Numbers 5:13

KJV

And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and [there be] no witness against her, neither she be taken [with the manner];

KJV (with Strong's)

And a man {H376} lie {H7901} with her carnally {H7902}{H2233}, and it be hid {H5956} from the eyes {H5869} of her husband {H376}, and be kept close {H5641}, and she be defiled {H2930}, and there be no witness {H5707} against her, neither she be taken {H8610} with the manner;

Complete Jewish Bible

that is, if another man goes to bed with her without her husband's knowledge, so that she becomes impure secretly, and there is no witness against her, and she was not caught in the act;

Berean Standard Bible

by sleeping with another man, and it is concealed from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she was not caught in the act),

American Standard Version

and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she be not taken in the act;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 5:13 meticulously details the precise conditions that necessitate the "Law of Jealousy" or "Ordeal of the Bitter Water," a unique divine judicial mechanism within the Mosaic Law. This verse describes a scenario where a husband suspects his wife of adultery, but the alleged act is entirely concealed from human observation, with no witnesses or direct evidence to confirm her defilement, thereby creating an impasse that only God's direct intervention can resolve to reveal the truth and uphold justice within the Israelite community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 5:13 functions as the critical trigger for the "Law of Jealousy," comprehensively outlined in [Numbers 5:11-31](/numbers/5 "Numbers 5 - The Law of Jealousy"). This specific legal procedure is situated within a broader section of Numbers (chapters 1-10) that establishes the order, purity, and structure of the Israelite camp as they prepare for their journey through the wilderness. Preceding the Law of Jealousy are regulations concerning the removal of unclean persons from the camp ([Numbers 5:1-4](/numbers/5-1-4 "Numbers 5:1-4 - Removal of Unclean Persons")) and the restitution for wrongs committed, particularly against the Lord ([Numbers 5:5-10](/numbers/5-5-10 "Numbers 5:5-10 - Law of Restitution")). This placement underscores the overarching theme of maintaining holiness and moral integrity within God's covenant people. The Law of Jealousy itself is a divine test by ordeal, specifically designed for ambiguous cases of suspected marital infidelity where conventional human legal processes, which typically require [two or three witnesses](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Two or Three Witnesses"), are insufficient to determine guilt or innocence. Verse 13 precisely articulates these conditions, highlighting the need for extraordinary divine intervention when human justice reaches its limits.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, as in the broader ancient Near East, marital fidelity was paramount, serving as the foundational pillar for family structure, lineage integrity, and communal purity. Adultery was not merely a social transgression but a grave sin against God's covenant, often punishable by death under the Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 20:10](/leviticus/20-10 "Leviticus 20:10 - Punishment for Adultery"); [Deuteronomy 22:22](/deuteronomy/22-22 "Deuteronomy 22:22 - Death Penalty for Adultery")). However, a significant legal and social challenge arose when adultery was suspected but lacked direct evidence or witnesses, leaving a husband in agonizing uncertainty and the community without clear grounds for judgment. In a patriarchal society where a woman's honor, her husband's reputation, and the legitimacy of offspring were critically important, unresolved suspicions could lead to profound domestic strife, social instability, and even wrongful accusations. The "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" provided a unique, divinely sanctioned mechanism to resolve such ambiguous cases, ensuring that justice, whether vindicating the innocent or exposing the guilty, could be rendered by God Himself. This law demonstrates God's meticulous concern for both individual righteousness and the moral well-being of the entire community, even in the most private and hidden aspects of life, thereby upholding the sanctity of marriage and maintaining order within His holy nation.

