Numbers 30:6
And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;
Original Language Analysis
וְאִם
H518
וְאִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 13
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
הָי֤וֹ
H1961
הָי֤וֹ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
תִֽהְיֶה֙
H1961
תִֽהְיֶה֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
3 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לְאִ֔ישׁ
And if she had at all an husband
H376
לְאִ֔ישׁ
And if she had at all an husband
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
4 of 13
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)
וּנְדָרֶ֖יהָ
when she vowed
H5088
וּנְדָרֶ֖יהָ
when she vowed
Strong's:
H5088
Word #:
5 of 13
a promise (to god); also (concretely) a thing promised
עָלֶ֑יהָ
H5921
עָלֶ֑יהָ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 13
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
א֚וֹ
H176
א֚וֹ
Strong's:
H176
Word #:
7 of 13
desire (and so probably in proverbs 31:4); hence (by way of alternative) or, also if
שְׂפָתֶ֔יהָ
ought out of her lips
H8193
שְׂפָתֶ֔יהָ
ought out of her lips
Strong's:
H8193
Word #:
9 of 13
the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
10 of 13
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אָֽסְרָ֖ה
wherewith she bound
H631
אָֽסְרָ֖ה
wherewith she bound
Strong's:
H631
Word #:
11 of 13
to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
Historical 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.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the transfer of vow-authority at marriage reflect the 'leaving and cleaving' principle of Genesis 2:24?
- What does this passage teach about the relationship between personal spiritual commitments and covenantal household structures?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & 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).