Numbers 5:24

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.

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}.

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

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

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

Context

Numbers 5:24 is part of a unique and often debated passage in the Old Testament known as the "Ordeal of the Bitter Water" or the "Trial of Jealousy" (Numbers 5:11-31). This ritual was prescribed by God for cases where a husband suspected his wife of adultery but had no witnesses or direct proof. The ceremony took place before the Lord, at the tabernacle, officiated by a priest. The water mentioned in this verse was ordinary water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor and the scraped-off words of a curse written on a scroll. The purpose was to allow God Himself to reveal the truth – to either vindicate the innocent woman or expose the guilty.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Truth: This ritual underscores God's commitment to justice and His ability to discern and reveal hidden truth, especially when human evidence is lacking. It served as a divine intervention in a matter of profound domestic and communal importance.
  • Sanctity of Marriage: The severity of the ritual highlights the immense value God placed on the covenant of marriage and the purity within the Israelite community. Adultery was not merely a personal offense but a breach of the divine covenant and a threat to social order. This reflects themes seen in passages like Malachi 2:14 regarding covenant fidelity.
  • Consequence of Sin: The "bitter water that causeth the curse" symbolizes the inevitable and often painful consequences of sin. For the guilty, the water would indeed become bitter, leading to physical affliction and public exposure.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "bitter" here is marim (ΧžΦΈΧ¨Φ΄Χ™Χ), which goes beyond a mere taste sensation. It often implies a feeling of distress, sorrow, or calamity. Thus, the "bitter water" was not just unpleasant to drink, but was meant to bring about a distressing or calamitous outcome for the guilty party. The phrase "causeth the curse" emphasizes that the water was an instrument through which the divine judgment, or curse, would be activated if the woman was indeed unfaithful.

Practical Application

While the specific ritual of the bitter water is part of the Old Covenant law and not practiced today, the underlying principles remain relevant. This passage reminds us:

  • God's Omniscience: God knows all things, even the secrets of the heart (Hebrews 4:13). There is nothing hidden from Him.
  • The Gravity of Sin: Sin, especially that which violates sacred trusts and covenants, carries serious consequences. The Bible consistently teaches that the wages of sin is death, both spiritually and often tangibly.
  • Trust in Divine Justice: In situations where truth is obscured or justice seems elusive, believers can trust that God ultimately oversees all things and will, in His time and way, bring truth to light and administer perfect justice.
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Cross-References

  • Malachi 3:5

    And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • Zechariah 5:3

    Then said he unto me, This [is] the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off [as] on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off [as] on that side according to it.

  • Zechariah 5:4

    I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
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