Numbers 5:20 Made Simple

KJV ORIGINAL

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:

Close to the original. Clear modern English.

✦ MADE SIMPLE

But if you have been unfaithful to your husband and been with another man besides your husband:

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse addresses a wife who may have committed adultery against her husband.

📚 Historical Context

This verse is part of the 'ordeal of bitter water' ritual described in Numbers 5, which was used in ancient Israel when a husband suspected his wife of adultery but had no proof. The ritual was designed to determine guilt or innocence through divine intervention when human evidence was insufficient.

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Numbers 5:19

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.'

Numbers 5:29

This is the law for dealing with jealousy, when a wife is unfaithful to her husband and goes to another man instead, becoming impure.

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📚 Historical Context

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