But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.
But every promise made by a widow or divorced woman that binds her conscience shall remain in effect for her.
This verse states that widows and divorced women are fully responsible for keeping the vows they make, unlike married women whose husbands could cancel their vows.
📚 Historical Context
In the ancient Israelite community, vows were sacred promises made to God, and the laws in Numbers addressed how such vows by women were handled within a patriarchal society. Women under the authority of a father or husband could have their vows nullified by those men, but widows and divorced women, who were independent, had their vows fully binding. This regulation reflected the cultural norms of the time, emphasizing male oversight in family matters while protecting the autonomy of women without such oversight.
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