Numbers 5:25

Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar:

Then the priest {H3548} shall take {H3947} the jealousy {H7068} offering {H4503} out of the woman's {H802} hand {H3027}, and shall wave {H5130} the offering {H4503} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}, and offer {H7126} it upon the altar {H4196}:

Then the cohen is to remove the grain offering for jealousy from the woman's hand, wave the grain offering before ADONAI and bring it to the altar.

The priest shall take from her hand the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD, and bring it to the altar.

And the priest shall take the meal-offering of jealousy out of the womanโ€™s hand, and shall wave the meal-offering before Jehovah, and bring it unto the altar:

Commentary

Context

This verse is a crucial part of the unique and intricate "Law of Jealousy" found in Numbers 5:11-31. This specific ritual, sometimes referred to as the Sotah in Hebrew tradition, was designed for a husband who suspected his wife of infidelity but lacked concrete proof or witnesses. The offering itself, made of barley meal without oil or frankincense, signifies the somber and involuntary nature of the situation, unlike typical joyful offerings. Verse 25 describes a key moment where the priest takes the offering from the woman, who is physically presenting herself and the offering before the LORD, indicating her submission to this divine test.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Revelation: The ritual underscores God's omniscience and His ability to reveal hidden truth when human means of judgment are insufficient. It highlights that no secret act is hidden from Him.
  • Sanctity of Marriage and Purity: The law emphasizes the importance of fidelity within marriage and the broader communal purity of Israel. Infidelity was seen as a defilement that required divine intervention.
  • The Priest's Mediating Role: The priest acts as the central figure, mediating between the accused woman, her husband, and God. His actions, such as waving the offering and placing it on the altar, are essential ceremonial steps in seeking divine judgment.
  • Ritual and Symbolic Presentation: The "waving" of the offering before the LORD is a symbolic act of presenting it directly to God, acknowledging His authority and inviting His judgment upon the matter.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "jealousy offering" (Hebrew: ืžึดื ึฐื—ึทืช ืงึฐื ึธืึนืช, minchat qena'ot) literally translates to "offering of jealousies" or "offering of indignation," emphasizing the intense emotional context of the accusation. The verb "wave" (Hebrew: ื ื•ึผืฃ, nuph) refers to a specific priestly action involving moving the offering back and forth or up and down. This ceremonial gesture was a way of presenting something to the LORD, often signifying dedication, consecration, or in this case, a solemn petition for divine judgment.

Practical Application

While the specific ritual of the jealousy offering is part of the Old Covenant Mosaic Law and is not practiced today, its underlying principles remain relevant. It powerfully reminds us of God's unwavering commitment to justice and truth, even in the most private and complex human situations. This passage underscores that God searches the heart and tests the mind, and nothing is truly hidden from Him. For believers, it serves as a call to personal integrity, marital fidelity, and a trust in God's ultimate righteousness, knowing that He is the ultimate judge who sees all.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 8:27

    And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them [for] a wave offering before the LORD.

  • Numbers 5:15

    Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth [part] of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it [is] an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

  • Exodus 29:24

    And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them [for] a wave offering before the LORD.

  • Numbers 5:18

    And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which [is] the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:
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