Numbers 5:29

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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};

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 5:29 serves as a concise concluding summary for the unique "law of jealousies," a divinely ordained legal and ritual procedure in ancient Israel. This verse precisely defines the scenario for which the entire ordeal of the bitter water was prescribed: a wife suspected of marital infidelity, having "gone aside" from her husband, and consequently becoming "defiled." It encapsulates the core concern of the preceding verses, emphasizing the gravity of suspected unfaithfulness and the need for divine intervention to ascertain truth and maintain purity within the covenant community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 5:29 functions as the concluding statement of a detailed legal and ritualistic section spanning [Numbers 5:11-31](/numbers/5-11 "Numbers 5:11-31 - The Law of Jealousies"). This broader passage outlines the "law of jealousies" (Hebrew: *torat ha-qena'ot*), a unique judicial process designed to resolve cases of suspected marital infidelity where direct evidence was absent. The verses immediately preceding [Numbers 5:29](/numbers/5-29 "Numbers 5:29 - The Law of Jealousies Summarized") describe the specific actions the priest takes, including the preparation of the bitter water, the woman's oath, and the potential physical consequences for guilt or vindication for innocence. Verse 29, therefore, provides a succinct summary of the foundational premise for the entire ritual, reinforcing the specific conditions under which it was to be invoked, thereby bringing closure to the detailed procedural instructions.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israelite society, the sanctity of marriage, the purity of lineage, and the integrity of the family unit were paramount. Adultery was considered a grave offense, not only against the spouse but also against God and the community, often punishable by death as seen in [Leviticus 20:10](/leviticus/20-10 "Leviticus 20:10 - Punishment for Adultery"). However, in cases where a husband suspected his wife of infidelity but lacked witnesses or concrete proof, the "law of jealousies" provided a unique, divinely sanctioned mechanism for truth to be revealed. This ritual underscored God's omniscience and His commitment to upholding justice and moral order, even in private matters. It served as a deterrent against secret sin and protected innocent women from false accusations, reflecting a societal structure where public honor and divine judgment were deeply intertwined, as also emphasized in the broader legal framework of the Pentateuch, for example, in [Deuteronomy 22](/deuteronomy/22 "Deuteronomy 22 - Various Laws").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Jealousies (Hebrew, _qina'ot'_):** This plural noun, derived from the root *qana'*, signifies intense zeal, passion, or suspicion. While often used in the Old Testament to describe God's righteous and exclusive zeal for His covenant people (e.g., [Exodus 34:14](/exodus/34-14 "Exodus 34:14 - God's Jealousy for Worship")), here it refers to the husband's strong, often tormenting, emotional suspicion regarding his wife's fidelity. It implies a deep-seated emotional state, not necessarily a sinful one, but one that requires divine resolution due to its potential to disrupt marital harmony and societal order.
* **Goeth aside (Hebrew, _tasur'_):** This verb, from the root *sur*, means "to turn aside," "to deviate," or "to depart." In this context, it carries the strong connotation of moral deviation, specifically from the path of marital faithfulness and purity. It implies a secret act of unfaithfulness, a clandestine departure from the covenant vows, rather than an open or witnessed transgression. The phrase "instead of her husband" further emphasizes this deviation from her exclusive marital bond.
* **Is defiled (Hebrew, _nitme'ah'_):** This verb, from the root *tame'*, means "to become unclean," "to be polluted," or "to be defiled." In the context of the Law, *tame'* can refer to ritual impurity (e.g., touching a corpse) or moral impurity (e.g., sexual sin). Here, it denotes a profound moral and spiritual impurity resulting from sexual sin, specifically adultery. This defilement would have had significant social, ritual, and spiritual implications, rendering the woman ritually unclean and morally culpable before God and the community, impacting her standing and potentially her future.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"This [is] the law of jealousies,"**: This opening clause clearly identifies the subject matter, signaling that the verse provides a summary or conclusion to the specific legal statute previously detailed. It frames the entire preceding ritual as a formal divine ordinance designed to address cases arising from a husband's intense suspicion or "jealousy" concerning his wife's fidelity.
* **"when a wife goeth aside [to another] instead of her husband,"**: This phrase defines the specific circumstance that triggers the application of this law. "Goeth aside" implies a deviation from the expected path of marital faithfulness, specifically involving sexual intimacy with someone other than her husband. The bracketed "to another" in the KJV clarifies the implied object of her deviation, emphasizing the breach of the exclusive marital covenant.
* **"and is defiled;"**: This final clause states the consequence of such an action. "Is defiled" signifies the state of impurity—both moral and ritual—that results from marital unfaithfulness. It underscores the severe spiritual and social implications of adultery within the Israelite understanding of purity and holiness, highlighting that such an act not only breaks a human covenant but also violates divine standards and brings uncleanness upon the individual.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 5:29 employs several literary devices to convey its meaning and reinforce the gravity of the law. The verse functions as a **Summary Statement**, succinctly encapsulating the essence of the detailed ritual described in the preceding verses. This provides a clear, concise conclusion to the "law of jealousies," making it easier to remember the core conditions for its application. The use of **Legal Formulaic Language** ("This is the law of...") immediately establishes the authoritative and binding nature of the instruction, placing it within the broader corpus of Mosaic Law. Furthermore, the precise and stark language, particularly the terms "goeth aside" and "is defiled," uses **Euphemism** and **Understatement** to refer to adultery, yet simultaneously conveys the profound breach of covenant and the resulting impurity. This indirectness emphasizes the shame and hidden nature of the sin, which the ritual is designed to expose. The repetition of the concept of "jealousies" (from the law's title) and "defiled" reinforces the central themes of suspicion, purity, and the consequences of moral transgression.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 5:29, as the summary of the law of jealousies, profoundly underscores God's unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and the sanctity of the marital covenant. It reveals a God who is not only concerned with public transgressions but also with hidden sins, demonstrating His omniscience and His active involvement in revealing what is concealed. The law served as a divine safeguard for the purity of the Israelite community and the integrity of its foundational social unit—the family. It teaches that sin, particularly sexual sin, brings defilement and breaks covenant, demanding divine intervention when human means are insufficient. This divine concern for fidelity in marriage foreshadows the deeper spiritual fidelity God desires from His people, often portraying Israel's unfaithfulness to Him as spiritual adultery.

* [Hebrews 4:13](/hebrews/4-13 "Hebrews 4:13 - All Things Exposed to God")
* [Proverbs 6:32-33](/proverbs/6-32 "Proverbs 6:32-33 - Consequences of Adultery")
* [Malachi 2:14-16](/malachi/2-14 "Malachi 2:14-16 - God Hates Divorce and Covenant Breaking")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific ritual of the bitter water is no longer practiced under the New Covenant, the enduring principles embedded in Numbers 5:29 remain profoundly relevant for believers today. This ancient law serves as a powerful reminder of God's absolute holiness and His profound concern for purity, truth, and the sanctity of covenant relationships. It challenges us to live with integrity, recognizing that no sin is truly hidden from God's omniscient gaze. Our secret thoughts, intentions, and actions are fully known to Him, compelling us to cultivate a life of genuine faithfulness, not merely outward conformity. Furthermore, the passage calls us to value and protect the sacred institution of marriage, understanding it as a divine covenant that reflects Christ's relationship with His church. It urges us to confront the defiling nature of unfaithfulness in all its forms—physical, emotional, or spiritual—and to seek God's grace for purity and reconciliation where covenants have been broken.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the "law of jealousies" reveal God's character, particularly His attributes of omniscience and justice?**
* **In what ways do we, as believers, sometimes "go aside" from our covenant relationship with God, and what are the consequences?**
* **How can understanding the seriousness with which God views marital fidelity in the Old Testament inform our commitment to marriage today?**
* **What "hidden" areas of our lives might God be calling us to bring into the light for purification and healing?**

### FAQ
**Why was this specific "law of jealousies" necessary in ancient Israel?**

Answer: This law was necessary primarily because it addressed a unique legal dilemma: suspected marital infidelity where there was no direct evidence or witnesses. In a society where family lineage, purity, and the sanctity of marriage were paramount, unproven accusations could cause immense social disruption, shame, and injustice. God provided this ritual as a divinely sanctioned mechanism to reveal the truth, protecting the innocent from false accusations and exposing the guilty when human judicial processes were insufficient. It underscored God's active involvement in maintaining moral order and justice within His covenant community, as seen in the broader legal codes of [Deuteronomy](/deuteronomy "The Book of Deuteronomy").

**Does the concept of "defilement" in this verse apply to believers today?**

Answer: While the ritualistic defilement associated with the "law of jealousies" is part of the Old Covenant ceremonial law, the underlying moral and spiritual concept of "defilement" from sin absolutely applies to believers today. The New Testament teaches that sin, especially sexual sin, defiles a person (e.g., [Mark 7:20-23](/mark/7-20 "Mark 7:20-23 - What Defiles a Person")). Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (e.g., [1 Corinthians 6:18-20](/1_corinthians/6-18 "1 Corinthians 6:18-20 - Flee Sexual Immorality")), and sin brings spiritual impurity and separation from God. However, under the New Covenant, defilement is cleansed not by ritual water, but by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ (e.g., [Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Cleansing by Christ's Blood")).

**What was the purpose of the "bitter water" in this ritual?**

Answer: The "bitter water" (described in [Numbers 5:17-27](/numbers/5-17 "Numbers 5:17-27 - The Bitter Water Ritual")) was a symbolic element of the ritual, not a magical potion. It consisted of holy water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor and the ink from the written curse. Its purpose was to serve as a divine test. If the woman was guilty, the water would cause her "belly to swell" and her "thigh to rot," signifying divine judgment and the physical manifestation of her defilement. If innocent, she would be unharmed and able to conceive. The water itself was not inherently potent; rather, it was the divine power of God, invoked by the priest through the oath and the ritual, that brought about the consequences, revealing the hidden truth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The "law of jealousies" in Numbers 5:29, with its focus on hidden sin, defilement, and divine revelation, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment. This Old Testament ritual, designed to expose secret unfaithfulness and bring truth to light, points to Jesus Christ as the ultimate revealer of hearts and the one who perfectly addresses the defilement of sin. While the law could identify guilt and its consequences, it could not truly cleanse the inner defilement or provide lasting reconciliation. Christ, however, fulfills this need by taking upon Himself the curse of the law, bearing the defilement of our sin on the cross (e.g., [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse of the Law")). He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (e.g., [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), offering true cleansing and purity not through symbolic water, but through His shed blood (e.g., [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without Shedding of Blood There is No Forgiveness")). Furthermore, just as the law of jealousies sought to uphold the sanctity of marriage, Christ elevates marriage to a sacred mystery, symbolizing His own covenant relationship with the Church (e.g., [Ephesians 5:32](/ephesians/5-32 "Ephesians 5:32 - Marriage as a Mystery of Christ and the Church")). He is the faithful Bridegroom, and His grace enables His bride, the Church, to live in purity and fidelity, transforming hearts from within (e.g., [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ")), ultimately fulfilling the longing for true justice and purity that the Old Covenant law could only foreshadow.

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.

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

¶ 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.