* **Key Themes:** Numbers 5:13, as the preamble to the Ordeal of the Bitter Water, contributes significantly to several key themes pervasive throughout the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Divine Omniscience and Immanence**. The law is necessitated precisely because human eyes cannot see the hidden sin, emphasizing that no secret act escapes God's knowledge ([Proverbs 15:3](/proverbs/15-3 "Proverbs 15:3 - The Eyes of the Lord are Everywhere")). Secondly, it highlights God's unwavering commitment to **Justice and Truth**. Even when human legal systems are inadequate, God provides a means for truth to be revealed and justice to be served, demonstrating His active governance over His people's moral and social order. This aligns with the broader theme of God as the ultimate Judge, as seen in passages like [Genesis 18:25](/genesis/18-25 "Genesis 18:25 - Shall Not the Judge of All the Earth Do Right?"). Thirdly, the passage underscores the **Sanctity of Marriage and the Seriousness of Defilement**. Adultery is treated not merely as a social breach but as a profound spiritual defilement that renders a person "unclean" and requires divine intervention for resolution, reflecting the high value God places on covenant fidelity. Finally, it speaks to the theme of **Purity and Order within the Holy Community**, a recurring motif in Numbers, where the camp's physical and moral purity is essential for God's presence among His people ([Numbers 5:3](/numbers/5-3 "Numbers 5:3 - Expelling the Unclean")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **man (Hebrew, _ʼîysh'_):** The Hebrew word אִישׁ (_ʼîysh_), while broadly meaning "man" or "male person," carries significant weight here. It specifies the male party involved in the illicit act, emphasizing that the suspected transgression is between the wife and "a man" other than her husband. This highlights the breach of the exclusive marital covenant and the specific nature of the suspected sin: sexual infidelity with another male.
* **kept close (Hebrew, _çâthar'_):** The Hebrew verb סָתַר (_çâthar_) signifies "to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively; to conceal, keep secret." Its use here, alongside "hid from the eyes of her husband," powerfully emphasizes the clandestine nature of the suspected act. This double emphasis on secrecy underscores the very problem the Law of Jealousy was designed to address: a sin committed in such a way that no human eye could witness it, making human judgment impossible without divine revelation.
* **defiled (Hebrew, _ṭâmêʼ'_):** The Hebrew word טָמֵא (_ṭâmêʼ_) is a primitive root meaning "to be foul, especially in a ceremonial or moral sense (contaminated); to defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean." In the context of Numbers 5:13, it refers specifically to the moral and spiritual defilement of adultery. This defilement is not merely a social transgression but a spiritual impurity that renders the woman unclean in the eyes of God and the community, requiring either divine judgment or vindication to restore purity. The concept of _ṭâmêʼ_ permeates the Mosaic Law, emphasizing the need for purity in a holy people.
* **witness (Hebrew, _ʻêd'_):** The Hebrew word עֵד (_ʻêd_) refers concretely to a "witness" or abstractly to "testimony." The explicit statement "no witness against her" is crucial, as the Mosaic Law typically required the testimony of [two or three witnesses](/deuteronomy/19-15 "Deuteronomy 19:15 - Requirement for Two or Three Witnesses") to establish guilt in capital cases. The absence of such testimony is the primary legal trigger for the ordeal, highlighting the unique nature of this law as a recourse when standard judicial procedures are insufficient to ascertain the truth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And a man lie with her carnally":** This opening clause establishes the foundational premise of the suspicion: the wife is suspected of having engaged in sexual intercourse outside of her marriage, specifically with another man. It directly names the illicit act, setting the stage for the subsequent conditions that make the ordeal necessary.
* **"and it be hid from the eyes of her husband":** This clause immediately introduces the element of secrecy. The alleged act was not committed openly or in a manner that the husband could directly observe or confirm, leading to his suspicion rather than certain knowledge. This hiddenness is central to the dilemma the law addresses.
* **"and be kept close":** This phrase reiterates and intensifies the element of concealment. It underscores that the act was intentionally hidden, not merely unobserved, further complicating any human attempt to ascertain the truth and emphasizing the clandestine nature of the suspected transgression.
* **"and she be defiled":** This indicates the spiritual and moral consequence of the alleged act. If she did commit adultery, she is considered defiled or unclean in God's sight and within the community. This state of defilement has serious implications for her standing within the holy community and before God, necessitating a divine resolution.
* **"and [there be] no witness against her":** This is a critical legal condition that triggers the ordeal. It explicitly states the absence of human testimony, which would normally be required for a conventional legal conviction under Mosaic Law. Without witnesses, a human court cannot render a verdict of guilt, thus requiring God's direct intervention.
* **"neither she be taken [with the manner]":** This final clause further clarifies the complete lack of direct evidence. To be "taken with the manner" means to be caught in the very act of transgression. The absence of such immediate apprehension means that the standard legal penalties for adultery cannot be applied, thereby necessitating the divine ordeal as the only means of uncovering the truth in a case of mere suspicion.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 5:13 masterfully employs several potent literary devices that amplify its meaning and underscore the gravity of the situation it addresses. **Repetition** is prominently featured in the dual emphasis on concealment: "hid from the eyes of her husband" and "kept close." This reiteration powerfully highlights the core dilemma—the hidden nature of the suspected sin—and sets the stage for the divine intervention necessary to reveal what is otherwise invisible to human perception. The verse also utilizes precise **Legal Language**, outlining the specific, stringent conditions that must be met for the ordeal to be invoked ("no witness against her," "neither she be taken with the manner"). This precision underscores the Mosaic Law's meticulous attention to justice and due process, even when human means are exhausted. Furthermore, the entire scenario presents a profound **Contrast** between human limitation and divine omniscience. Humans are unable to discern the truth due to the hidden nature of the act and the lack of witnesses, but God is presented as the ultimate, all-seeing judge who can penetrate all secrecy. This contrast implicitly **Foreshadows** the broader biblical theme that "nothing is hidden from God" and that ultimately, all hidden things, whether for judgment or vindication, will be brought to light.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 5:13, as the catalyst for the Law of Jealousy, profoundly underscores several core theological truths. Firstly, it highlights God's absolute omniscience; no sin, no matter how carefully hidden from human eyes, remains concealed from Him. This truth serves as a powerful deterrent to secret wrongdoing and a comfort to those who feel wronged without recourse. Secondly, the passage affirms God's unwavering commitment to justice and truth, especially in matters of moral purity and the sanctity of covenants. Even when human legal systems are insufficient, God provides a mechanism to ensure that truth prevails and defilement is addressed. Finally, it emphasizes the profound seriousness with which God views marital fidelity, treating adultery not merely as a social breach but as a spiritual defilement that demands divine attention and resolution, reflecting His holy character and His desire for a pure people.

