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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/numbers/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/numbers/5.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220&#8217The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />And the priest will write these curses on a piece of leather and wash them off into the bitter water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Then the priest shall write these curses in a book and wash them off into the water of bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot <i>them</i> out with the bitter water:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />‘Then the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall scrape <i>them</i> off into the bitter water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll and shall wash them off into the water of bitterness;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Then the priest is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the priest is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The priest will write these curses on special paper and wash them off into the bitter water, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"The priest will write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then the priest shall write this curse down and wash the writing off into the bowl of bitter water. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Then the priest is to write all of these words in a document and wipe it off with the contaminated water. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"'Then the priest will write these curses on a scroll and then scrape them off into the bitter water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"The priest shall write these curses on a scroll, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“‘The priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall wipe them into the water of bitterness. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the priest has written these execrations in a scroll, and has blotted [them] out with the bitter waters,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the priest hath written these execrations in a book, and hath blotted them out with the bitter waters,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the priest wrote these curses in a book, and he wiped off into the water of contradiction.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and shall wash them out with the most bitter waters, upon which he hath heaped the curses, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses in a little book, and then he shall erase them with the very bitter waters, into which he had gathered the curses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The priest shall put these curses in writing and shall then wash them off into the water of bitterness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then the priest shall put these curses in writing, and wash them off into the water of bitterness.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot out the writing in the water of testing;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the Priest shall write these curses in a scroll and he shall blot them out with the water of testing.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses in a scroll, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and shall blot them out with the water of the conviction that brings the curse.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/5-23.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=1668" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/5.htm">The Adultery Test</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">22</span>May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’ <span class="reftext">23</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: hak·kō·hên (Art:: N-ms) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">And the priest</a> <a href="/hebrew/3789.htm" title="3789: wə·ḵā·ṯaḇ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To write. A primitive root; to grave, by implication, to write.">shall write</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: hā·’êl·leh (Art:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those.">these</a> <a href="/hebrew/423.htm" title="423: hā·’ā·lōṯ (Art:: N-fp) -- An oath. From 'alah; an imprecation.">curses</a> <a href="/hebrew/5612.htm" title="5612: bas·sê·p̄er (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- A missive, document, writing, book. Or ciphrah; from caphar; properly, writing; by implication, a book.">on a scroll</a> <a href="/hebrew/4229.htm" title="4229: ū·mā·ḥāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To stroke, rub, to erase, to smooth, grease, make fat, to touch, reach to.">and wash them off</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">into</a> <a href="/hebrew/4751.htm" title="4751: ham·mā·rîm (Art:: Adj-mp) -- Bitter, bitterness. Or marah; from marar; bitter; also bitterness, or bitterly.">the bitter</a> <a href="/hebrew/4325.htm" title="4325: mê (N-mpc) -- Waters, water. Dual of a primitive noun; water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen.">water.</a> </span><span class="reftext">24</span>He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and cause her bitter suffering.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/27-15.htm">Deuteronomy 27:15-26</a></span><br />‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ / ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ / ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/17-1.htm">Jeremiah 17:1</a></span><br />“The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus, engraved with a diamond point on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/31-35.htm">Job 31:35</a></span><br />(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-8.htm">Isaiah 30:8</a></span><br />Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/36-2.htm">Jeremiah 36:2</a></span><br />“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/32-15.htm">Exodus 32:15-16</a></span><br />Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. / The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/22-13.htm">2 Kings 22:13</a></span><br />“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/2-9.htm">Ezekiel 2:9-10</a></span><br />Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, / which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/10-9.htm">Revelation 10:9-10</a></span><br />And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” / So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/51-60.htm">Jeremiah 51:60-63</a></span><br />Jeremiah had written on a single scroll about all the disaster that would come upon Babylon—all these words that had been written concerning Babylon. / And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, / and say, ‘O LORD, You have promised to cut off this place so that no one will remain—neither man nor beast. Indeed, it will be desolate forever.’ ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/34-21.htm">2 Chronicles 34:21</a></span><br />“Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/8-1.htm">Isaiah 8:1</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/habakkuk/2-2.htm">Habakkuk 2:2</a></span><br />Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/1-11.htm">Revelation 1:11</a></span><br />saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/36-28.htm">Jeremiah 36:28</a></span><br />“Take another scroll and rewrite on it the very words that were on the original scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah has burned.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:</p><p class="hdg">write these</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/17-14.htm">Exodus 17:14</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this <i>for</i> a memorial in a book, and rehearse <i>it</i> in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/31-19.htm">Deuteronomy 31:19</a></b></br> Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_chronicles/34-24.htm">2 Chronicles 34:24</a></b></br> Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, <i>even</i> all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:</p><p class="hdg">blot</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/51-1.htm">Psalm 51:1,9</a></b></br> To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/43-25.htm">Isaiah 43:25</a></b></br> I, <i>even</i> I, <i>am</i> he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/44-22.htm">Isaiah 44:22</a></b></br> I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/5-19.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/numbers/5-19.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/exodus/32-33.htm">Blot</a> <a href="/acts/3-19.htm">Blotted</a> <a href="/exodus/32-33.htm">Book</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-15.htm">Curses</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/34-24.htm">Execrations</a> <a href="/exodus/17-14.htm">Scroll</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-6.htm">Wash</a> <a href="/leviticus/15-13.htm">Washing</a> <a href="/numbers/5-19.htm">Water</a> <a href="/numbers/5-22.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/exodus/39-30.htm">Write</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-28.htm">Writing</a> <a href="/exodus/34-1.htm">Written</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/5-24.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/numbers/5-24.htm">Bitterness</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/9-14.htm">Blot</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/25-6.htm">Blotted</a> <a href="/numbers/21-14.htm">Book</a> <a href="/numbers/23-7.htm">Curses</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/34-24.htm">Execrations</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/17-18.htm">Scroll</a> <a href="/numbers/8-7.htm">Wash</a> <a href="/numbers/19-7.htm">Washing</a> <a href="/numbers/5-24.htm">Water</a> <a href="/numbers/5-24.htm">Waters</a> <a href="/numbers/17-2.htm">Write</a> <a href="/numbers/33-2.htm">Writing</a> <a href="/numbers/11-26.htm">Written</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 5</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/5-1.htm">The unclean are removed out of camp</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/5-5.htm">Restitution is to be made in trespass</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/5-11.htm">The trial of jealously</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/numbers/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/numbers/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll</b><br>In ancient Israel, the role of the priest was central to religious and communal life. The act of writing curses on a scroll signifies the formal and serious nature of the ritual. Writing was a significant skill in ancient times, often associated with authority and permanence. The curses refer to the specific consequences outlined in the preceding verses for a woman suspected of infidelity. This practice underscores the importance of written records in legal and religious matters, as seen in other parts of the Bible, such as <a href="/deuteronomy/27-3.htm">Deuteronomy 27:3</a>, where the law is written on stones.<p><b>and wash them off into the bitter water.</b><br>The washing off of the curses into the bitter water is a symbolic act. The bitter water, a mixture of holy water and dust from the tabernacle floor, represents divine judgment and truth. This ritual reflects the belief in God's direct involvement in revealing truth and administering justice. The concept of bitter water can be connected to other biblical instances where water is used as a means of testing or purification, such as in <a href="/exodus/15-23.htm">Exodus 15:23-25</a>, where bitter water is made sweet. The use of water in this context also prefigures the cleansing and purifying work of Jesus Christ, who offers living water (<a href="/john/4-10.htm">John 4:10</a>) that cleanses from sin.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_priest.htm">The Priest</a></b><br>A representative of God who performs the ritual. In this context, the priest acts as a mediator between God and the people, executing the law as given to Moses.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_woman.htm">The Woman</a></b><br>The subject of the ritual, suspected of infidelity. This passage is part of a larger section dealing with laws concerning purity and faithfulness in marriage.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_bitter_water.htm">The Bitter Water</a></b><br>A concoction used in the ritual to determine the guilt or innocence of the woman. It symbolizes the judgment of God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_scroll.htm">The Scroll</a></b><br>The medium on which the curses are written. It represents the written law and the seriousness of the covenant between God and His people.