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Numbers 5:20 But if you have gone astray while under your husband's authority and have defiled yourself and lain carnally with a man other than your husband'--
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class="padleft"><div 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 />But if you have gone astray while married to your husband and you have made yourself impure by having sexual relations with a man other than your husband"—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray by being unfaithful to your husband, and have defiled yourself by having sex with another man—’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband’s authority, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man other than your husband has lain with you,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority and have defiled yourself and lain carnally with a man other than your husband’—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />But if thou hast gone aside <i>to another</i> instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray <i>while</i> under your husband’s <i>authority,</i> and if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has lain with you”—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />if, however, you have gone astray, <i>though</i> under <i>the authority of</i> your husband, and if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has had sexual intercourse with you”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />if you, however, have gone astray, being under the authority of your husband, and if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has had intercourse with you”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />if you, however, have gone astray, <i>being</i> under <i>the authority of</i> your husband, and if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has had intercourse with you”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />if you, however, have gone astray, <i>being</i> under <i>the authority of</i> your husband, and if you have defiled yourself, and a man other than your husband has lain with you”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />but if you have gone astray [while married] and you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has been intimate with you”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has slept with you’—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has slept with you—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />But if thou have gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />but if thou hast gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thine husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />If, in fact, you have been unfaithful and have had sexual intercourse with another man,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But if you have committed adultery, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But if you have become unfaithful to your husband and have become defiled because a man who isn't your husband has had sexual relations with you…' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray while under your husband?s authority and have defiled yourself and lain carnally with a man other than your husband??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray while under your husband's authority, and if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has had sexual relations with you. . .."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray, being under your husband, and if you are defiled, and some man has lain with you besides your husband:'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou art defiled, and some man hath lain with thee besides thy husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />But 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—” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and you, if you have turned aside under your husband, and if you have been defiled, and a man commits his intercourse with you besides your husband—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and thou, if thou hast turned aside under thy husband, and if thou hast been defiled, and any man doth give his copulation to thee besides thy husband -- <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And if thou didst turn aside instead of thy husband, and if thou wert defiled, and a man gave with thee his bed besides thy husband;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But if thou hast gone aside from thy husband, and art defiled, and hast lain with another man: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But if you have turned away from your husband, and also have been defiled, and have lain together with another man,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray while under the authority of your husband, and if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has had intercourse with you”—<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority, if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has had intercourse with you,”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />But if you have done wrong by having lain with another man besides your husband, and if you have defiled yourself, and some other man has lain with you besides your husband;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />But if you have done wrong outside of your husband and you are defiled and a man other than your husband had sexual intercourse with you.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />but if thou hast gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband--<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />But if being a married woman thou hast transgressed, or been polluted, and any one has lain with thee, beside thy husband:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/5-20.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=1634" 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">19</span>And he is to put the woman under oath and say to her, ‘If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, may you be immune to this bitter water that brings a curse. