Numbers 5: Unclean persons, paying back a wrong, and the water of bitterness
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Yahweh tells Moses to send people with a skin disease, a discharge, or uncleanness from a dead body out of the camp, and the Israelites do it. A person who wrongs someone is to confess, pay it back with a fifth added, and bring a ram of atonement. When a husband is jealous and suspects his wife of being unfaithful, with no witness, he brings her to the priest, who puts her under an oath and makes her drink the water of bitterness.
Who is speaking?
Yahweh speaks to Moses three times, in verses 1, 5 and 11, and tells him what to say to Israel. God's own words are in 27 of the 31 verses: verses 2 and 3, 6 to 10, and 12 to 31. Inside his words he gives what the priest is to say to the woman in verses 19 to 22, and her answer, "Amen, Amen", in verse 22. Verse 4 tells that the Israelites did as Yahweh said. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
2“Command the children of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever is unclean by a corpse.God speaks
In plain English: "Command the Israelites to send out of the camp everyone with a serious skin disease (this Bible: leper), everyone who has a discharge, and everyone who is unclean because of a dead body.
Good to know: These are the cases of (the skin disease, this Bible: leprosy, where the person lives outside the camp) and (the discharge). Uncleanness from a dead body is the subject of .
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
3You shall put both male and female outside of the camp so that they don’t defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.”God speaks
In plain English: Send out both male and female. Send them outside the camp, so that they do not make their camp unclean, where I live among them."
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
4The children of Israel did so, and put them outside of the camp; as Yahweh spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did.
In plain English: The Israelites did so and sent them outside the camp. As Yahweh had told Moses, so the Israelites did.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
5Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
6“Speak to the children of Israel: ‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit, so as to trespass against Yahweh, and that soul is guilty,God speaks
In plain English: "Tell the Israelites: 'When a man or a woman does any sin that people do, and so is unfaithful to Yahweh (this Bible: trespasses against Yahweh), that person is guilty.
The Hebrew word: "Trespass" is ma'al. The dictionary gives it as "properly, to cover up", used only in a figurative sense, "to act covertly, i.e. treacherously". The verse says literally "to be unfaithful with unfaithfulness against Yahweh".
How it is translated: This Bible says "trespass" (or a longer form) in 31 of the 35 verses that use the word, and "unfaithful" in 3. The same word is used of the wife in .
What changes: Read as "trespass", the verse speaks of a wrong done. Read as "be unfaithful", it speaks of breaking trust. Here a wrong done to another person is called being unfaithful to Yahweh.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
7then he shall confess his sin which he has done; and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, add to it the fifth part of it, and give it to him in respect of whom he has been guilty.God speaks
In plain English: He is to confess the sin he has done. He is to pay back in full what he owes for the wrong, add a fifth to it, and give it to the person he wronged.
The Hebrew word: "Restitution" is asham, the word used for the trespass offering (or: guilt offering) in Leviticus. The dictionary gives it as "guilt", and also "a sin-offering".
How it is translated: This Bible says "trespass" in 34 of the 41 verses that use asham, "guilt" in 4, and "restitution" in 3: and verses 7 and 8 here. The same rule of adding a fifth is in .
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
8But if the man has no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made to Yahweh shall be the priest’s, in addition to the ram of the atonement, by which atonement shall be made for him.God speaks
In plain English: But if that person has no close relative (this Bible: kinsman) to whom it can be paid back, what is paid back for the wrong goes to Yahweh, for the priest. This is besides the ram of atonement, by which atonement is made for him.
The Hebrew word: "Kinsman" is go'el. The dictionary gives it as "to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)". This Bible says a form of "redeem" in 60 of the 84 verses that use the word, and "kinsman" in 10.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
9Every heave offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they present to the priest, shall be his.God speaks
In plain English: Every contribution (this Bible: heave offering) from all the holy things the Israelites bring to the priest is to be his.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
10Every man’s holy things shall be his; whatever any man gives the priest, it shall be his.’”God speaks
In plain English: Each person's holy things are his (the giver's, or: the priest's). Whatever anyone gives the priest belongs to the priest.'"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
11Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
12“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them: ‘If any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him,God speaks
In plain English: "Speak to the Israelites and tell them: 'Suppose a man's wife goes astray (turns aside) and is unfaithful to him,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
13and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and this is kept concealed, and she is defiled, there is no witness against her, and she isn’t taken in the act;God speaks
In plain English: and a man has slept with her, and it is hidden from her husband and kept secret. She has made herself unclean, but there is no witness against her, and she was not caught in the act.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
14and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she is defiled; or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she isn’t defiled;God speaks
In plain English: A spirit (or: a feeling) of jealousy comes over him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she has made herself unclean. Or a spirit of jealousy comes over him, and he is jealous of his wife, but she has not made herself unclean.
Good to know: The verse gives both cases: she has made herself unclean, or she has not. The same steps follow in both. names this case again: a spirit of jealousy comes on the husband, and he sets the woman before Yahweh.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
15then the man shall bring his wife to the priest, and shall bring her offering for her: one tenth of an ephah of barley meal. He shall pour no oil on it, nor put frankincense on it, for it is a meal offering of jealousy, a meal offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to memory.God speaks
In plain English: Then the man is to bring his wife to the priest, with her offering: a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil on it or put frankincense on it, because it is a meal offering of jealousy, a meal offering of remembrance, which brings wrongdoing to mind.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
16The priest shall bring her near, and set her before Yahweh.God speaks
In plain English: The priest is to bring her near and have her stand before Yahweh.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
17The priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and the priest shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water.God speaks
In plain English: The priest is to take holy water in a clay pot. He is to take some of the dust from the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water.
