Numbers 5:24

KJV

And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, [and become] bitter.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he shall cause the woman {H802} to drink {H8248} the bitter {H4751} water {H4325} that causeth the curse {H779}: and the water {H4325} that causeth the curse {H779} shall enter {H935} into her, and become bitter {H4751}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and make the woman drink the water of embitterment and cursing - the water of cursing will enter her and become bitter.

Berean Standard Bible

He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and cause her bitter suffering.

American Standard Version

and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causeth the curse; and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her and become bitter.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 5:24 is a pivotal verse within the unique and divinely ordained "Ordeal of the Bitter Water," a ritual designed to ascertain the truth in cases of suspected marital infidelity where no human witnesses or evidence existed. This verse specifically describes the moment the accused woman is made to drink the specially prepared water, which, by divine decree, would either bring about a physical manifestation of a curse if she were guilty, or prove her innocence. It underscores God's commitment to justice, the sanctity of the marital covenant, and His sovereign ability to reveal hidden truths.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 5:24 is embedded within the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water," spanning [Numbers 5:11-31](/numbers/5-11 "Numbers 5:11-31 - The Ordeal of the Bitter Water"). This passage immediately follows laws concerning uncleanness and restitution, emphasizing the purification and holiness required within the Israelite camp. The ritual itself is a highly structured legal procedure, distinct from other forms of legal recourse, as it relies on divine intervention rather than human testimony. The preceding verses detail the priest's preparation of the water, the woman's presentation before the Lord, and the solemn oath she must take, highlighting the gravity and sacred nature of the proceedings. The subsequent verses describe the physical consequences for a guilty woman and the vindication for an innocent one, concluding with a summary of the law, reinforcing its importance for maintaining purity within the community.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, as in many ancient Near Eastern cultures, marital fidelity was paramount, and adultery was considered a grave offense, often punishable by death (cf. [Leviticus 20:10](/leviticus/20-10 "Leviticus 20:10 - Punishment for Adultery") and [Deuteronomy 22:22](/deuteronomy/22-22 "Deuteronomy 22:22 - Law on Adultery")). However, without witnesses, proving infidelity was impossible, leaving a husband in a state of suspicion and the wife without a means to clear her name. The "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" provided a unique, divinely sanctioned mechanism to resolve such cases, bypassing human judicial limitations. It served as a deterrent against secret sin and a means of divine vindication, reflecting God's direct involvement in the moral and social order of His covenant people. This ritual was not a magical incantation but a solemn appeal to God's omniscience and justice, performed at the Tabernacle, the very dwelling place of God's presence, underscoring the sacred nature of the covenant and the seriousness of its breach.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bitter (Hebrew, _marim'_):** This word (מָרִים) extends beyond a mere taste sensation. While it certainly implies an unpleasant taste, its deeper meaning often conveys distress, sorrow, affliction, or calamity. In this context, the water's "bitterness" for the guilty woman signifies the painful, calamitous consequences of her sin, a divine judgment that brings physical and social suffering. For the innocent, it remains mere water, but for the guilty, it becomes an instrument of divine revelation and punishment.
* **Curse (Hebrew, _'alah'_):** The term ('אָלָה) refers to an oath, imprecation, or covenantal curse. Here, it signifies the conditional self-imprecation the woman agrees to if found guilty, where the water acts as the vehicle for the divine judgment to take effect. It's not a magical curse but a solemn declaration of divine consequences for breaking the covenant, invoked by God Himself through the ritual.
* **Drink (Hebrew, _shaqah'_):** The verb (שָׁקָה) means "to give to drink" or "to cause to drink." The priest "causes" the woman to drink, emphasizing the mandatory nature of the ordeal and the priest's role as the mediator of this divine judgment. It highlights the direct and unavoidable engagement with the ritual's consequences, whether for vindication or condemnation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse:"** This clause establishes the priest's active role in administering the ordeal. The water, specially prepared with dust from the Tabernacle floor and the scraped-off words of the curse, is not just ordinary water but a symbolic medium imbued with the potential for divine judgment. The phrase "causeth the curse" highlights that the water is the instrument through which the previously invoked curse (the oath of self-imprecation) will be activated by God if the woman is guilty.
* **"and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her,"** This emphasizes the internal consumption of the water, indicating that the divine judgment, if applicable, would work from within. It underscores the intimate and inescapable nature of God's scrutiny, reaching into the hidden parts of the body and soul, where the truth of her fidelity (or lack thereof) resides.
* **"[and become] bitter."** This final phrase, often implied or explicitly stated in translations, signifies the outcome for the guilty woman. The water, though perhaps tasteless to the innocent, would become "bitter" in its effects for the guilty, leading to physical symptoms (swelling, wasting) that publicly confirm her sin. This "bitterness" is not merely a taste but a manifestation of divine judgment and the painful consequences of unfaithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
The passage, and specifically [Numbers 5:24](/numbers/5-24 "Numbers 5:24 - The Bitter Water Ordeal"), employs several potent literary devices. **Symbolism** is central, with the "bitter water" serving as a powerful symbol of divine judgment and the painful consequences of sin. The water, ordinary in composition yet extraordinary in its effect, symbolizes God's ability to transform the mundane into an instrument of His truth. The dust from the Tabernacle floor mixed into the water symbolizes God's presence and the sacred space where the judgment occurs, linking the earthly ritual directly to divine authority. There is also an element of **Divine Ordeal**, a literary and theological concept where God directly intervenes to reveal truth and administer justice when human means are insufficient. This ritual functions as a divine court, with God as the ultimate judge. Furthermore, the potential for the water to "become bitter" for the guilty, yet remain benign for the innocent, showcases **Irony** and **Contrast**, highlighting the stark difference in outcomes based on the woman's true state before God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 5:24, as part of the Ordeal of the Bitter Water, profoundly underscores God's absolute commitment to justice and His omniscience, especially in matters hidden from human sight. It reveals a God who actively intervenes to uphold the sanctity of marriage, a foundational covenant within His community, and to expose sin that threatens the purity and order of His people. The severity of the ritual highlights the grave consequences of unfaithfulness, demonstrating that sin, particularly covenantal breach, carries inevitable and often painful divine repercussions. Ultimately, it serves as a powerful reminder that there is nothing hidden from God, and His perfect justice will always prevail, bringing truth to light and administering righteous judgment.

