Numbers 30:7
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.
Original Language Analysis
שָׁמְע֖וֹ
heard
H8085
שָׁמְע֖וֹ
heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 14
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אִישָׁ֛הּ
And her husband
H376
אִישָׁ֛הּ
And her husband
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
2 of 14
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)
בְּי֥וֹם
at her in the day
H3117
בְּי֥וֹם
at her in the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
3 of 14
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
שָׁמְע֖וֹ
heard
H8085
שָׁמְע֖וֹ
heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
4 of 14
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
וְהֶֽחֱרִ֣ישׁ
it and held his peace
H2790
וְהֶֽחֱרִ֣ישׁ
it and held his peace
Strong's:
H2790
Word #:
5 of 14
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
יָקֻֽמוּ׃
shall stand
H6965
יָקֻֽמוּ׃
shall stand
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
7 of 14
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
נְדָרֶ֗יהָ
it then her vows
H5088
נְדָרֶ֗יהָ
it then her vows
Strong's:
H5088
Word #:
8 of 14
a promise (to god); also (concretely) a thing promised
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
10 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אָֽסְרָ֥ה
wherewith she bound
H631
אָֽסְרָ֥ה
wherewith she bound
Strong's:
H631
Word #:
11 of 14
to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 14
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Historical Context
Unlike Greco-Roman law where husbands held virtually unlimited authority over wives (including life-and-death power in some cases), Mosaic law constrained male authority with procedural requirements and divine oversight. A husband's silence bound him as much as it bound his wife—mutual accountability before Yahweh.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the same-day requirement prevent manipulation while still honoring marital headship?
- In what ways should Christian husbands view their authority as protective accountability rather than unilateral control?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Her husband heard it, and held his peace at her (וְשָׁמַע אִישָׁהּ וְהֶחֱרִישׁ לָהּ, veshama ishah veheḥerish lah)—The same principle applies in marriage as under paternal authority: silence equals ratification. In the day that he heard it (בְּיוֹם שָׁמְעוֹ, beyom shom'o) again emphasizes the same-day requirement. The husband cannot later claim ignorance or change his mind; immediate response or permanent acceptance.
Her vows shall stand (וְקָמוּ נְדָרֶיהָ, veqamu nedareyha)—Once established through the husband's acquiescence, the vow has full legal and spiritual force. This protects wives from husbands who might retroactively object to inconvenient commitments. The law balanced male headship with accountability, preventing tyranny while maintaining order.