CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Numbers 5:31 The husband will be free from guilt, but the woman shall bear her iniquity."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/numbers/5-31.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/9/04_Num_05_31.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Numbers 5:31 - The Adultery Test" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The husband will be free from guilt, but the woman shall bear her iniquity." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/numbers/5-31.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/numbers/5-31.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/numbers/">Numbers</a> > <a href="/numbers/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 31</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad11.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/numbers/5-30.htm" title="Numbers 5:30">◄</a> Numbers 5:31 <a href="/numbers/6-1.htm" title="Numbers 6:1">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div 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 />The husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/5.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The husband will be innocent of any guilt in this matter, but his wife will be held accountable for her sin.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/5.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The husband will be free from guilt, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/5.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/5.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Then the man shall be free from iniquity, but that woman shall bear her guilt.’ ”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The man, moreover, will be free of guilt, but that woman shall bear <i>the consequences of</i> her guilt.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/5.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8216Moreover, the man will be free from guilt, but that woman shall bear her guilt.&#8217&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />‘Moreover, the man shall be free from guilt, but that woman shall bear her guilt.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Moreover, the man will be free from guilt, but that woman shall bear her guilt.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Further, the husband will be free from guilt, but that woman [if guilty] shall bear her guilt.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The husband will be free of guilt, but that woman will bear her iniquity.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The husband will be free of guilt, but that woman will bear the consequences of her guilt.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/5.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If the husband is wrong, he will not be punished; but if his wife is guilty, she will be punished. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/5.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The husband isn't guilty of doing anything wrong, but the woman will suffer the consequences of her sin."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/5.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The husband shall be free of guilt, but the woman, if guilty, must suffer the consequences. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/5.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />The husband will be free from guilt, but the wife is to bear the punishment of her iniquity."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The husband will be free from guilt, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/5.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Then the man will be free from iniquity, but that woman will bear the consequences of her iniquity.'" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/5.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.’” <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 man has been acquitted from iniquity, and that woman bears her iniquity.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and the man hath been acquitted from iniquity, and that woman doth bear her iniquity.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the man was clean from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The husband shall be blameless, and she shall bear her iniquity. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />then the husband shall be without guilt, and she shall bear her iniquity.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/5.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The man shall be free from punishment, but the woman shall bear her punishment.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Then the man shall be blameless from guilt, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And that man will be absolved from sin and that woman shall carry her sin.’” <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 man shall be clear from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Then the man shall be clear from sin, and that woman shall bear her sin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/5-31.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=1748" 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">30</span>or when a feeling of jealousy comes over a husband and he suspects his wife. He is to have the woman stand before the LORD, and the priest is to apply to her this entire law. <span class="reftext">31</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: hā·’îš (Art:: 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.">The husband</a> <a href="/hebrew/5352.htm" title="5352: wə·niq·qāh (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To be empty or clean. A primitive root; to be clean; by implication to be bare, i.e. Extirpated.">will be free</a> <a href="/hebrew/5771.htm" title="5771: mê·‘ā·wōn (Prep-m:: N-cs) -- Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity. Or oavown; from avah; perversity, i.e. evil.">from guilt,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: ha·hi·w (Art:: Pro-3fs) -- He, she, it. ">but the</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: wə·hā·’iš·šāh (Conj-w, Art:: N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/5375.htm" title="5375: tiś·śā (V-Qal-Imperf-3fs) -- Or nacah ('abad); a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. And rel.">shall bear</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">her</a> <a href="/hebrew/5771.htm" title="5771: ‘ă·wō·nāh (N-csc:: 3fs) -- Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity. Or oavown; from avah; perversity, i.e. evil.">iniquity.”</a> </span><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="/john/8-3.htm">John 8:3-11</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/5-32.htm">Matthew 5:32</a></span><br />But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.<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="/proverbs/6-32.htm">Proverbs 6:32-35</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. / For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/18-20.htm">Leviticus 18:20</a></span><br />You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/24-1.htm">Deuteronomy 24:1-4</a></span><br />If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. / If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, / and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, ...<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="/matthew/19-9.htm">Matthew 19:9</a></span><br />Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/7-10.htm">1 Corinthians 7:10-11</a></span><br />To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/4-14.htm">Hosea 4:14</a></span><br />I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/3-8.htm">Jeremiah 3:8</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.<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/2-14.htm">Malachi 2:14-16</a></span><br />Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.</p><p class="hdg">be guiltless</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/37-6.htm">Psalm 37:6</a></b></br> And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.</p><p class="hdg">bear</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/9-13.htm">Numbers 9:13</a></b></br> But the man that <i>is</i> clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/leviticus/20-10.htm">Leviticus 20:10,17-20</a></b></br> And the man that committeth adultery with <i>another</i> man's wife, <i>even he</i> that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ezekiel/18-4.htm">Ezekiel 18:4</a></b></br> Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/5-28.htm">Acquitted</a> <a href="/numbers/4-25.