Numbers 5:14
New International Version
and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure—

New Living Translation
If her husband becomes jealous and is suspicious of his wife and needs to know whether or not she has defiled herself,

English Standard Version
and if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself,

Berean Standard Bible
and 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—

King James Bible
And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:

New King James Version
if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, who has defiled herself; or if the spirit of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife, although she has not defiled herself—

New American Standard Bible
if an attitude of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has defiled herself, or if an attitude of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has not defiled herself,

NASB 1995
if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has defiled herself, or if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has not defiled herself,

NASB 1977
if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has defiled herself, or if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has not defiled herself,

Legacy Standard Bible
if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife and she has defiled herself, or if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife but she has not defiled herself,

Amplified Bible
and if a spirit (sense, attitude) of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous and angry at his wife who has defiled herself—or if a spirit of jealousy comes over him and he is jealous of his wife when she has not defiled herself—

Christian Standard Bible
and if a feeling of jealousy comes over the husband and he becomes jealous because of his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he becomes jealous of her though she has not defiled herself—

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and if a feeling of jealousy comes over the husband and he becomes jealous because of his wife who has defiled herself—or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him and he becomes jealous of her though she has not defiled herself—

American Standard Version
and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:

English Revised Version
and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"A husband may have a fit of jealousy and suspect his wife, whether she was actually unfaithful or not.

International Standard Version
If an attitude of jealousy overcomes him so that he becomes jealous at his wife when she is defiled, or if an attitude of jealousy overcomes him and he becomes jealous of his wife even though she isn't defiled,

Majority Standard Bible
and 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?

NET Bible
and if jealous feelings come over him and he becomes suspicious of his wife, when she is defiled; or if jealous feelings come over him and he becomes suspicious of his wife, when she is not defiled--

New Heart English Bible
and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she is defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, and she isn't defiled:

Webster's Bible Translation
And the spirit of jealousy shall come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy shall come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:

World English Bible
and the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she is defiled; or if the spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife and she isn’t defiled;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and a spirit of jealousy has passed over him, and he has been jealous [for] his wife, and she has been defiled—or a spirit of jealousy has passed over him, and he has been jealous [for] his wife, and she has not been defiled—

Young's Literal Translation
and a spirit of jealousy hath passed over him, and he hath been jealous of his wife, and she hath been defiled; -- or, a spirit of jealousy hath passed over him, and he hath been jealous of his wife, and she hath not been defiled --

Smith's Literal Translation
And the spirit of jealousy passed upon him, and he was jealous of his wife, and she was defiled: or the spirit of jealousy passed upon him, and he was jealous of his wife, and she was not defiled:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If the spirit of jealousy stir up the husband against his wife, who either is defiled, or is charged with false suspicion,

Catholic Public Domain Version
if the spirit of jealousy stirs up the husband against his wife, who either has been polluted or is being assailed with a false suspicion,

New American Bible
or if a man is overcome by a feeling of jealousy that makes him suspect his wife, and she has defiled herself; or if a man is overcome by a feeling of jealousy that makes him suspect his wife and she has not defiled herself—

New Revised Standard Version
if a spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself; or if a spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the temper of jealousy comes upon him and he be jealous of his wife and she is defiled; or if the temper of jealousy comes upon him and he becomes jealous of his wife and she is not defiled,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a spirit of jealousy shall come on her husband and he becomes jealous against his wife when she was defiled, or a spirit of jealousy will come upon him and he becomes jealous against his wife when she was not defiled.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled; or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and there should come upon him a spirit of jealousy, and he should be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled; or there should come upon him a spirit of jealousy, and he should be jealous of his wife, and she should not be defiled;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Adultery Test
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— 15then he is to bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring for her an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil over it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, an offering of memorial as a reminder of iniquity.…

Cross References
Proverbs 6:34
For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.

Song of Solomon 8:6
Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.

Genesis 30:1-2
When Rachel saw that she was not bearing any children for Jacob, she envied her sister. “Give me children, or I will die!” she said to Jacob. / Jacob became angry with Rachel and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has withheld children from you?”

1 Samuel 18:8-9
And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” / And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.

1 Kings 21:4
So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.

Job 5:2
For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.