* [Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - God's Omniscience and Judgment")
* [Proverbs 5:21](/proverbs/5-21 "Proverbs 5:21 - The Lord Observes All Paths")
* [Hebrews 13:4](/hebrews/13-4 "Hebrews 13:4 - Sanctity of Marriage and God's Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The stark reality presented in Numbers 5:13—that sin can be hidden from human eyes but never from God—carries profound implications for our lives today. It serves as a potent reminder of God's perfect knowledge and unwavering justice, urging us to live with unwavering integrity, not just in public but in the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds. This passage challenges the modern tendency to compartmentalize life, believing that private actions have no public or spiritual consequence. For believers, it calls for a radical transparency before God, acknowledging that true purity begins inwardly, where thoughts and intentions reside. It also powerfully reinforces the sanctity of marital vows, reminding us that fidelity is a sacred trust, honored not merely out of fear of discovery but out of reverence for God and profound respect for our spouse. When we recognize that God sees all, our motivation for righteousness shifts from external accountability to an internal desire to please Him, fostering a life of genuine holiness, integrity, and trust in His ultimate, all-revealing justice.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the truth that "nothing is hidden from God" (as seen in Numbers 5:13) impact your daily choices and private thoughts?**
* **In what ways does this passage affirm the sanctity of marriage and fidelity within the Christian covenant, even when human evidence is lacking?**
* **How might the principle of divine justice, revealed when human justice is insufficient, encourage us in situations where we feel wronged or truth is obscured?**

