Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell;
Then the priest will make the woman take a solemn oath that calls down a curse, and the priest will say to the woman, 'May the LORD make you a warning and example among your people, causing your body to waste away and your stomach to swell if you are guilty.'
The priest is pronouncing a conditional curse that would physically afflict the woman if she had been unfaithful to her husband.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of an ancient Israelite ritual called the 'trial by ordeal' for a woman suspected of adultery by her husband. When there were no witnesses to prove or disprove the accusation, this ceremony involving bitter water and spoken curses was used to determine guilt or innocence. This practice reflected the patriarchal legal systems of ancient Near Eastern cultures around 1400-1200 BC.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.