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">But if</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: wə·’at (Conj-w:: Pro-2fs) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/7847.htm" title="7847: śā·ṭîṯ (V-Qal-Perf-2fs) -- To turn aside. A primitive root; to deviate from duty.">have gone astray</a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: ta·ḥaṯ (Prep) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">while under</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’î·šêḵ (N-msc:: 2fs) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">your husband’s authority</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: wə·ḵî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">and</a> <a href="/hebrew/2930.htm" title="2930: niṭ·mêṯ (V-Nifal-Perf-2fs) -- To be or become unclean. A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense.">have defiled yourself</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: way·yit·tên (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">and lain</a> <a href="/hebrew/7903.htm" title="7903: šə·ḵā·ḇə·tōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- Copulation. From shakab; a lying with.">carnally</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">with a man</a> <a href="/hebrew/bāḵ (Prep:: 2fs) -- "></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/1107.htm" title="1107: mib·bal·‘ă·ḏê (Prep-m) -- Apart from, except, without. Or balmadey; constructive plural from bal and ad, not till, i.e. except, without, besides.">other than</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’î·šêḵ (N-msc:: 2fs) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">your husband’—</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>and the priest shall have the woman swear under the oath of the curse—‘then may the LORD make you an attested curse among your people by making your thigh shrivel and your belly swell.…<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="/leviticus/20-10.htm">Leviticus 20:10</a></span><br />If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/22-22.htm">Deuteronomy 22:22</a></span><br />If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/6-32.htm">Proverbs 6:32-33</a></span><br />He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. / Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-3.htm">John 8:3-5</a></span><br />The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them / and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. / In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-27.htm">Matthew 5:27-28</a></span><br />You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">1 Corinthians 6:9-10</a></span><br />Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/13-4.htm">Hebrews 13:4</a></span><br />Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-14.htm">Exodus 20:14</a></span><br />You shall not commit adultery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/11-2.htm">2 Samuel 11:2-5</a></span><br />One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-2.htm">Hosea 4:2</a></span><br />Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-8.htm">Jeremiah 3:8-9</a></span><br />She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. / Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-38.htm">Ezekiel 16:38</a></span><br />And I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and those who shed blood; so I will bring upon you the wrath of your bloodshed and jealousy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/3-5.htm">Malachi 3:5</a></span><br />“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/7-2.htm">Romans 7:2-3</a></span><br />For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-4.htm">James 4:4</a></span><br />You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">But if you have gone aside to another instead of your husband, and if you be defiled, and some man have lain with you beside your husband:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/5-19.htm">Astray</a> <a href="/numbers/5-19.htm">Authority</a> <a href="/numbers/5-8.htm">Besides</a> <a href="/numbers/5-13.htm">Copulation</a> <a href="/numbers/5-14.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/numbers/2-33.htm">However</a> <a href="/numbers/5-19.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/numbers/5-14.htm">Husband's</a> <a href="/numbers/5-19.htm">Instead</a> <a href="/numbers/5-13.htm">Intercourse</a> <a href="/numbers/5-19.htm">Lain</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-12.htm">Married</a> <a href="/numbers/5-13.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/exodus/32-22.htm">Thou</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-44.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/numbers/5-3.htm">Unclean</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/5-29.htm">Astray</a> <a href="/numbers/5-29.htm">Authority</a> <a href="/numbers/6-21.htm">Besides</a> <a href="/leviticus/15-16.htm">Copulation</a> <a href="/numbers/5-27.htm">Defiled</a> <a href="/numbers/5-28.htm">However</a> <a href="/numbers/5-27.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/numbers/5-29.htm">Husband's</a> <a href="/numbers/5-29.htm">Instead</a> <a href="/john/4-9.htm">Intercourse</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-23.htm">Lain</a> <a href="/numbers/5-29.htm">Married</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/22-22.htm">Sleeping</a> <a href="/numbers/11-21.htm">Thou</a> <a href="/numbers/11-8.htm">Turned</a> <a href="/numbers/5-29.htm">Unclean</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 /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <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>But if you have gone astray</b><br>This phrase addresses the possibility of a wife being unfaithful, which was a serious accusation in ancient Israelite society. The concept of "going astray" is often used in the Bible to describe unfaithfulness to God, as seen in <a href="/hosea/4-12.htm">Hosea 4:12</a>, where Israel is described as a wife who has gone astray from her husband, God. This reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, paralleling the marriage covenant.<p><b>while under your husband’s authority</b><br>In the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel, the husband was considered the head of the household, and the wife was under his authority. This reflects the patriarchal structure of society at the time, as seen in <a href="/genesis/3-16.htm">Genesis 3:16</a>, where God tells Eve that her husband will rule over her. This authority was not only social but also legal, as the husband had certain rights and responsibilities over his wife.<p><b>and have defiled yourself</b><br>Defilement in this context refers to ritual and moral impurity. In <a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Leviticus 18:20</a>, adultery is explicitly mentioned as an act that defiles a person. The concept of defilement is significant in the Old Testament, as it often required purification rituals to restore a person to a state of cleanliness before God. This reflects the holiness code that governed Israelite life, emphasizing the need for purity in the community.