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19 Then the priest will put the woman under oath and say to her, “If no other[a] man has gone to bed[b] with you, and if you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, may you be free from this bitter water that brings a curse.[c]

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 5:19 tn The word “other” is implied, since the woman would not be guilty of having sexual relations with her own husband.
  2. Numbers 5:19 tn Heb “has lain down with.” The verb שָׁכַב (shakhav) “to lie down” acts as a euphemism, implying going to bed for sexual relations.
  3. Numbers 5:19 sn Although there would be stress involved, a woman who was innocent would have nothing to hide, and would be confident. The wording of the priest’s oath is actually designed to enable the potion to keep her from harm and not produce the physical effects it was designed to do.

19 And the priest shall put her under oath, and say to the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you have not gone astray to uncleanness while under your husband’s authority, be free from this bitter water that brings a curse.

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19 Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, ‘If no man has lain with you, and if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while you were under your husband's authority, be free from this water of bitterness that brings the curse.

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