Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version 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"— New Living Translation But if you have gone astray by being unfaithful to your husband, and have defiled yourself by having sex with another man—’ English Standard Version 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, Berean Standard Bible 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’— Berean Literal Bible And if you have gone astray while under your husband, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man has lain with you in intercourse, other than your husband’— King James Bible 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 thine husband: New King James Version 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 lain with you”— New American Standard Bible if, however, you have gone astray, though under the authority of your husband, and if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has had sexual intercourse with you” NASB 1995 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” NASB 1977 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” Legacy Standard Bible 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 lain with you” Amplified Bible 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” Berean Annotated Bible 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’— Christian Standard Bible 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’— Holman Christian Standard Bible 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— American Standard Version 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: English Revised Version 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: GOD'S WORD® Translation If, in fact, you have been unfaithful and have had sexual intercourse with another man, Good News Translation But if you have committed adultery, International Standard Version 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…' NET Bible 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. . .." New Heart English Bible 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:' Webster's Bible Translation 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: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut 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’— World English Bible 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—” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand 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— Berean Literal Bible And if you have gone astray while under your husband, and if you have defiled yourself, and some man has lain with you in intercourse, other than your husband’— Young's Literal Translation 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 -- Smith's Literal Translation 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; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBut if thou hast gone aside from thy husband, and art defiled, and hast lain with another man: Catholic Public Domain Version But if you have turned away from your husband, and also have been defiled, and have lain together with another man, New American Bible 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”— New Revised Standard Version 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,” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut 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; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated 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.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917but if thou hast gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband-- Brenton Septuagint Translation But if being a married woman thou hast transgressed, or been polluted, and any one has lain with thee, beside thy husband: Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Adultery Test…19And 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. 20But 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’— 21and 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.… Cross References But if you have gone astray Jeremiah 3:20 But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. Ezekiel 16:32 You adulterous wife! You receive strangers instead of your own husband! Hosea 2:2 Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts. while under your husband’s authority 1 Corinthians 7:4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Ephesians 5:23-24 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. / Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. and have defiled yourself Leviticus 18:20 You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Leviticus 20:10 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. and lain carnally with a man other than your husband’— Deuteronomy 22:22 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. Exodus 20:14 You shall not commit adultery. Proverbs 6:32 He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. John 8:3-5 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?” Matthew 5:27-28 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. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 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. 2 Samuel 11:2-5 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. … Treasury of Scripture 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: Jump to Previous Astray Authority Besides Copulation Defiled However Husband Husband's Instead Intercourse Lain Married Sleeping Thou Turned UncleanJump to Next Astray Authority Besides Copulation Defiled However Husband Husband's Instead Intercourse Lain Married Sleeping Thou Turned UncleanNumbers 5 1. The unclean are removed out of camp5. Restitution is to be made in trespass 11. The trial of jealously But if you have gone astray 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 Hosea 4:12, 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. while under your husband’s authority and have defiled yourself and lain carnally with a man other than your husband Persons / Places / Events 1. The Israelite WomanThe passage refers to a woman suspected of adultery, highlighting the societal and religious expectations of marital fidelity in ancient Israel. 