King James Version

What Does Numbers 30:6 Mean?

Numbers 30:6 in the King James Version says “And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul; she vo...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 30 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Numbers 30:6 · KJV

Context

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

7

And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.

8

But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.

Read Numbers 30 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
If she had at all an husband, when she vowed—This verse introduces marital authority superseding paternal authority at marriage. The emphatic infinitive absolute construction (ve'im hayo tihyeh le'ish) stresses the certainty of this transfer: when she becomes an husband's (לְאִישׁ, le'ish, literally 'to/for a man'), covenant headship shifts.

Uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul (מִבְטָא שְׂפָתֶיהָ אֲשֶׁר אָסְרָה עַל־נַפְשָׁהּ, mivta sefateyha asher as'rah al-nafshah)—Mivta means rash utterance or hasty speech. The verb asar (to bind) indicates self-imposed obligation upon the nefesh (soul, life-essence). Marriage doesn't eliminate personal spiritual agency but places it within covenantal accountability, picturing Christ and the Church's mutual submission (Ephesians 5:21-33).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

At marriage (typically ages 13-16 for women in ancient Israel), legal authority transferred from father to husband. This verse addresses vows made before marriage but operative after marriage—a complex legal situation. The law's careful attention to such edge cases demonstrates Scripture's comprehensive wisdom for covenant community life.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the transfer of vow-authority at marriage reflect the 'leaving and cleaving' principle of Genesis 2:24?
  2. What does this passage teach about the relationship between personal spiritual commitments and covenantal household structures?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וְאִם1 of 13
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

הָי֤וֹ2 of 13
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

תִֽהְיֶה֙3 of 13
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

לְאִ֔ישׁ4 of 13

“And if she had at all an husband”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

וּנְדָרֶ֖יהָ5 of 13

“when she vowed”

H5088

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

עָלֶ֑יהָ6 of 13
H5921

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

א֚וֹ7 of 13
H176

desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if

מִבְטָ֣א8 of 13

“or uttered”

H4008

a rash utterance (hasty vow)

שְׂפָתֶ֔יהָ9 of 13

“ought out of her lips”

H8193

the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר10 of 13
H834

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

אָֽסְרָ֖ה11 of 13

“wherewith she bound”

H631

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

עַל12 of 13
H5921

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

נַפְשָֽׁהּ׃13 of 13

“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

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 30:6 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Numbers 30:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Psalms 56:12

Test Your Knowledge

Numbers 30 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterNumbers Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Numbers 30 with CommentaryAll Numbers ChaptersComplete Numbers QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes