strong's Number: H5771
There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָוֺן
Transliteration: ʻâvôn
Pronunciation: aw-vone'
Description: or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin. - Strong's Number: H1931
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הוּא
Transliteration: hûwʼ
Pronunciation: hoo
Description: of which the feminine (beyond the Pentateuch) is הִיא; a primitive word, the third person pronoun singular; he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are; he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. - 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: H5375
There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשָׂא
Transliteration: nâsâʼ
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.