Numbers 5:13
New International Version
so that another man has sexual relations with her, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act),

New Living Translation
and has sex with another man, but neither her husband nor anyone else knows about it. She has defiled herself, even though there was no witness and she was not caught in the act.

English Standard Version
if a man lies with her sexually, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, since she was not taken in the act,

Berean Standard Bible
by sleeping with another man, and it is concealed from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she was not caught in the act),

King James Bible
And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner;

New King James Version
and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and it is concealed that she has defiled herself, and there was no witness against her, nor was she caught—

New American Standard Bible
and a man has sexual relations with her and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and she remains undiscovered, although she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act,

NASB 1995
and a man has intercourse with her and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and she is undetected, although she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act,

NASB 1977
and a man has intercourse with her and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and she is undetected, although she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act,

Legacy Standard Bible
and a man lies sexually with her, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and she is undetected; but she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, and she has not been caught in the act,

Amplified Bible
and a man is intimate with her, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and it is kept secret, although she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act,

Christian Standard Bible
and sleeps with another, but it is concealed from her husband, and she is undetected, even though she has defiled herself, since there is no witness against her, and she wasn’t caught in the act;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and sleeps with another, but it is concealed from her husband, and she is undetected, even though she has defiled herself, since there is no witness against her, and she wasn’t caught in the act;

American Standard Version
and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she be not taken in the act;

English Revised Version
and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken in the act;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
and may have had sexual intercourse with another man without her husband's knowledge. She may have kept it secret if there were no witnesses to accuse her and she wasn't caught in the act.

International Standard Version
a man has sexual relations with her and she conceals it from her husband, keeping it secret although she has defiled herself with there being no witnesses against her, but she was caught anyway.

Majority Standard Bible
by sleeping with another man, and it is concealed from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she was not caught in the act),

NET Bible
and a man has sexual relations with her without her husband knowing it, and it is hidden that she has defiled herself, since there was no witness against her, nor was she caught--

New Heart English Bible
and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and is kept close, and she is defiled, and there is no witness against her, and she isn't taken in the act;

Webster's Bible Translation
And a man shall lie with her carnally, and it shall be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner;

World English Bible
and a man lies with her carnally, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and this is kept concealed, and she is defiled, there is no witness against her, and she isn’t taken in the act;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and a man has lain with her [with] the seed [from] intercourse, and it has been hid from the eyes of her husband, and concealed, and she has been defiled, and there is no witness against her, and she has not been caught,

Young's Literal Translation
and a man hath lain with her with the seed of copulation, and it hath been hid from the eyes of her husband, and concealed, and she hath been defiled, and there is no witness against her, and she hath not been caught,

Smith's Literal Translation
And a man lay with her with emission of seed, and it was hid from the eyes of her husband, and it was covered, and she was defiled, and no witness against her, and she was not taken hold of.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Shall have slept with another man, and her husband cannot discover it, but the adultery is secret, and cannot be proved by witnesses, because she was not found in the adultery:

Catholic Public Domain Version
will have slept with another man, and if her husband cannot discover it, but the adultery is secret, and if it cannot be proved by witnesses, because she was not caught in the shameful act,

New American Bible
by virtue of a man having intercourse with her in secret from her husband and she is able to conceal the fact that she has defiled herself for lack of a witness who might have caught her in the act;

New Revised Standard Version
if a man has had intercourse with her but it is hidden from her husband, so that she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her since she was not caught in the act;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And a man lies with her carnally and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband and the act is kept secret and she is defiled and there is no witness against her, neither is she caught in the act,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a man will have sexual intercourse with her, copulating with seed, and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and it is secret, and she is defiled, and there is no witness against her and she is not caught.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, she being defiled secretly, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken in the act;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and supposing any one shall lie with her carnally, and the thing shall be hid from the eyes of her husband, and she should conceal it and be herself defiled, and there be no witness with her, and she should not be taken;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Adultery Test
12“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13by sleeping with another man, and it is concealed from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she was not caught in the act), 14and if a feeling of jealousy comes over her husband and he suspects his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he suspects her even though she has not defiled herself—…

Cross References
Leviticus 20:10
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.

Deuteronomy 22:22
If a man is found lying with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

John 8:4-5
and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. / In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”

Proverbs 6:32-33
He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. / Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.

Matthew 5:27-28
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Exodus 20:14
You shall not commit adultery.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

2 Samuel 11:2-5
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. ...

Hosea 4:14
I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.

Jeremiah 29:23
For they have committed an outrage in Israel by committing adultery with the wives of their neighbors and speaking lies in My name, which I did not command them to do. I am He who knows, and I am a witness, declares the LORD.”

Ezekiel 16:38
And I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and those who shed blood; so I will bring upon you the wrath of your bloodshed and jealousy.

Romans 7:2-3
For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. / So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man.

James 4:4
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.

Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.


Treasury of Scripture

And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner;

Leviticus 18:20
Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.

Leviticus 20:10
And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Proverbs 7:18,19
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves…

Jump to Previous
Act Although Carnally Caught Close Concealed Copulation Defiled Eyes Herself Hid Hidden Husband Intercourse Keeps Kept Lain Lies Manner Secret Secretly Seed Sleeping Witness
Jump to Next
Act Although Carnally Caught Close Concealed Copulation Defiled Eyes Herself Hid Hidden Husband Intercourse Keeps Kept Lain Lies Manner Secret Secretly Seed Sleeping Witness
Numbers 5
1. The unclean are removed out of camp
5. Restitution is to be made in trespass
11. The trial of jealously














and if another man has relations with her
This phrase addresses the act of adultery, which is a significant violation of the marital covenant. In the Hebrew context, the word for "relations" implies a physical and intimate connection that is meant to be exclusive within marriage. The sanctity of marriage is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing fidelity and the spiritual symbolism of marriage as a reflection of God's covenant with His people.

and this is hidden from her husband
The secrecy of the act underscores the betrayal and the potential for deception within human relationships. In Hebrew culture, the husband was the head of the household, and such an act being hidden from him would disrupt the divine order of family life. This concealment also highlights the human tendency to hide sin, reminiscent of Adam and Eve hiding from God in the Garden of Eden.

and her impurity is undetected
The term "impurity" in this context refers to a state of ceremonial and moral uncleanness. In the Hebrew tradition, impurity was not just a physical state but also a spiritual one, affecting one's relationship with God and the community. The undetected nature of her impurity suggests a temporary evasion of earthly consequences, yet it serves as a reminder that nothing is hidden from God.

since there was no witness against her
The requirement of witnesses in Hebrew law was crucial for establishing truth and justice. This phrase indicates the absence of human testimony, which complicates the pursuit of justice. It reflects the legal standards of the time, where at least two or three witnesses were needed to confirm a matter, as seen in Deuteronomy 19:15.

and she was not caught in the act
This final phrase emphasizes the lack of immediate evidence or discovery. The absence of being "caught" suggests a situation where human justice is limited, pointing to the need for divine intervention. It serves as a reminder of the omniscience of God, who sees all actions and intentions, and the ultimate accountability each person has before Him.

Verse 13. - If it be laid. Or, "if he be hid." This verse is explanatory of the former. Taken with the manner. The latter words are not in the Hebrew. It means no doubt "taken in the act" (cf. John 8:4). Αὐτὴ μὴ ῇ συνειλημμένη, Septuagint.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
by sleeping with
וְשָׁכַ֨ב (wə·šā·ḵaḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7901: To lie down

another man,
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

and it is concealed
וְנֶעְלַם֙ (wə·ne‘·lam)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5956: To veil from sight, conceal

from
מֵעֵינֵ֣י (mê·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

her husband
אִישָׁ֔הּ (’î·šāh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

and her
וְהִ֣יא (wə·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

impurity
נִטְמָ֑אָה (niṭ·mā·’āh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean

is undetected
וְנִסְתְּרָ֖ה (wə·nis·tə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5641: To hide, conceal

(since there is no
אֵ֣ין (’ên)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

witness against her
וְעֵד֙ (wə·‘êḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

and she
וְהִ֖וא (wə·hi·w)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

caught in the act),
נִתְפָּֽשָׂה׃ (niṯ·pā·śāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8610: To manipulate, seize, chiefly to capture, wield, to overlay, to use unwarrantably


Links
Numbers 5:13 NIV
Numbers 5:13 NLT
Numbers 5:13 ESV
Numbers 5:13 NASB
Numbers 5:13 KJV

Numbers 5:13 BibleApps.com
Numbers 5:13 Biblia Paralela
Numbers 5:13 Chinese Bible
Numbers 5:13 French Bible
Numbers 5:13 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Numbers 5:13 And a man lies with her carnally (Nu Num.)
Numbers 5:12
Top of Page
Top of Page