Numbers 5:28

And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.

And if the woman {H802} be not defiled {H2930}, but be clean {H2889}; then she shall be free {H5352}, and shall conceive {H2232} seed {H2233}.

But if the woman is not unclean but clean, then she will be innocent and will have children.

But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be unaffected and able to conceive children.

And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.

Commentary

Numbers 5:28 is a pivotal verse within the complex and unique "Ordeal of Bitter Water" or "Trial of Jealousy" ritual prescribed in the Mosaic Law. It details the positive outcome for a woman accused of infidelity who is found innocent by divine intervention.

Context

This verse concludes the divinely ordained procedure outlined in Numbers 5:11-31. If a husband suspected his wife of adultery but had no witnesses or direct proof, he could bring her to the priest. The priest would administer a solemn oath and a draught of "bitter water" mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor. The water was not inherently poisonous but served as a supernatural test. The entire ritual was designed to appeal directly to God for judgment in a matter that could not be resolved by human testimony alone, thus addressing potential injustice and maintaining the sanctity of marriage within the Israelite community.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Truth: The primary theme is God's absolute ability to discern truth and administer justice, even in hidden matters. The ritual bypassed human fallibility, demonstrating that God sees and judges all things. This echoes the broader biblical principle that nothing is hidden from God's sight.
  • Purity and Vindication: For the innocent woman, the ordeal served as a public vindication of her purity and faithfulness. Her "cleanness" (Hebrew: tahor) was divinely affirmed, restoring her honor and reputation within the community.
  • Blessing of Fruitfulness: The promise "she shall be free, and shall conceive seed" was a profound blessing in ancient Israelite society. Childbearing was highly valued, often seen as a sign of God's favor and a continuation of the family line. To be able to "conceive seed" after such an ordeal signified not just innocence but also restored blessing and fertility, contrasting sharply with the curse upon the guilty. This aligns with the original divine command to be fruitful and multiply.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses the terms "defiled" and "clean." The Hebrew word for "defiled" is tameh (טָמ֡א), meaning ritually or morally impure, polluted. The word for "clean" is tahor (Χ˜ΦΈΧ”Χ•ΦΉΧ¨), meaning ritually pure, unblemished. The phrase "shall conceive seed" directly translates the Hebrew and emphasizes the physical blessing of fertility as the outcome of her proven innocence, a stark contrast to the barrenness and physical affliction promised to the guilty woman in Numbers 5:27.

Practical Application

While the specific ritual of the bitter water is not practiced today, the underlying principles remain highly relevant. This passage reminds us that God is a God of justice who knows all hearts and sees all actions, both public and hidden. It underscores the importance of truth and integrity in relationships and before God. For those who are wrongly accused, it offers comfort in the knowledge that God ultimately vindicates the innocent. For all believers, it encourages living a life of purity, knowing that God's blessing follows faithfulness, and that He is the ultimate judge.

Reflection

Numbers 5:28 highlights God's meticulous care for justice and His profound involvement in the lives of His people, even in the most private and challenging circumstances. It reassures us that God's perfect judgment will always prevail, bringing forth truth and blessing where innocence is found.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 113:9

    He maketh the barren woman to keep house, [and to be] a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

  • Micah 7:7

    ΒΆ Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

  • Micah 7:10

    Then [she that is] mine enemy shall see [it], and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:17

    For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory;

  • 1 Peter 1:7

    That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

  • Numbers 5:19

    And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness [with another] instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse:
← Back