### FAQ
**Why was the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" necessary if God is omniscient?**

Answer: The ordeal was necessary not because God needed a mechanism to discover the truth, for He is omniscient, but because human society did. In ancient Israel, legal verdicts typically required the testimony of witnesses. When a husband suspected his wife of adultery but had no witnesses or direct proof, there was no human legal recourse to resolve the dispute. This ambiguity could lead to ongoing marital strife, false accusations, or unpunished sin, thereby undermining the community's moral and social fabric. The ordeal provided a divinely sanctioned means for God Himself to act as the ultimate judge, revealing the truth—either vindicating the innocent or exposing the guilty—thereby bringing closure and upholding justice where human means failed. It was a concession to human limitation, demonstrating God's meticulous care for order and purity within His people, and serving as a powerful deterrent against secret sin.

**Is the Law of Jealousy, including the ordeal, still applicable to believers today?**

Answer: No, the specific ritual of the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" is part of the Old Covenant's ceremonial and judicial law, which has been fulfilled and superseded by the New Covenant in Christ. Believers today are not bound by these specific ritualistic practices. However, the underlying principles remain timeless: God's omniscience, His commitment to truth and justice, the seriousness with which He views sin (especially adultery), and the sanctity of marriage. While the method of resolving suspected infidelity has changed (e.g., through church discipline, legal processes, and personal repentance), the divine standards for purity and fidelity endure. The New Testament church operates under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the principles of grace and truth revealed in Christ, rather than judicial ordeals, recognizing that Christ's sacrifice provides a perfect cleansing for sin ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Blood Cleanses Conscience")).

**What does "neither she be taken [with the manner]" mean in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "neither she be taken [with the manner]" means that the woman was not caught in the very act of committing adultery. It emphasizes the complete lack of direct, irrefutable evidence. If she had been "taken with the manner," i.e., apprehended during the act, then the standard legal penalties for adultery would have applied, and the ordeal would not have been necessary. This clause highlights that the Law of Jealousy was specifically for cases of *suspicion without proof*, where the alleged sin was entirely hidden from human observation, necessitating a divine means of revelation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 5:13, with its profound focus on hidden sin and the divine revelation of truth, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Law of Jealousy, in its attempt to expose hidden defilement and bring justice where human means failed, points directly to Christ as the one who perfectly embodies and administers divine justice and truth. He is the light that exposes all darkness, revealing the secrets of hearts that are "kept close" from human eyes ([John 3:20-21](/john/3-20-21 "John 3:20-21 - Light Exposes Deeds")). Unlike the temporary and ritualistic nature of the bitter water ordeal, Christ offers a definitive and eternal solution to the problem of defilement through His atoning sacrifice. His blood cleanses from *all* sin, both hidden and manifest, providing a true and lasting purity that the Law's rituals could only foreshadow ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Blood Cleanses Conscience"); [1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood")). Moreover, Jesus upholds the sanctity of marriage not through an ordeal, but through His teaching on its divine institution and indissolubility ([Matthew 19:4-6](/matthew/19-4-6 "Matthew 19:4-6 - Jesus on Marriage and Divorce")), and He addresses the root of defilement by emphasizing the purity of the heart, where lust and adultery truly begin ([Matthew 5:28](/matthew/5-28 "Matthew 5:28 - Lust in the Heart")). In Christ, the need for an external, physical ordeal is superseded by an internal transformation and the perfect, omniscient judgment of God, who has committed all judgment to the Son ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Judges No One, But Has Given All Judgment to the Son")), ensuring that all truth will ultimately be revealed through Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 18:20

Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.

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.

Proverbs 30:20

Such [is] the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

Proverbs 7:18

Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

Proverbs 7:19

For the goodman [is] not at home, he is gone a long journey: