Numbers 5:17

KJV

And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put [it] into the water:

KJV (with Strong's)

And the priest {H3548} shall take {H3947} holy {H6918} water {H4325} in an earthen {H2789} vessel {H3627}; and of the dust {H6083} that is in the floor {H7172} of the tabernacle {H4908} the priest {H3548} shall take {H3947}, and put {H5414} it into the water {H4325}:

Complete Jewish Bible

The cohen will put holy water in a clay pot, and then the cohen will take some of the dust on the floor of the tabernacle and put it in the water.

Berean Standard Bible

Then he is to take some holy water in a clay jar and put some of the dust from the tabernacle floor into the water.

American Standard Version

and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 5:17 describes a pivotal step in the ancient Israelite "Ordeal of the Bitter Water," a unique judicial ritual designed to address a husband's unsubstantiated suspicion of his wife's infidelity. This verse precisely details the preparation of the symbolic mixture by the priest, combining sacred elements from the Tabernacle—holy water and dust from its floor—into an earthen vessel, setting the stage for a divine revelation of guilt or innocence.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a distinct legal section of Numbers (5:11-31) known as the "law of jealousy." This passage immediately follows laws concerning the purification of the camp from various defilements (such as lepers and those with discharges in [Numbers 5:1-4](/numbers/5-1 "Numbers 5:1-4 - Purity of the Camp")) and regulations regarding restitution for wrongs committed against others ([Numbers 5:5-10](/numbers/5-5 "Numbers 5:5-10 - Restitution for Wrongdoing")). The inclusion of the Ordeal of the Bitter Water here underscores the meticulous concern for purity, justice, and the sanctity of relationships within the covenant community, demonstrating how God's law addresses even the most private and unprovable matters that could disrupt social harmony and trust.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, as in many ancient Near Eastern societies, marital fidelity was paramount, especially for women, as it ensured legitimate lineage and social order. However, direct evidence of infidelity was often elusive. The Ordeal of the Bitter Water provided a divinely sanctioned mechanism for resolving such unproven suspicions, preventing ongoing marital strife or vigilante justice. It functioned as a theocratic judicial process, placing the matter directly before God's judgment when human testimony was insufficient. The use of the priest and elements from the Tabernacle emphasized that this was not a magical ritual, but a solemn appeal to the omniscient God who dwells among His people, reinforcing the principle that [nothing is hidden from His sight](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - Nothing Hidden from God").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Holy Water (Hebrew, _mayim qodeshim'_):** This refers to water that has been set apart or consecrated for sacred use, likely drawn from the laver within the Tabernacle courtyard ([Exodus 30:18](/exodus/30-18 "Exodus 30:18 - The Bronze Laver")). Its "holiness" signifies its connection to God's presence and purity, serving as a conduit for divine truth and judgment within the ritual.
* **Earthen Vessel (Hebrew, _keli-cheres'_):** A common, unadorned clay pot. Its humble and fragile nature contrasts sharply with the sacred contents it holds. Symbolically, it may represent the vulnerability of the accused woman, the commonness of humanity made from dust, or the mundane container through which divine judgment is administered. It underscores that God's power can work through the simplest of means.
* **Dust (Hebrew, _aphar'_):** This term simply means common earth or dirt. However, when taken "from the floor of the tabernacle," it acquires profound symbolic weight. It links the ritual to the very ground of God's dwelling, making it a physical representation of the sacred space. It also evokes humanity's creation from dust ([Genesis 2:7](/genesis/2-7 "Genesis 2:7 - Creation of Man from Dust")) and the curse of returning to dust due to sin ([Genesis 3:19](/genesis/3-19 "Genesis 3:19 - Return to Dust")), thereby symbolizing the potential for defilement and the earthly consequences of sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel":** This clause establishes the officiant (the priest, God's representative) and the primary liquid component of the mixture. The "holy water" signifies divine purity and the sacred nature of the proceedings, while the "earthen vessel" grounds the ritual in human reality and frailty.
* **"and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take":** This specifies the second, highly symbolic ingredient. The dust's origin "from the floor of the tabernacle" imbues it with sacred significance, directly linking the ritual's efficacy to God's immediate presence and authority within His dwelling place. This also emphasizes that the judgment emanates from the very heart of Israel's worship.
* **"and put [it] into the water":** This simple instruction describes the act of combining the two elements. This mixing creates the "bitter water," a concoction that is physically harmless but ritually potent, designed to manifest divine judgment based on the accused's guilt or innocence.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs significant **Symbolism** throughout. The "holy water" symbolizes purity, truth, and the divine presence, while the "earthen vessel" represents human fragility and the commonness of the human condition. The "dust from the floor of the tabernacle" is a particularly potent symbol, evoking both humanity's humble origins and the curse of sin, while simultaneously connecting the ritual directly to the most sacred space of God's dwelling. The act of mixing these elements creates a concoction that is itself symbolic of divine judgment confronting potential human defilement. The detailed, precise instructions also lend a **Ritualistic Tone**, emphasizing the solemnity and divine authority behind the ordeal. Furthermore, there is an element of **Contrast** between the sacred (holy water, Tabernacle) and the mundane (earthen vessel, common dust), highlighting how God's justice permeates all aspects of life, even the hidden and earthly.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 5:17, as part of the Ordeal of the Bitter Water, powerfully underscores God's profound commitment to truth, justice, and the sanctity of covenant relationships, particularly marriage. It reveals a God who is not only omniscient, seeing all hidden things, but also actively intervenes to establish righteousness when human means of discernment fail. The meticulous nature of the ritual highlights the extreme seriousness with which God views marital infidelity, recognizing it as a defilement that impacts not only the individuals but also the purity and order of the entire covenant community. This passage affirms that ultimately, all hidden deeds will be brought to light before God's perfect judgment.

