Numbers 5:14

And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:

And the spirit {H7307} of jealousy {H7068} come {H5674} upon him, and he be jealous {H7065} of his wife {H802}, and she be defiled {H2930}: or if the spirit {H7307} of jealousy {H7068} come {H5674} upon him, and he be jealous {H7065} of his wife {H802}, and she be not defiled {H2930}:

then, if a spirit of jealousy comes over him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she has become impure - or, for that matter, if the spirit of jealousy comes over him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she has not become impure -

and if a feeling of jealousy comes over her husband and he suspects his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he suspects her even though she has not defiled herself—

and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:

Commentary

Numbers 5:14 is a crucial verse within the ancient Israelite "Ordeal of the Bitter Water," also known as the "Trial of Jealousy" (Numbers 5:11-31). This ritual was prescribed by God through Moses to address cases where a husband suspected his wife of infidelity, but there was no concrete evidence to prove her guilt or innocence.

Context

This verse specifically describes the emotional trigger for the ordeal: the husband's intense jealousy or suspicion. The law was designed to provide a divine means of discerning truth in a society where private acts of infidelity were difficult to prove, and false accusations could devastate a woman's life. It served as a safeguard against both unpunished sin and baseless slander, placing the matter before God's judgment rather than human conjecture alone. The entire process, from the bringing of the offering to the drinking of the bitter water, highlights God's concern for marital fidelity and justice within the community, even in highly sensitive personal matters.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The "Spirit of Jealousy": This phrase refers to an intense emotional state of suspicion and possessiveness, not necessarily a demonic influence. It signifies a profound internal conviction or suspicion that leads the husband to bring his wife before the priest for divine investigation.
  • Unproven Suspicion: The ordeal specifically addresses situations where there is no direct evidence. The husband is jealous, but the wife's guilt or innocence is unconfirmed ("she be defiled: or if... she be not defiled"). This underscores the unique nature of the ritual as a divine lie-detector test.
  • Divine Intervention in Marital Disputes: The very existence of this law demonstrates God's involvement in maintaining the sanctity of marriage and ensuring justice, even when human evidence is lacking. It points to a God who sees all things, both hidden sins and hidden innocence, a theme echoed in Luke 12:2, where Jesus states that nothing is hidden that will not be revealed.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "jealousy" is qin'ah (קִנְאָה). This term carries a dual meaning in Scripture. It can refer to a righteous zeal (e.g., God's jealousy for His covenant, Exodus 34:14) or a destructive, envious, or suspicious jealousy, as seen here. In Numbers 5:14, it clearly refers to the latter, an intense, troubling suspicion that compels the husband to seek divine resolution.

Practical Application

While the specific ritual of the bitter water is not practiced today, Numbers 5:14 and the broader passage offer enduring principles. It reminds us of:

  • The Gravity of Marital Fidelity: God takes the covenant of marriage seriously. Adultery is a grave sin with significant consequences (Hebrews 13:4).
  • The Need for Truth and Justice: The ordeal highlights God's desire for truth to prevail and for justice to be served, even in the most private and emotionally charged situations.
  • Addressing Suspicion: In modern relationships, while we don't have such rituals, this passage underscores the destructive nature of unresolved suspicion and the importance of open communication, trust, and seeking wise counsel when trust is broken or severely tested. It also implicitly warns against making hasty judgments based solely on suspicion.
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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Song Of Solomon 8:6 (6 votes)

    Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame.

  • Proverbs 6:34 (6 votes)

    For jealousy [is] the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:22 (3 votes)

    Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

  • Zephaniah 3:8 (3 votes)

    ¶ Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.

  • Numbers 5:30 (3 votes)

    Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.