Proverbs 27:4
Wrath is cruel and anger is like a flood, but who can withstand jealousy?

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.

Ezekiel 23:25
And I will set My jealous rage against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will seize your sons and daughters, and your remnant will be consumed by fire.

Isaiah 54:5
For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.

Jeremiah 3:14
“Return, O faithless children,” declares the LORD, “for I am your master, and I will take you—one from a city and two from a family—and bring you to Zion.

Hosea 2:2
Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts.

Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 19:9
Now I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”

Mark 10:11-12
So He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. / And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the spirit of jealousy come on him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come on him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:

Numbers 5:30
Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.

Proverbs 6:34
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

Song of Solomon 8:6
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

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Cause Defiled Doubt Doubts Feelings Good Heart Herself Husband Husband's Impure Jealous Jealousy Passed Spirit Suspects Wife
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Cause Defiled Doubt Doubts Feelings Good Heart Herself Husband Husband's Impure Jealous Jealousy Passed Spirit Suspects Wife
Numbers 5
1. The unclean are removed out of camp
5. Restitution is to be made in trespass
11. The trial of jealously














a feeling of jealousy
The Hebrew word for "jealousy" is "קִנְאָה" (qin'ah), which can denote a passionate intensity, often associated with God's own jealousy for His people. In this context, it reflects a deep emotional response that can disrupt marital harmony. Historically, jealousy was a significant concern in ancient societies, where lineage and inheritance were paramount. This feeling, whether justified or not, could lead to serious social and familial consequences.

comes over her husband
The phrase suggests an overwhelming emotion that takes control, indicating that jealousy is not merely a fleeting thought but a powerful force. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the husband's role as the head of the household meant that his emotional state could dictate the course of family life. This highlights the importance of addressing such feelings within the community to maintain peace and order.

and he suspects his wife
Suspicion here is more than doubt; it implies a lack of trust that can erode the marital relationship. The Hebrew root "סָטָה" (satah) means to deviate or go astray, suggesting that suspicion can lead one away from the truth. In biblical times, trust was foundational to marriage, and suspicion could lead to severe consequences, including the ritual described later in the chapter.

who has defiled herself
The term "defiled" comes from the Hebrew "טָמֵא" (tame), meaning to be unclean or impure. This concept of ritual impurity was significant in Israelite society, affecting one's ability to participate in religious and communal life. The accusation of defilement was serious, impacting not just the individual but the entire community's spiritual health.

or if a feeling of jealousy comes over him
The repetition emphasizes the seriousness of jealousy and its potential to disrupt relationships. It underscores the need for a divine mechanism to address such issues, reflecting God's concern for justice and relational integrity within His people.

and he suspects her even though she has not defiled herself
This clause introduces the possibility of false suspicion, highlighting the potential for injustice. It acknowledges human fallibility and the need for divine intervention to discern truth. In a society where women's voices were often marginalized, this provision protected them from wrongful accusations, demonstrating God's care for all individuals.

Verse 14. - And she be not defiled. As far as the mischief here dealt with was concerned, it was almost equally great whether the woman was guilty or not.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and if a feeling
רֽוּחַ־ (rū·aḥ-)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

of jealousy
קִנְאָ֛ה (qin·’āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7068: Ardor, zeal, jealousy

comes over
וְעָבַ֨ר (wə·‘ā·ḇar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

[her husband]
עָלָ֧יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and he suspects
וְקִנֵּ֥א (wə·qin·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7065: To be, zealous, jealous, envious

his wife
אִשְׁתּ֖וֹ (’iš·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

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

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

or
אוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

if a feeling
רֽוּחַ־ (rū·aḥ-)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

of jealousy
קִנְאָה֙ (qin·’āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7068: Ardor, zeal, jealousy

comes over
עָבַ֨ר (‘ā·ḇar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

him
עָלָ֤יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and he suspects
וְקִנֵּ֣א (wə·qin·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7065: To be, zealous, jealous, envious

her
אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ (’iš·tōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

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

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

defiled herself—
נִטְמָֽאָה׃ (niṭ·mā·’āh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2930: To be or become unclean


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OT Law: Numbers 5:14 And the spirit of jealousy comes (Nu Num.)
Numbers 5:13
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