Numbers 5:26 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

And 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.

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

The priest will take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar. After that, he will make the woman drink the water.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse describes part of a ritual where a priest burns a grain offering on the altar before having a woman drink special water as part of a test for marital faithfulness.

📚 Historical Context

This verse is part of the 'ordeal of bitter water' described in Numbers 5, an ancient Israelite legal procedure used when a husband suspected his wife of adultery but had no proof. The ritual involved a grain offering and drinking water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor and ink from written curses, believed to reveal guilt or innocence through divine intervention.

Explore Similar Verses

Leviticus 2:2

And he should bring it to Aaron's sons, who are the priests. The priest will take a handful of the flour and oil, along with all the frankincense, and burn this portion on the altar as a memorial offering. This fire offering will create a sweet smell that pleases the LORD.

Leviticus 5:12

Then he should bring it to the priest, and the priest will take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar, just like the other fire offerings made to the LORD. This is a sin offering.

Numbers 5:18

The priest will have the woman stand before the LORD and uncover her head. He'll place the memorial offering in her hands - this is the jealousy offering. The priest will hold in his hand the bitter water that brings a curse.

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