Numbers 5:24
Numbers 5:24 in Multiple Translations
He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and cause her bitter suffering.
And 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.
and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causeth the curse; and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her and become bitter.
And he will give to the woman the bitter water for drink; and the bitter water causing the curse will go into her.
He shall make the woman drink the bitter water that curses, and it will cause her bitter pain if she is guilty.
And shall cause the woman to drinke ye bitter and cursed water, and the cursed water, turned into bitternesse, shall enter into her.
and hath caused the woman to drink the bitter waters which cause the curse, and the waters which cause the curse have entered into her for bitter things.
He shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causes the curse; and the water that causes the curse shall enter into her and become bitter.
And 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.
And he shall give them her to drink. And when she hath drunk them up,
The priest must take from her the offering of barley flour that she is holding, and lift it up to dedicate it to me. Then he must put it on the altar
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 5:24
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Numbers 5:24 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/הִשְׁקָה֙
אֶת
הָ֣/אִשָּׁ֔ה
אֶת
מֵ֥י
הַ/מָּרִ֖ים
הַ/מְאָֽרֲרִ֑ים
וּ/בָ֥אוּ
בָ֛/הּ
הַ/מַּ֥יִם
הַֽ/מְאָרֲרִ֖ים
לְ/מָרִֽים
וְ/הִשְׁקָה֙
shâqâh
H8248
to water
Conj | V-Hiphil-3ms
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
הָ֣/אִשָּׁ֔ה
ʼishshâh
H802
woman
Art | N-fs
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
מֵ֥י
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
N-mp
הַ/מָּרִ֖ים
mar
H4751
bitter
Art | Adj
הַ/מְאָֽרֲרִ֑ים
ʼârar
H779
to curse
Art | V-Piel
וּ/בָ֥אוּ
bôwʼ
H935
Lebo
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
בָ֛/הּ
Prep | Suff
הַ/מַּ֥יִם
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
Art | N-mp
הַֽ/מְאָרֲרִ֖ים
ʼârar
H779
to curse
Art | V-Piel
לְ/מָרִֽים
mar
H4751
bitter
Prep | Adj
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 5:24
וְ/הִשְׁקָה֙
shâqâh
H8248
"to water"
Conj | V-Hiphil-3ms
This verb means to give water or a drink to someone or something, often used in stories like Genesis and Exodus. It describes providing sustenance and care, like God giving water to the Israelites in the desert.
Definition: : watering(ANIMALS/PLANTS) 1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to water, irrigate 1a2) to water, give drink to 1b) (Pual) to be watered 1c) (Niphal) variant
Usage: Occurs in 60 OT verses. KJV: cause to (give, give to, let, make to) drink, drown, moisten, water. See H7937 (שָׁכַר), H8354 (שָׁתָה). See also: Genesis 2:6; 1 Chronicles 11:17; Psalms 36:9.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
הָ֣/אִשָּׁ֔ה
ʼishshâh
H802
"woman"
Art | N-fs
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Definition: : woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun)
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. See also: Genesis 2:22; Genesis 34:4; Numbers 5:12.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
מֵ֥י
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
הַ/מָּרִ֖ים
mar
H4751
"bitter"
Art | Adj
Mar means bitter, describing something that tastes bad or is unpleasant. It can also describe emotional pain or discontent, like being angry or chafed.
Definition: adj 1) bitter, bitterness 1a) of water or food 1b) of harlot's end, end of wickedness, cry (fig.) 1c) of pain (subst) adv 2) bitterly
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, [idiom] great, heavy. See also: Genesis 27:34; Psalms 64:4; Proverbs 5:4.
הַ/מְאָֽרֲרִ֑ים
ʼârar
H779
"to curse"
Art | V-Piel
To curse someone or something, like God cursing the serpent in Genesis 3. It means to execrate or wish harm upon someone, often used in the context of punishment or judgment. This word appears in various biblical accounts.
Definition: 1) to curse 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to curse 1a2) cursed be he (participle used as in curses) 1b) (Niphal) to be cursed, cursed 1c)(Piel) to curse, lay under a curse, put a curse on 1d) (Hophal) to be made a curse, be cursed
Usage: Occurs in 52 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] bitterly curse. See also: Genesis 3:14; Deuteronomy 27:23; Psalms 119:21.
וּ/בָ֥אוּ
bôwʼ
H935
"Lebo"
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
בָ֛/הּ
""
Prep | Suff
הַ/מַּ֥יִם
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
Art | N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
הַֽ/מְאָרֲרִ֖ים
ʼârar
H779
"to curse"
Art | V-Piel
To curse someone or something, like God cursing the serpent in Genesis 3. It means to execrate or wish harm upon someone, often used in the context of punishment or judgment. This word appears in various biblical accounts.
Definition: 1) to curse 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to curse 1a2) cursed be he (participle used as in curses) 1b) (Niphal) to be cursed, cursed 1c)(Piel) to curse, lay under a curse, put a curse on 1d) (Hophal) to be made a curse, be cursed
Usage: Occurs in 52 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] bitterly curse. See also: Genesis 3:14; Deuteronomy 27:23; Psalms 119:21.