* [Proverbs 5:21](/proverbs/5-21 "Proverbs 5:21 - God Sees All Paths")
* [Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - Nothing Hidden from God")
* [Malachi 2:14-16](/malachi/2-14-16 "Malachi 2:14-16 - God Hates Divorce and Faithlessness")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ritual of the bitter water is no longer practiced under the New Covenant, the enduring principles it embodies offer profound insights for believers today. This passage reminds us that God is a God of truth and justice, who sees all things, even the hidden motives and actions of the heart. This should inspire us to live lives of integrity and transparency, knowing that we are always before His gaze. Furthermore, the meticulous care God prescribed for addressing marital infidelity highlights the profound sanctity of the marriage covenant in His eyes. For us, this means upholding the sacredness of our commitments, whether in marriage or other relationships, and trusting that God will ultimately bring all things to light, even when human evidence is lacking. It calls us to rely on divine wisdom and judgment rather than succumbing to suspicion or taking matters into our own hands.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the detailed nature of this ritual highlight God's concern for truth and justice within the community?**
* **What does the combination of "holy water" and "dust from the Tabernacle floor" teach us about the nature of divine judgment and its connection to both the sacred and the mundane?**
* **In what ways does our understanding of God's omniscience (His all-knowing nature) challenge or comfort us in our daily lives and relationships?**

### FAQ
**Why was dust from the Tabernacle floor specifically used in this ritual?**

Answer: The use of dust from the Tabernacle floor in [Numbers 5:17](/numbers/5-17 "Numbers 5:17 - Preparation of the Bitter Water") is profoundly symbolic and crucial to the ritual's theological meaning. First, by taking dust from the very ground of God's dwelling place, the ritual directly links the judgment to the divine presence and authority. It signifies that the verdict comes from God Himself, who resides in the Tabernacle. Second, dust carries multiple symbolic connotations in the biblical narrative: it represents humanity's humble origins (created from dust, [Genesis 2:7](/genesis/2-7 "Genesis 2:7 - Creation of Man from Dust")), the consequences of sin (returning to dust, [Genesis 3:19](/genesis/3-19 "Genesis 3:19 - Return to Dust")), and a state of lowliness or humility. When combined with "holy water," the dust from the sacred space becomes a physical representation of the potential defilement within the covenant community and the earthly consequences of sin, serving as a tangible element through which divine truth would be revealed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The Ordeal of the Bitter Water, with its priest, sacred elements, and a woman standing accused, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate need for a divine mediator and a perfect judgment. This Old Testament ritual highlights humanity's desperate need for a just resolution to hidden sin and a means by which truth can be revealed when human evidence falls short. In Christ, we find the complete fulfillment of this need. He is the Great High Priest, not merely preparing a symbolic mixture, but offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice to cleanse us from all sin, both known and unknown ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). While the bitter water brought a curse upon the guilty, Jesus Christ tasted the bitter cup of God's wrath on the cross for us ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")), bearing the full consequences of sin so that we might receive forgiveness and life. Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit, not a ritualistic drink, convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment ([John 16:8](/john/16-8 "John 16:8 - The Holy Spirit Convicts")), leading us to repentance and faith in Christ, who alone is the way, the truth, and the life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life")). The focus shifts from an external ordeal for specific accusations to an internal transformation and a complete cleansing from all sin through the blood of the Lamb of God ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by Blood of Jesus")).

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

Exodus 30:18

Thou shalt also make a laver [of] brass, and his foot [also of] brass, to wash [withal]: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

John 8:6

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with [his] finger wrote on the ground, [as though he heard them not].

Lamentations 3:29

He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

John 8:8

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

Job 2:12

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

Jeremiah 17:13

O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, [and] they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

Numbers 19:2

This [is] the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein [is] no blemish, [and] upon which never came yoke: