Numbers 5:27
And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.
Original Language Analysis
וְהִשְׁקָ֣הּ
And when he hath made her to drink
H8248
וְהִשְׁקָ֣הּ
And when he hath made her to drink
Strong's:
H8248
Word #:
1 of 23
to quaff, i.e., (causatively) to irrigate or furnish a potion to
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 23
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַמַּ֤יִם
that the water
H4325
הַמַּ֤יִם
that the water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
3 of 23
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְהָֽיְתָ֣ה
H1961
וְהָֽיְתָ֣ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
4 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אִֽם
H518
אִֽם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
5 of 23
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
נִטְמְאָה֮
then it shall come to pass that if she be defiled
H2930
נִטְמְאָה֮
then it shall come to pass that if she be defiled
Strong's:
H2930
Word #:
6 of 23
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
וַתִּמְעֹ֣ל
and have done
H4603
וַתִּמְעֹ֣ל
and have done
Strong's:
H4603
Word #:
7 of 23
properly, to cover up; used only figuratively, to act covertly, i.e., treacherously
בְּאִישָׁהּ֒
against her husband
H376
בְּאִישָׁהּ֒
against her husband
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
9 of 23
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)
וּבָ֨אוּ
shall enter
H935
וּבָ֨אוּ
shall enter
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
10 of 23
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
הַמַּ֤יִם
that the water
H4325
הַמַּ֤יִם
that the water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
12 of 23
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
לְמָרִ֔ים
into her and become bitter
H4751
לְמָרִ֔ים
into her and become bitter
Strong's:
H4751
Word #:
14 of 23
bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly
וְצָֽבְתָ֣ה
shall swell
H6638
וְצָֽבְתָ֣ה
shall swell
Strong's:
H6638
Word #:
15 of 23
to amass, i.e., grow turgid; specifically, to array an army against
בִטְנָ֔הּ
and her belly
H990
בִטְנָ֔הּ
and her belly
Strong's:
H990
Word #:
16 of 23
the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything
וְנָֽפְלָ֖ה
shall rot
H5307
וְנָֽפְלָ֖ה
shall rot
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
17 of 23
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
יְרֵכָ֑הּ
and her thigh
H3409
יְרֵכָ֑הּ
and her thigh
Strong's:
H3409
Word #:
18 of 23
the thigh (from its fleshy softness); by euphemistically the generative parts; figuratively, a shank, flank, side
וְהָֽיְתָ֧ה
H1961
וְהָֽיְתָ֧ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
19 of 23
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
Cross References
Jeremiah 29:18And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:Jeremiah 42:18For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.Zechariah 8:13And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.Isaiah 65:15And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:Jeremiah 29:22And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;Jeremiah 24:9And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.Jeremiah 44:12And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.Deuteronomy 28:37And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.
Historical Context
The physical manifestation of guilt or innocence was immediate and supernatural. This was not a natural medical condition but a divine sign. The public nature of the results ensured that both justice was seen to be done and that the community learned from the outcome.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the public manifestation of judgment serve both justice and communal instruction?
- What does the physical consequence of spiritual sin teach about the holistic nature of God's judgment?
- In what ways do temporal consequences of sin serve as warnings even under the gospel of grace?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The divine judgment manifests physically—the bitter water enters her body, and if she has defiled herself, it causes her belly to swell and thigh to rot. The public nature of this judgment serves both as vindication or condemnation. If guilty, her sin is exposed; if innocent, her integrity is publicly confirmed. The curse makes the adulteress an object lesson among her people, demonstrating that sexual sin brings tangible consequences. This reflects the Reformed principle that while salvation is by grace, sin still produces temporal consequences even for believers.