לְ/מָרִֽים
mar
H4751
"bitter"
Prep | Adj
Mar means bitter, describing something that tastes bad or is unpleasant. It can also describe emotional pain or discontent, like being angry or chafed.
Definition: adj 1) bitter, bitterness 1a) of water or food 1b) of harlot's end, end of wickedness, cry (fig.) 1c) of pain (subst) adv 2) bitterly
Usage: Occurs in 36 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, [idiom] great, heavy. See also: Genesis 27:34; Psalms 64:4; Proverbs 5:4.
Study Notes — Numbers 5:24
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Numbers 5:24 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Numbers 5:24
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 5:24
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 5:24
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Numbers 5:24
- Cambridge Bible on Numbers 5:24
- Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 5:24
- Sermons on Numbers 5:24
Context — The Adultery Test
22May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’
23And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water.
24He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and may cause her bitter suffering.
25The priest shall take from her hand the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD, and bring it to the altar. 26Then the priest is to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar; after that he is to have the woman drink the water.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zechariah 5:3–4 | Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed. I will send it out, declares the LORD of Hosts, and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of him who swears falsely by My name. It will remain inside his house and destroy it, down to its timbers and stones.” |
| 2 | Malachi 3:5 | “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. |
Numbers 5:24 Summary
In Numbers 5:24, the priest has the woman drink bitter water to see if she is guilty of adultery. This water is believed to cause suffering if she is guilty, which shows how seriously God takes faithfulness in marriage, as seen in Exodus 20:17. This ritual is not just about punishing the woman, but about revealing the truth and bringing consequences for sin, as seen in other parts of the Bible, such as Proverbs 10:29. By looking at this verse, we can learn about the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands, and how He desires to have a close relationship with us, as seen in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the bitter water in Numbers 5:24?
The bitter water was used to determine whether the woman was guilty of adultery, as it was believed to cause physical suffering if she was indeed guilty, as seen in Numbers 5:24, and this concept is also supported by Deuteronomy 29:19 which warns of the consequences of disobedience.
How does this ritual relate to the concept of covenant faithfulness in the Bible?
The ritual in Numbers 5:24 is an example of the importance of faithfulness in marriage, which is a reflection of God's covenant faithfulness to His people, as seen in Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:18, where adultery is prohibited.
Is this ritual still relevant today, or was it only for the Old Testament era?
While the specific ritual in Numbers 5:24 is not practiced today, the principles of faithfulness, obedience, and consequences for sin are still relevant, as seen in the New Testament, such as in 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, where believers are called to flee from sexual immorality.
How does the use of the bitter water in Numbers 5:24 relate to the concept of God's judgment?
The bitter water in Numbers 5:24 represents God's judgment on sin, and the physical consequences that would result if the woman was guilty, which is a theme seen throughout the Bible, such as in Proverbs 10:29, where the way of the wicked will perish, and in Hebrews 10:26-31, where it is written that God will judge His people.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's character, particularly in regards to sin and judgment?
- How can we apply the principle of faithfulness in our own relationships, whether in marriage or in our walk with God?
- What role does trust play in this ritual, and how can we cultivate trust in our relationships with others and with God?
- In what ways can we see the consequences of sin in our own lives, and how can we turn to God for forgiveness and restoration?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 5:24
And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse,..... Having the curse imprecated upon herself, if guilty, scraped into it; and this she was obliged to drink, whether
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 5:24
And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: Write these curses in a book.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 5:24
To drink, to wit, after the jealousy-offering was offered, as is affirmed, .
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Numbers 5:24
Verse 24. The bitter water that causeth the curse] Though the rabbins think that the priest put some bitter substance in the water, yet as nothing of the kind is intimated by Moses, we may consider the word as used here metaphorically for affliction, death, c. These waters were afflicting and deadly to her who drank them, being guilty. In this sense afflictions are said to be bitter, Isaiah 38:17 so also is death, 1 Samuel 15:32: Ecclesiastes 7:26.
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 5:24
24. and become bitter] lit. ‘for bitterness,’ i.e. proving injurious.
Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 5:24
24. Shall cause the woman to drink — This verse is proleptical. The drinking is not twice, but only once, in Numbers 5:27. The eating or drinking anything symbolizes its full acceptance.
Sermons on Numbers 5:24
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Mid South Conference 1978-12 Zechariah's Visions by Bob Clark | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of God's preparation conduct in relation to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The sermon emphasizes the need for believers to |
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God Changeth Not by Joshua Daniel | In this sermon, Joshua Daniel discusses the need for a revival of faith and a return to God's unchanging truth. He emphasizes that while God and the gospel remain constant, it is o |
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I Am the God That Changeth Not by Joshua Daniel | In this sermon, Joshua Daniel emphasizes the importance of recognizing our accountability to God. He warns that without the blessing of God and the guidance of His Word, we are los |
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A Cry Against Wicked Youth! by David Wilkerson | David Wilkerson delivers a powerful sermon titled 'A Cry Against Wicked Youth!' where he draws parallels between the wickedness of Nineveh and the moral decline of modern youth. He |