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 not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse:
The priest will make her swear an oath and say to the woman, 'If no man has slept with you, and if you have not been unfaithful to your husband by being with another man, then this bitter water that brings a curse will not harm you.'
The priest is telling the woman that if she has been faithful to her husband, the bitter water used in this trial will not hurt her.
📚 Historical Context
In the ancient Israelite community, as described in the Book of Numbers, this verse is part of a ritual for addressing a husband's suspicions of his wife's infidelity, known as the law of jealousy. The priest would administer an oath to the woman and prepare bitter water that could bring a curse if she were guilty, reflecting the cultural emphasis on marital purity and the role of religious leaders in resolving domestic disputes. This practice highlighted the patriarchal society of the time, where such matters were handled through divine intervention rather than secular courts.
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