Numbers 5:29

This [is] the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside [to another] instead of her husband, and is defiled;

This is the law {H8451} of jealousies {H7068}, when a wife {H802} goeth aside {H7847} to another instead of her husband {H376}, and is defiled {H2930};

This is the law for jealousy: when either a wife under her husband's authority goes astray and becomes unclean,

This is the law of jealousy when a wife goes astray and defiles herself while under her husbandโ€™s authority,

This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled;

Commentary

Commentary on Numbers 5:29 (KJV)

Numbers 5:29 introduces the conclusion of the "law of jealousies," a unique legal and religious procedure in ancient Israel designed to address suspected marital infidelity when there was no direct evidence. This verse summarizes the context for which the entire ordeal of the bitter water (Numbers 5:11-31) was prescribed: a wife accused of having "gone aside" from her husband, implying unfaithfulness, and thereby becoming "defiled."

Context

This verse is the concluding statement for a detailed ritual outlined earlier in the chapter. In a society where family lineage and purity were paramount, and witnesses to private acts of infidelity might be absent, God provided a divine mechanism for justice. The "law of jealousies" was not merely about a husband's suspicion but God's involvement in revealing hidden truth, protecting the innocent, and exposing the guilty. It served as a deterrent against secret sin and upheld the sanctity of the marital covenant within the Israelite community.

Key Themes

  • Marital Fidelity and Purity: The law underscores the extreme importance of faithfulness within marriage and the serious defilement caused by adultery. It highlights God's concern for the integrity of the family unit, which was foundational to Israelite society.
  • Divine Justice and Revelation: When human evidence was insufficient, God provided a means for truth to be revealed. This demonstrates His attribute of omniscience and His commitment to justice, even in hidden matters. It reflects the principle that all things are naked and open before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
  • Consequences of Sin: The defilement mentioned is not merely ritual but moral and spiritual. Adultery, in God's eyes, carries severe consequences, affecting the individual, the marriage, and the community's holiness. For insights into the destructive nature of adultery, consider Proverbs 6:32-33.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Jealousies" (Hebrew: qina'ot - ืงื ืื•ืช): This term signifies intense zeal, passion, or suspicion. While often used to describe God's righteous jealousy for His people's exclusive worship, here it refers to the husband's strong emotional suspicion regarding his wife's fidelity.
  • "Goeth aside" (Hebrew: tasur - ืชึธืกื•ึผืจ): Implies a deviation or turning away, specifically from the path of marital faithfulness and purity. It suggests a secret act of unfaithfulness.
  • "Is defiled" (Hebrew: nitme'ah - ื ึดื˜ึฐืžึฐืึธื”): This verb denotes becoming unclean or impure. In this context, it refers to both a ritual and moral impurity resulting from sexual sin, which would have had significant social and spiritual implications in ancient Israel.

Practical Application

While the specific ritual of the bitter water is not practiced today, the underlying principles of Numbers 5:29 remain highly relevant. The passage emphasizes the sacredness of marriage and the seriousness with which God views marital fidelity. It reminds us that:

  • God sees all: There are no truly "secret" sins before God. He is a God of truth and justice who ultimately brings all hidden things to light.
  • Integrity matters: Both faithfulness in relationships and personal purity are paramount in God's eyes.
  • Sin has consequences: Unfaithfulness, whether physical or emotional, brings defilement and breaks covenants, causing deep pain and spiritual separation.

This ancient law, though foreign in its specifics to modern culture, powerfully communicates God's unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and the sanctity of foundational human relationships.

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

  • 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:

  • Numbers 5:12

    Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,

  • Leviticus 15:32

    This [is] the law of him that hath an issue, and [of him] whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;

  • Leviticus 15:33

    And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.

  • Leviticus 7:11

    ยถ And this [is] the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.

  • Leviticus 13:59

    This [is] the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

  • Isaiah 5:7

    For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts [is] the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.
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