Bible Strands
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’—
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The priest addresses a suspected adulterous woman during the ritual examination of the bitter waters. He continues the conditional oath begun in Numbers 5:19 after establishing the immunity clause.
The words — The Hebrew שָׂטִית (sa.Tit) literally means "you have turned aside," denoting a deviation from marital fidelity. The term נִטְמֵאת (nit.Met) translates to "you have made yourself unclean," specifying the ritual and moral defilement.
The thread — This conditional structure of turning aside and becoming unclean appears in the surrounding jealousy ritual at Numbers 5:19 and Numbers 5:12. The text establishes the specific scenario that triggers the curse oath in Numbers 5:21.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize the precise legal conditions that invalidate the woman’s immunity. It demands attention to the exact wording of the oath that determines whether the ritual water will bring blessing or curse.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- Numbers 5:12 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him