2. The Husband He is the one who brings the suspicion of infidelity to the priest, reflecting the patriarchal structure of the society. 3. The Priest Acts as a mediator in the ritual of the "water of bitterness," which is a test for the accused woman. 4. The Tabernacle The place where the ritual takes place, symbolizing God's presence and the seriousness of the covenantal laws. 5. The Ritual of the Bitter Water A ceremonial test to determine the guilt or innocence of the woman, reflecting the legal and spiritual practices of the time. Teaching Points The Sanctity of MarriageMarriage 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. God's Justice and Mercy 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. The Role of Community and Accountability The involvement of the priest and the community in the ritual highlights the role of accountability within the faith community. The Consequences of Sin The passage serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of sin, not only for the individual but also for the community and family. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 5:20?2. How does Numbers 5:20 address the consequences of unfaithfulness in marriage? 3. What does Numbers 5:20 reveal about God's view on marital fidelity? 4. How can Numbers 5:20 guide us in maintaining trust in relationships? 5. Compare Numbers 5:20 with Ephesians 5:25 on marital responsibilities. 6. How can we apply the principles of Numbers 5:20 in modern Christian marriages? 7. How does Numbers 5:20 reflect on the treatment of women in biblical times? 8. What does Numbers 5:20 reveal about the concept of marital fidelity in ancient Israel? 9. How is the ritual in Numbers 5:20 justified within the context of biblical law? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 5? 11. Why does this ritual seem to assume the woman is guilty until proven innocent (Numbers 5)? 12. Should a spouse admit to committing adultery? 13. How do we reconcile the timing of the New Moon feast in 1 Samuel 20:5 with other Old Testament passages referencing similar observances? 14. What defines fake news? What Does Numbers 5:20 Mean But if you have gone astray- The conditional “if” recognizes the possibility of hidden sin. God’s law made room to expose what people might conceal (Numbers 32:23; Psalm 90:8). - “Gone astray” shows adultery as a departure from the covenant path, echoing the warning of Proverbs 5:3–8 and Hosea 3:1. - This phrase reminds us that wandering may begin in the heart long before an act occurs, as Jesus later affirms in Matthew 5:27-28. while under your husband’s authority - Scripture places the married woman within her husband’s protective covering (Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Peter 3:1-2). The phrase underscores accountability inside marriage rather than outside it. - God’s order in marriage is not about oppression but about faithful stewardship of vows (Malachi 2:14). - This wording also highlights why adultery is doubly serious: it violates both God’s command and the partner’s God-given role. and have defiled yourself - “Defiled” signifies ceremonial and moral uncleanness (Leviticus 18:20; Hebrews 13:4). - Sin doesn’t merely break a rule; it stains the person. David’s plea, “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity” (Psalm 51:2), captures the same idea. - The defilement also infects the community, so God provided a public process (Numbers 5:12-14) to protect Israel’s purity (Deuteronomy 23:14). and lain carnally with a man other than your husband - The phrase nails down the physical act that seals the spiritual betrayal (Exodus 20:14). - Scripture treats sexual intimacy as covenantal glue (Genesis 2:24; 1 Corinthians 6:16). To share that bond outside marriage fractures the covenant triangle: God, husband, wife. - The explicit wording prevents loopholes; any sexual union outside marriage is adultery, no matter the circumstances (Leviticus 20:10; Proverbs 6:32-35). summary Numbers 5:20 confronts adultery head-on. God, who sees what is hidden, provided Israel with a ritual test to uncover unfaithfulness and preserve covenant purity. Each phrase underscores that straying from marital vows violates divine order, defiles the individual, and desecrates sacred union. The verse calls every generation to honor marriage, walking in truth before the God who lovingly watches over His people. Hebrew But ifכִּ֥י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction you וְאַ֗תְּ (wə·’at) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person feminine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you have gone astray שָׂטִ֛ית (śā·ṭîṯ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 7847: To deviate from duty while under תַּ֥חַת (ta·ḥaṯ) Preposition Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of your husband’s authority אִישֵׁ֖ךְ (’î·šêḵ) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person and וְכִ֣י (wə·ḵî) Conjunctive waw | Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction defiled yourself נִטְמֵ֑את (niṭ·mêṯ) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean with a man אִ֥ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person other than מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֖י (mib·bal·‘ă·ḏê) Preposition-m Strong's 1107: Apart from, except, without your husband אִישֵֽׁךְ׃ (’î·šêḵ) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person who has slept וַיִּתֵּ֨ן (way·yit·tên) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set with you’— שְׁכָבְתּ֔וֹ (šə·ḵā·ḇə·tōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7903: A, lying with Links Numbers 5:20 NIVNumbers 5:20 NLT Numbers 5:20 ESV Numbers 5:20 NASB Numbers 5:20 KJV Numbers 5:20 BibleApps.com Numbers 5:20 Biblia Paralela Numbers 5:20 Chinese Bible Numbers 5:20 French Bible Numbers 5:20 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 5:20 But if you have gone astray being (Nu Num.) |
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