King James Version

What Does Numbers 30:4 Mean?

Numbers 30:4 in the King James Version says “And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her:...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.”

Numbers 30:4 · KJV

Peace

Context

2

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. break: Heb. profane

3

If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth;

4

And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.

5

But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.

6

And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; she vowed: Heb. her vows were upon her

Read Numbers 30 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Her father shall hold his peace at her (הֶחֱרִישׁ לָהּ אָבִיהָ, heḥerish lah aviha)—The father's silence constitutes legal ratification. Ḥarash (to be silent) here carries juridical weight: what is not vetoed is validated. This principle reveals God's care for order within covenant households while protecting young women from rash oaths.

Then all her vows shall stand (וְקָמוּ כָּל־נְדָרֶיהָ, veqamu kol-nedareyha)—The verb qum (to stand, be established) indicates legal validity. The father's headship includes authority to annul (hefer, v. 5) vows that might harm his daughter, but silence equals consent. This anticipates Christ's headship over the Church (Ephesians 5:23), where His intercession either establishes or removes our obligations.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

In ancient Near Eastern patriarchal culture (c. 1400 BC wilderness period), a father's authority over unmarried daughters was absolute. Unlike surrounding cultures where women had almost no legal standing, Mosaic law provided protection mechanisms—fathers could nullify harmful vows, preventing exploitation while honoring women's spiritual agency to make vows to Yahweh.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the father's authority to annul vows reflect both protection and responsibility rather than mere control?
  2. In what ways does Christ's intercessory work as our Advocate parallel the father's role in evaluating and potentially nullifying our misguided commitments?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וְשָׁמַ֨ע1 of 22

“hear”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אָבִ֑יהָ2 of 22

“And her father”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

אֶת3 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

נְדָרֶ֔יהָ4 of 22

“at her then all her vows”

H5088

a promise (to god); also (concretely) a thing promised

אִסָּ֛ר5 of 22

“and every bond”

H632

an obligation or vow (of abstinence)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר6 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אָֽסְרָ֥ה7 of 22

“wherewith she hath bound”

H631

to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle

עַל8 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

נַפְשָׁ֖הּ9 of 22

“her soul”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

וְהֶֽחֱרִ֥ישׁ10 of 22

“shall hold his peace”

H2790

to scratch, i.e., (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively, to devise (in a bad

לָ֖הּ11 of 22
H0
אָבִ֑יהָ12 of 22

“And her father”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

יָקֽוּם׃13 of 22

“shall stand”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

כָּל14 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

נְדָרֶ֔יהָ15 of 22

“at her then all her vows”

H5088

a promise (to god); also (concretely) a thing promised

וְכָל16 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אִסָּ֛ר17 of 22

“and every bond”

H632

an obligation or vow (of abstinence)

אֲשֶׁר18 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אָֽסְרָ֥ה19 of 22

“wherewith she hath bound”

H631

to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle

עַל20 of 22
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

נַפְשָׁ֖הּ21 of 22

“her soul”

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

יָקֽוּם׃22 of 22

“shall stand”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 30:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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