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_curses.htm">The Curses</a></b><br>Specific consequences outlined for unfaithfulness. They serve as a deterrent and a means of divine justice.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_seriousness_of_sin.htm">The Seriousness of Sin</a></b><br>This passage underscores the gravity of sin, particularly in the context of marriage. It reminds us that God takes faithfulness seriously.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_law.htm">The Role of the Law</a></b><br>The law serves as a guide to holiness and a means to maintain community purity. It points to the need for a mediator, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice_and_mercy.htm">God's Justice and Mercy</a></b><br>While the ritual seems harsh, it reflects God's justice. However, it also points to the need for mercy, which is fully realized in the New Testament through Jesus.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_words.htm">The Power of Words</a></b><br>The written curses remind us of the power of words and the importance of speaking truth and life, rather than curses and death.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_relationships.htm">Faithfulness in Relationships</a></b><br>This passage calls us to examine our own relationships and strive for faithfulness, reflecting God's covenant love.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 5</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_numbers_5_trial_by_ordeal.htm">Is there any historical or archaeological evidence that this trial by ordeal was actually used (Numbers 5)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/can_'bitter_water'_detect_infidelity.htm">How can the “bitter water” of Numbers 5:11–31 scientifically detect infidelity? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_foods_are_mentioned_in_the_bible.htm">What foods are mentioned in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_nontheism_mean.htm">What is the ritual for suspected adultery in Numbers?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 23.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">In a book.</span> On a roll. <span class="cmt_word">Blot</span> <span class="cmt_word">them out with the bitter water.</span> Rather, "wash them off into the bitter water," in order to transfer the venom of the curses to the water. <span class="greek">Ἐξαλείψει</span>... <span class="greek">εἰς τὸ ὔδωρ</span>, Septuagint. The writing on the scroll was to be washed off in the vessel of water. Of course the only actual consequence was that the ink was mixed with the water, but in the imagination of the people, and to the frightened conscience of a guilty woman, the curses were also held in solution in the water of trial. The direction was founded on a world-wide superstition, still prevalent in Africa, and indeed amongst most semi-barbarous peoples. In the 'Romance of Setnan,' translated by Brugsch. Bey, the scene of which is laid in the time of Rameses the Great, a magical formula written on a papyrus leaf is dissolved in water, and drunk with the effect of imparting all its secrets to him that drinks it. So in the present day, by a similar superstition, do sick Mahomedans swallow texts of the Koran; and so in the middle ages the canonized Archbishop Edmund Rich (1240) on his death-bed washed a crucifix in water and drank it, saying, "Ye shall drink water from the wells of salvation." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/5-23.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And the priest</span><br /><span class="heb">הַכֹּהֵ֖ן</span> <span class="translit">(hak·kō·hên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> </span><span class="str2">Priest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">shall write</span><br /><span class="heb">וְ֠כָתַב</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵā·ṯaḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3789.htm">Strong's 3789: </a> </span><span class="str2">To grave, to write</span><br /><br /><span class="word">these</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֵ֛לֶּה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’êl·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_428.htm">Strong's 428: </a> </span><span class="str2">These, those</span><br /><br /><span class="word">curses</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָלֹ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·lōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_423.htm">Strong's 423: </a> </span><span class="str2">An imprecation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on a scroll</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּסֵּ֑פֶר</span> <span class="translit">(bas·sê·p̄er)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5612.htm">Strong's 5612: </a> </span><span class="str2">A missive, document, writing, book</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and wash them off</span><br /><span class="heb">וּמָחָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(ū·mā·ḥāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4229.htm">Strong's 4229: </a> </span><span class="str2">To stroke, rub, to erase, to smooth, grease, make fat, to touch, reach to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">into</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the bitter</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמָּרִֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(ham·mā·rîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4751.htm">Strong's 4751: </a> </span><span class="str2">Bitter, bitterness, bitterly</span><br /><br /><span class="word">water.</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(mê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4325.htm">Strong's 4325: </a> </span><span class="str2">Water, juice, urine, semen</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/5-23.htm">Numbers 5:23 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/5-23.htm">OT Law: Numbers 5:23 The priest shall write these curses (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/5-22.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 5:22"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 5:22" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/5-24.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 5:24"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 5:24" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>