<p><b>and lain carnally with a man other than your husband</b><br>This phrase specifies the act of adultery, which is condemned in the Ten Commandments (<a href="/exodus/20-14.htm">Exodus 20:14</a>). Adultery was not only a personal sin but also a social one, as it threatened the stability of the family unit and, by extension, the community. The act of lying carnally with another man is a direct violation of the marriage covenant, which is a type of the covenant between God and His people. In the New Testament, Jesus expands on the concept of adultery, teaching that even lustful thoughts are equivalent to the act itself (<a href="/matthew/5-28.htm">Matthew 5:28</a>), thus emphasizing the importance of inner purity.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_israelite_woman.htm">The Israelite Woman</a></b><br>The passage refers to a woman suspected of adultery, highlighting the societal and religious expectations of marital fidelity in ancient Israel.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_husband.htm">The Husband</a></b><br>He is the one who brings the suspicion of infidelity to the priest, reflecting the patriarchal structure of the society.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_priest.htm">The Priest</a></b><br>Acts as a mediator in the ritual of the "water of bitterness," which is a test for the accused woman.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_tabernacle.htm">The Tabernacle</a></b><br>The place where the ritual takes place, symbolizing God's presence and the seriousness of the covenantal laws.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_ritual_of_the_bitter_water.htm">The Ritual of the Bitter Water</a></b><br>A ceremonial test to determine the guilt or innocence of the woman, reflecting the legal and spiritual practices of the time.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_sanctity_of_marriage.htm">The Sanctity of Marriage</a></b><br>Marriage is a sacred covenant before God, and fidelity is a crucial aspect of this covenant. The passage underscores the importance of trust and faithfulness in marriage.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice_and_mercy.htm">God's Justice and Mercy</a></b><br>While the law provides a means to address suspicions of infidelity, it also points to the need for justice tempered with mercy, as seen in the broader biblical account.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_community_and_accountability.htm">The Role of Community and Accountability</a></b><br>The involvement of the priest and the community in the ritual highlights the role of accountability within the faith community.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_sin.htm">The Consequences of Sin</a></b><br>The passage serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of sin, not only for the individual but also for the community and family.<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/why_assume_guilt_in_numbers_5_ritual.htm">Why does this ritual seem to assume the woman is guilty until proven innocent (Numbers 5)? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/admit_adultery_to_spouse.htm">Should a spouse admit to committing adultery?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_1_sam_20_5_with_ot_feasts.htm">How do we reconcile the timing of the New Moon feast in 1 Samuel 20:5 with other Old Testament passages referencing similar observances?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_is_the_child's_real_mother.htm">What defines fake news?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/5-20.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">But if</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאַ֗תְּ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’at)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have gone astray</span><br /><span class="heb">שָׂטִ֛ית</span> <span class="translit">(śā·ṭîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7847.htm">Strong's 7847: </a> </span><span class="str2">To deviate from duty</span><br /><br /><span class="word">while under</span><br /><span class="heb">תַּ֥חַת</span> <span class="translit">(ta·ḥaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bottom, below, in lieu of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your husband’s authority</span><br /><span class="heb">אִישֵׁ֖ךְ</span> <span class="translit">(’î·šêḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="heb">וְכִ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ḵî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">defiled yourself</span><br /><span class="heb">נִטְמֵ֑את</span> <span class="translit">(niṭ·mêṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2930.htm">Strong's 2930: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become unclean</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with a man</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֥ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">other than</span><br /><span class="heb">מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(mib·bal·‘ă·ḏê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1107.htm">Strong's 1107: </a> </span><span class="str2">Apart from, except, without</span><br /><br /><span class="word">your husband</span><br /><span class="heb">אִישֵֽׁךְ׃</span> <span class="translit">(’î·šêḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> </span><span class="str2">A man as an individual, a male person</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who has slept</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּתֵּ֨ן</span> <span class="translit">(way·yit·tên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with you’—</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁכָבְתּ֔וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(šə·ḵā·ḇə·tōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7903.htm">Strong's 7903: </a> </span><span class="str2">A, lying with</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/5-20.htm">Numbers 5:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/5-20.htm">OT Law: Numbers 5:20 But if you have gone astray being (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/5-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 5:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 5:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/5-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 5:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 5:21" /></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>