King James Version

What Does Numbers 5:19 Mean?

Numbers 5:19 in the King James Version says “And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not ...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: with another: or, being in the power of thy husband: Heb. under thy husband”

Numbers 5:19 · KJV

Context

17

And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:

18

And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:

19

And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: with another: or, being in the power of thy husband: Heb. under thy husband

20

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:

21

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; rot: Heb. fall

Read Numbers 5 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The oath before the Lord establishes the sacred nature of this trial. The priest pronounces a conditional curse—if innocent, no harm; if guilty, the curse will take effect. This demonstrates the principle that God's name must not be taken in vain; oaths before the Lord invoke His direct involvement. The bitter water serves as a visible, testable agent of divine judgment. The Reformed doctrine of God's active providence is evident—He governs even the physical effects of the water according to guilt or innocence.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Oaths in ancient Israel were binding and serious, invoking God as witness and judge. Breaking an oath was not merely lying but committing sacrilege. The bitter water's effects would be supernatural—God promised to make it either harmless or curse-bearing based on the woman's actual guilt.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the seriousness of oaths before God inform Christian truth-telling today?
  2. What does God's willingness to manifest judgment supernaturally teach about His involvement in human affairs?
  3. In what ways should the inevitability of divine judgment affect our choices when we think no one is watching?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וְהִשְׁבִּ֨יעַ1 of 22

“shall charge her by an oath”

H7650

to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)

אֹתָ֜הּ2 of 22
H853

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

הַכֹּהֵ֗ן3 of 22

“And the priest”

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

וְאָמַ֤ר4 of 22

“and say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל5 of 22
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָֽאִשָּׁה֙6 of 22

“unto the woman”

H802

a woman

אִם7 of 22
H518

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

לֹ֨א8 of 22
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

שָׁכַ֥ב9 of 22

“have lain”

H7901

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

אִישֵׁ֑ךְ10 of 22

“If no man”

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)

אֹתָ֔ךְ11 of 22
H854

properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc

וְאִם12 of 22
H518

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

לֹ֥א13 of 22
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

שָׂטִ֛ית14 of 22

“with thee and if thou hast not gone aside”

H7847

to deviate from duty

טֻמְאָ֖ה15 of 22

“to uncleanness”

H2932

religious impurity

תַּ֣חַת16 of 22
H8478

the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc

אִישֵׁ֑ךְ17 of 22

“If no man”

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)

הִנָּקִ֕י18 of 22

“be thou free”

H5352

to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense) to be bare, i.e., extirpated

מִמֵּ֛י19 of 22

“water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

הַמָּרִ֥ים20 of 22

“from this bitter”

H4751

bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly

הַֽמְאָרֲרִ֖ים21 of 22

“that causeth the curse”

H779

to execrate

הָאֵֽלֶּה׃22 of 22
H428

these or those

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 5:19 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 5:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 5:12Romans 7:2Matthew 26:63

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