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/numbers/5-28.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/colossians/3-25.htm">Consequences</a> <a href="/numbers/5-28.htm">Free</a> <a href="/numbers/5-28.htm">Guilt</a> <a href="/exodus/21-28.htm">Guiltless</a> <a href="/numbers/5-30.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/numbers/5-15.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/exodus/23-7.htm">Innocent</a> <a href="/numbers/1-4.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/numbers/5-8.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/numbers/5-25.htm">Woman's</a> <a href="/numbers/5-12.htm">Wrong</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-22.htm">Wrongdoing</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/32-22.htm">Acquitted</a> <a href="/numbers/7-9.htm">Bear</a> <a href="/numbers/11-7.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/numbers/18-22.htm">Consequences</a> <a href="/numbers/11-5.htm">Free</a> <a href="/numbers/14-34.htm">Guilt</a> <a href="/numbers/32-22.htm">Guiltless</a> <a href="/numbers/30-6.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/numbers/14-18.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/19-10.htm">Innocent</a> <a href="/numbers/9-2.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/numbers/6-11.htm">Sin</a> <a href="/numbers/25-8.htm">Woman's</a> <a href="/numbers/10-9.htm">Wrong</a> <a href="/numbers/14-34.htm">Wrongdoing</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>The husband will be free from guilt</b><br>In the context of <a href="/numbers/5.htm">Numbers 5</a>, this phrase refers to the ritual of the "ordeal of jealousy," where a husband suspects his wife of infidelity. The husband brings his wife to the priest, and a specific ritual is performed to determine her guilt or innocence. If the wife is found innocent, the husband is free from guilt regarding any false accusation. This reflects the patriarchal structure of ancient Israelite society, where the husband's role as head of the household is emphasized. The ritual underscores the importance of maintaining purity and trust within the marriage covenant, which is a reflection of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The husband's freedom from guilt also highlights the legal and religious systems in place to address issues of marital fidelity.<p><b>but the woman shall bear her iniquity.</b><br>If the woman is found guilty through the ritual, she bears the consequences of her sin. This reflects the biblical principle that each person is responsible for their own actions, as seen in <a href="/ezekiel/18-20.htm">Ezekiel 18:20</a>, which states that "the soul who sins shall die." The phrase underscores the seriousness of adultery in the biblical context, where it is not only a breach of marital trust but also a violation of God's commandments. The consequences for the woman serve as a deterrent against infidelity and emphasize the need for holiness and faithfulness in relationships. This can also be seen as a type of Christ, where Jesus bears the iniquity of humanity, taking upon Himself the consequences of sin, as prophesied in <a href="/isaiah/53-5.htm">Isaiah 53:5-6</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_husband.htm">The Husband</a></b><br>In the context of <a href="/bsb/numbers/5.htm">Numbers 5</a>, the husband is the one who suspects his wife of infidelity and brings her before the priest for the ritual of the "water of bitterness."<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wife.htm">The Wife</a></b><br>The woman suspected of adultery, who undergoes the ordeal to determine her guilt or innocence.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_priest.htm">The Priest</a></b><br>The religious leader who administers the ritual, acting as an intermediary between God and the people.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_tabernacle.htm">The Tabernacle</a></b><br>The sacred place where the ritual takes place, symbolizing God's presence among the Israelites.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_ritual_of_the_water_of_bitterness.htm">The Ritual of the Water of Bitterness</a></b><br>A ceremonial test described in <a href="/bsb/numbers/5.htm">Numbers 5</a>, intended to reveal the truth about the woman's fidelity.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_the_context.htm">Understanding the Context</a></b><br>The ritual in <a href="/bsb/numbers/5.htm">Numbers 5</a> reflects the cultural and legal context of ancient Israel, where community purity and marital fidelity were paramount.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_priest.htm">The Role of the Priest</a></b><br>The priest acts as a mediator, emphasizing the importance of seeking divine guidance in resolving disputes and accusations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_concept_of_guilt_and_innocence.htm">The Concept of Guilt and Innocence</a></b><br>The passage underscores the seriousness of sin and the need for a just process to determine guilt, reminding us of the importance of truth and integrity.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice_and_mercy.htm">God’s Justice and Mercy</a></b><br>While the Old Testament law emphasizes justice, the New Testament reveals God's mercy through Christ, encouraging believers to balance justice with compassion.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/personal_reflection_and_accountability.htm">Personal Reflection and Accountability</a></b><br>Believers are called to examine their own lives for sin and seek reconciliation and forgiveness, both with God and others.<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/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/does_eph._5_31_align_with_marriage_customs.htm">Ephesians 5:31: Does quoting Genesis 2:24 align with or contradict anthropological evidence on diverse marriage customs?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_numbers_5_about_an_abortion_ritual.htm">Does Numbers 5 describe a ritual related to abortion?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/5-31.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">The husband</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאִ֖ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | 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">will be free</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִקָּ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·niq·qāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5352.htm">Strong's 5352: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated</span><br /><br /><span class="word">from guilt,</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵעָוֺ֑ן</span> <span class="translit">(mê·‘ā·wōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5771.htm">Strong's 5771: </a> </span><span class="str2">Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">but the</span><br /><span class="heb">הַהִ֔וא</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hi·w)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">woman</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהָאִשָּׁ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hā·’iš·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">shall bear</span><br /><span class="heb">תִּשָּׂ֖א</span> <span class="translit">(tiś·śā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5375.htm">Strong's 5375: </a> </span><span class="str2">To lift, carry, take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶת־</span> <span class="translit">(’eṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Direct object marker<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> </span><span class="str2">Untranslatable mark of the accusative case</span><br /><br /><span class="word">iniquity.”</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲוֺנָֽהּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·wō·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5771.htm">Strong's 5771: </a> </span><span class="str2">Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/5-31.htm">Numbers 5:31 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/5-31.htm">OT Law: Numbers 5:31 The man shall be free from iniquity (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/5-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 5:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 5:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/6-1.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 6:1"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 6:1" /></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>