Numbers 30:4
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.
Original Language Analysis
וְשָׁמַ֨ע
hear
H8085
וְשָׁמַ֨ע
hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 22
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אָבִ֑יהָ
And her father
H1
אָבִ֑יהָ
And her father
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
2 of 22
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
נְדָרֶ֔יהָ
at her then all her vows
H5088
נְדָרֶ֔יהָ
at her then all her vows
Strong's:
H5088
Word #:
4 of 22
a promise (to god); also (concretely) a thing promised
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אָֽסְרָ֥ה
wherewith she hath bound
H631
אָֽסְרָ֥ה
wherewith she hath bound
Strong's:
H631
Word #:
7 of 22
to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
8 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
נַפְשָׁ֖הּ
her soul
H5315
נַפְשָׁ֖הּ
her soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
9 of 22
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וְהֶֽחֱרִ֥ישׁ
shall hold his peace
H2790
וְהֶֽחֱרִ֥ישׁ
shall hold his peace
Strong's:
H2790
Word #:
10 of 22
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
אָבִ֑יהָ
And her father
H1
אָבִ֑יהָ
And her father
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
12 of 22
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
יָקֽוּם׃
shall stand
H6965
יָקֽוּם׃
shall stand
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
13 of 22
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
14 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
נְדָרֶ֔יהָ
at her then all her vows
H5088
נְדָרֶ֔יהָ
at her then all her vows
Strong's:
H5088
Word #:
15 of 22
a promise (to god); also (concretely) a thing promised
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
16 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
18 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אָֽסְרָ֥ה
wherewith she hath bound
H631
אָֽסְרָ֥ה
wherewith she hath bound
Strong's:
H631
Word #:
19 of 22
to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
20 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the father's authority to annul vows reflect both protection and responsibility rather than mere control?
- In what ways does Christ's intercessory work as our Advocate parallel the father's role in evaluating and potentially nullifying our misguided commitments?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & 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.