* [Malachi 2:14](/malachi/2-14 "Malachi 2:14 - God as Witness to Marriage Covenant"): God is a witness to the marriage covenant, emphasizing its sacred and binding nature.
* [Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - God's Omniscience"): All things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account, reinforcing God's ability to discern hidden truths.
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin"): The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, illustrating the ultimate consequence of sin and God's provision.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ritual of the bitter water is part of the Old Covenant law and is not practiced today, the underlying theological principles remain profoundly relevant for believers. This passage powerfully reminds us of God's unwavering commitment to truth and justice, even when human evidence is lacking or obscured. It challenges us to live with integrity, knowing that God sees all, even the hidden motives and actions of our hearts. The gravity of the "bitter water" for the guilty serves as a stark reminder of the painful, often self-inflicted, consequences of sin, particularly those that violate sacred trusts and covenants. It calls us to a deeper reverence for God's holiness and a greater appreciation for the grace that covers our shortcomings. In a world where truth is often relative and justice elusive, this passage encourages us to trust in God's ultimate sovereignty and His perfect timing to bring all things to light. It also prompts us to consider how we uphold covenantal faithfulness in our own lives, whether in marriage, friendships, or our commitment to God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" deepen your understanding of God's omniscience and His commitment to justice?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be tempted to hide sin, and how does this passage encourage you to pursue radical honesty before God?**
* **How can the principle of divine justice, as seen in this passage, inform your trust in God when you face situations where truth seems obscured or justice delayed?**

### FAQ
**Was the "bitter water" a magical potion, or did it have a natural effect?**

Answer: The "bitter water" was not a magical potion in the sense of possessing inherent magical properties. Instead, it was an ordinary mixture of water and dust from the Tabernacle floor, with the scraped-off words of a curse. Its effect was supernatural, not magical. The outcome—whether physical affliction for the guilty or no effect for the innocent—was a direct result of divine intervention, a miracle performed by God Himself to reveal hidden truth. It was a test administered by God, not a natural consequence of the water's composition. The ritual's power lay in God's active participation and His commitment to upholding justice within His covenant people, as seen throughout the Old Testament in various forms of divine judgment and vindication (e.g., [Exodus 15:23-25](/exodus/15-23 "Exodus 15:23-25 - Marah, the Bitter Waters Made Sweet") or [Daniel 2:22](/daniel/2-22 "Daniel 2:22 - God Reveals Secrets")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" in [Numbers 5:24](/numbers/5-24 "Numbers 5:24 - The Bitter Water Ordeal") finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in several ways. While the Old Covenant ritual exposed sin through a physical ordeal, the New Covenant reveals sin's true nature and offers ultimate cleansing through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "bitter water" symbolizes the curse and the painful consequences of sin, a curse that Christ Himself bore on the cross (cf. [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeems Us from the Curse")). He became sin for us, drinking the "cup" of God's wrath and judgment (cf. [Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")), so that we might not have to face the bitter consequences of our own unfaithfulness. Furthermore, Jesus is the ultimate revealer of all truth, discerning the secrets of the heart not through a ritualistic test, but through His divine omniscience (cf. [John 2:25](/john/2-25 "John 2:25 - Jesus Knew What Was in Man") and [John 4:17-19](/john/4-17 "John 4:17-19 - Jesus Reveals the Samaritan Woman's Past")). He offers not a bitter curse, but living water (cf. [John 4:10](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus Offers Living Water")) that brings eternal life and cleansing from all unrighteousness. Thus, the Ordeal of the Bitter Water, with its focus on sin, judgment, and divine revelation, ultimately points to Christ as the one who perfectly fulfills God's justice and offers merciful redemption, transforming the bitter taste of sin into the sweet grace of forgiveness.

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.