Good to know: "Holy water" is found only here in this Bible. The text does not say where the water comes from.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
18The priest shall set the woman before Yahweh, and let the hair of the woman’s head go loose, and put the meal offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal offering of jealousy. The priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that brings a curse.God speaks
In plain English: The priest is to have the woman stand before Yahweh, let the hair of her head loose (or: uncover her head), and put the meal offering of remembrance, the meal offering of jealousy, in her hands. The priest is to hold the water of bitterness (or: the bitter water) that brings a curse.
The Hebrew words: "Bitterness" is mar, which the dictionary gives as "bitter (literally or figuratively)", and also "bitterness". "Brings a curse" is arar, "to execrate" (to call down harm on).
How it is translated: This Bible says "bitter" or a longer form (bitterness, bitterly) in 30 of the 36 verses that use mar, and "curse" or a longer form (cursed, curses) in all 52 verses that use arar.
What changes: Read as "bitter water", the water itself tastes bitter. Read as "water of bitterness", the name speaks of what it brings to her if she is guilty (). The text does not say which.
Good to know: "Let the hair loose" is the same word as in , where a person with the skin disease lets the hair of his head hang loose. The dictionary gives it as "to loosen", and also "to expose".
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
19The priest shall cause her to take an oath and shall tell the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you haven’t gone aside to uncleanness, being under your husband’s authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings a curse.God speaks
In plain English: The priest is to put her under an oath and say to her, 'If no man has slept with you, and you have not gone astray into uncleanness while married to your husband (literally: under your husband), be free from this water of bitterness that brings a curse.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
20But if you have gone astray, being under your husband’s authority, and if you are defiled, and some man has lain with you besides your husband—”God speaks
In plain English: But if you have gone astray while married to your husband, and have made yourself unclean, and a man other than your husband has slept with you...'
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
21then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall tell the woman, “May Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh allows your thigh to fall away, and your body to swell;God speaks
In plain English: then the priest is to put the woman under the oath of the curse, and say to her, 'May Yahweh make you a curse and an oath among your people, when Yahweh makes your thigh fall away and your belly (this Bible: body; or: womb) swell.
The Hebrew word: "Curse" here is alah, which the dictionary gives as "an imprecation": a spoken curse, often part of an oath.
How it is translated: This Bible says "curse" (or curses, cursed) in 17 of the 32 verses that use alah, and "oath" in 15. In this verse alah is "cursing" and "curse". The word "oath" in this verse is a different word, shevuah.
What changes: Read as "oath", the woman is bound by a sworn promise. Read as "curse", the words call down harm on her if she is guilty.
The Hebrew words: "Thigh" is yarek. The dictionary gives it as "the thigh", and also, as a polite way of speaking, "the generative parts". "Belly" (this Bible also says "body") is beten, which the dictionary gives as "the belly, especially the womb".
How it is translated: This Bible says "thigh" (or thighs) in 20 of the 32 verses that use yarek. For beten it says "womb" in 34 of its 72 verses, "body" in 18, and "belly" in 8.
What changes: Read as "thigh" and "belly", the words name parts of the body. Read as "private parts" and "womb", they point to having children, which speaks of. In yarek is used for Jacob's children (this Bible: his direct offspring). The text does not describe what happens more than this.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
22and this water that brings a curse will go into your bowels, and make your body swell, and your thigh fall away.” The woman shall say, “Amen, Amen.”God speaks
In plain English: This water that brings a curse will go into your insides and make your belly (this Bible: body) swell and your thigh fall away.' And the woman is to say, 'Amen, Amen.'
Good to know: This is the first time "Amen" is used in the Bible. The dictionary gives it as "sure", and as "truly". This Bible says "Amen" in 23 of the 24 verses that use the word.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
23“‘The priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall wipe them into the water of bitterness.God speaks
In plain English: 'The priest is to write these curses in a scroll (this Bible: book) and wash them off into the water of bitterness.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
24He shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causes the curse; and the water that causes the curse shall enter into her and become bitter.God speaks
In plain English: He is to make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse. The water that brings the curse will go into her and become bitter (or: bring bitter pain).
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
25The priest shall take the meal offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the meal offering before Yahweh, and bring it to the altar.God speaks
In plain English: The priest is to take the meal offering of jealousy from the woman's hand, wave the meal offering before Yahweh, and bring it to the altar.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
26The priest shall take a handful of the meal offering, as its memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.God speaks
In plain English: The priest is to take a handful of the meal offering as its memorial portion and burn it on the altar. After that he is to make the woman drink the water.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
27When he has made her drink the water, then it shall happen, if she is defiled and has committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse will enter into her and become bitter, and her body will swell, and her thigh will fall away; and the woman will be a curse among her people.God speaks
In plain English: When he has made her drink the water, then if she has made herself unclean and been unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings the curse will go into her and become bitter. Her belly (this Bible: body) will swell and her thigh will fall away, and the woman will be a curse among her people.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
28If the woman isn’t defiled, but is clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive offspring.God speaks
In plain English: But if the woman has not made herself unclean and is clean, she will be free, and she will conceive children.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
29“‘This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goes astray, and is defiled,God speaks
In plain English: 'This is the law about jealousy, when a wife, while married to her husband, goes astray and makes herself unclean,
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
30or when the spirit of jealousy comes on a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then he shall set the woman before Yahweh, and the priest shall execute on her all this law.God speaks
In plain English: or when a spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. He is to have the woman stand before Yahweh, and the priest is to carry out this whole law on her.
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.
31The man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.’”God speaks
In plain English: The man will be free of wrongdoing (this Bible: iniquity), and that woman will bear her wrongdoing (or: its punishment).'"
Show the HebrewHide the Hebrew
How to say it (the stressed part in bold), the Hebrew word, and what it means. Tap a word with a dotted line to open its word study.