The big picture
Numbers 5 opens in verse 1 with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 16 with “And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD :”, and closes in verse 31 with “Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.” Repeated or prominent terms include priest, LORD, woman, water, offering. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Numbers · King James Version · 31Numbers 5:1-8
1–8: The LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 5:1–8 opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” and reaches “But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Numbers 5 develops its own movement around priest, LORD, woman, water, offering, with particular weight carried by LORD, children, Israel.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” By verse 4, the text has turned to “And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto…” It lands on “But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 3 verses with a speech marker, 1 stated contrast, 5 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
The covenant audience and the reason attached to each command show how worship, holiness, justice, mercy, and communal responsibility belong together. Words such as LORD, children, Israel, trespass, camp, Moses tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Numbers 5 develops its own movement around priest, LORD, woman, water, offering,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Israel, Moses, Both, Command, Speak. Its number language includes one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 7: “Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: LORD, children, Israel, trespass, camp, Moses
Verse-by-verse path
- Numbers 5:1
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Numbers 5:2
“Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Numbers 5:3
“Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:4
“And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the…” Naming Israel and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Numbers 5:5
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Numbers 5:6
“Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:7
“Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:8
“But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD , even…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Numbers 5:1-8
King James Version1And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:
3Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.
4And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.
5And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
6Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD , and that person be guilty;
7Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.
8But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD , even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.
Numbers 5:9-16
9–16: Every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which…
Numbers 5:9–16 opens with “And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the…” and reaches “And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD :” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Numbers 5 develops its own movement around priest, LORD, woman, water, offering, with particular weight carried by offering, priest, wife.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto…” By verse 12, the text has turned to “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man’s wife go aside, and commit…” It lands on “And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD :” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
The covenant audience and the reason attached to each command show how worship, holiness, justice, mercy, and communal responsibility belong together. Words such as offering, priest, wife, defiled, jealousy, children tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Numbers 5 develops its own movement around priest, LORD, woman, water, offering,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Israel, Moses, Speak. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 15: “Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: offering, priest, wife, defiled, jealousy, children
Verse-by-verse path
- Numbers 5:9
“And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:10
“And every man’s hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:11
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Numbers 5:12
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man’s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,” Naming Israel and Speak keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Numbers 5:13
“And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled…” The line’s distinctive content terms include carnally, close, defiled. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Numbers 5:14
“And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include defiled, jealous, jealousy. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Numbers 5:15
“Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:16
“And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD :” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Numbers 5:9-16
King James Version9And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his.
10And every man’s hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.
11And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
12Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man’s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,
13And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner;
14And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:
15Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.
16And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD :
Numbers 5:17-24
17–24: The priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust…
Numbers 5:17–24 opens with “And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor…” and reaches “And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Numbers 5 develops its own movement around priest, LORD, woman, water, offering, with particular weight carried by priest, water, curse.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the…” By verse 20, the text has turned to “But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and…” It lands on “And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
The covenant audience and the reason attached to each command show how worship, holiness, justice, mercy, and communal responsibility belong together. Words such as priest, water, curse, woman, bitter, causeth tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Numbers 5 develops its own movement around priest, LORD, woman, water, offering,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Amen. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 20: “But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: priest, water, curse, woman, bitter, causeth
Verse-by-verse path
- Numbers 5:17
“And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:18
“And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD , and uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering of memorial in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:19
“And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:20
“But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with…” The line’s distinctive content terms include husband, aside, defiled. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Numbers 5:21
“Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:22
“And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:23
“And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:24
“And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Numbers 5:17-24
King James Version17And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:
18And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD , and uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:
19And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse:
20But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:
21Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell;
22And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.
23And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:
24And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter.
Numbers 5:25-31
25–31: The priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and…
Numbers 5:25–31 opens with “Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the…” and reaches “Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Numbers 5 develops its own movement around priest, LORD, woman, water, offering, with particular weight carried by woman, defiled, offering.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the…” By verse 28, the text has turned to “And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive…” It lands on “Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
The covenant audience and the reason attached to each command show how worship, holiness, justice, mercy, and communal responsibility belong together. Words such as woman, defiled, offering, priest, water, altar tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Numbers 5 develops its own movement around priest, LORD, woman, water, offering,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include woman, defiled, offering, priest, water. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 25: “Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD , and offer…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: woman, defiled, offering, priest, water, altar
Verse-by-verse path
- Numbers 5:25
“Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:26
“And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:27
“And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:28
“And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:29
“This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;” The line’s distinctive content terms include aside, defiled, goeth. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Numbers 5:30
“Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Numbers 5:31
“Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Numbers 5:25-31
King James Version25Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD , and offer it upon the altar:
26And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.
27And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.
28And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.
29This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;
30Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD , and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.
31Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Identify the people addressed and the covenant setting.
- Distinguish rescue, worship, holiness, justice, and community responsibility.
- Read commands in their literary and covenant context before making a modern application.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Numbers 5?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Numbers 5 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Numbers 5 develops its own movement around priest, LORD, woman, water, offering?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?
