Numbers 5:16
New International Version
“’The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the LORD.

New Living Translation
“The priest will then present her to stand trial before the LORD.

English Standard Version
“And the priest shall bring her near and set her before the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
The priest is to bring the wife forward and have her stand before the LORD.

King James Bible
And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD:

New King James Version
‘And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
‘Then the priest shall bring her forward and have her stand before the LORD,

NASB 1995
‘Then the priest shall bring her near and have her stand before the LORD,

NASB 1977
‘Then the priest shall bring her near and have her stand before the LORD,

Legacy Standard Bible
‘Then the priest shall bring her near and have her stand before Yahweh,

Amplified Bible
‘Then the priest shall have her approach and have her stand before the LORD,

Christian Standard Bible
“The priest is to bring her forward and have her stand before the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The priest is to bring her forward and have her stand before the LORD.

American Standard Version
And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before Jehovah:

Contemporary English Version
The priest will lead the woman to my altar and make her stand there.

English Revised Version
And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The priest will have the woman come forward and stand in the LORD's presence.

Good News Translation
The priest shall bring the woman forward and have her stand in front of the altar.

International Standard Version
Then the priest is to bring it and make her stand in the LORD's presence.

Majority Standard Bible
The priest is to bring the wife forward and have her stand before the LORD.

NET Bible
"'Then the priest will bring her near and have her stand before the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
The priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD;

Webster's Bible Translation
And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD:

World English Bible
The priest shall bring her near, and set her before Yahweh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the priest has brought her near, and has caused her to stand before YHWH,

Young's Literal Translation
'And the priest hath brought her near, and hath caused her to stand before Jehovah,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the priest brought her near, and made her stand before Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The priest therefore shall offer it, and set it before the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, the priest shall offer it, and he shall set it in the sight of the Lord.

New American Bible
The priest shall first have the woman come forward and stand before the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the priest shall bring her near, and she shall stand before the LORD;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The Priest shall bring her and she shall stand before LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the priest shall bring her, and cause her to stand before the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Adultery Test
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. 16The priest is to bring the wife forward and have her stand before the LORD. 17Then he is to take some holy water in a clay jar and put some of the dust from the tabernacle floor into the water.…

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 8:3-5
The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them / 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?”

Matthew 5:32
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits 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.

Leviticus 18:20
You must not lie carnally with your neighbor’s wife and thus defile yourself with her.

Deuteronomy 24:1-4
If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds some indecency in her, he may write her a certificate of divorce, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. / If, after leaving his house, she goes and becomes another man’s wife, / and the second man hates her, writes her a certificate of divorce, hands it to her, and sends her away from his house, or if he dies, ...

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.”

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.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. / But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

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.

Jeremiah 3:1
“If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” 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.

Malachi 2:14-16
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. / Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. / “For I hate divorce,” says the LORD, the God of Israel. “He who divorces his wife covers his garment with violence,” says the LORD of Hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith.


Treasury of Scripture

And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD:

Leviticus 1:3
If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.

Jeremiah 17:10
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

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Numbers 5
1. The unclean are removed out of camp
5. Restitution is to be made in trespass
11. The trial of jealously














The priest
The role of the priest in ancient Israel was of immense spiritual and communal significance. The Hebrew word for priest, "kohen," denotes one who serves as a mediator between God and the people. In this context, the priest acts as an intermediary in a delicate situation, emphasizing the sacred duty of maintaining holiness and justice within the community. The priest's involvement underscores the seriousness of the matter and the need for divine guidance.

is to bring
This phrase indicates an action of leading or presenting. The Hebrew root "qarab" often implies drawing near or approaching with reverence. The act of bringing the wife forward is not merely procedural but is laden with the gravity of approaching the divine presence. It reflects the solemnity and the careful observance of God's laws, ensuring that the process is conducted with respect and integrity.

the wife forward
The focus on "the wife" highlights the personal and relational aspect of the situation. In the cultural and historical context of ancient Israel, marriage was a covenantal relationship with profound social and spiritual implications. The wife's position in this narrative is central, and her being brought forward signifies the community's concern for truth and righteousness in marital relationships.

and have her stand
The act of standing is significant in biblical terms, often associated with presenting oneself before authority or in a position of accountability. The Hebrew word "amad" conveys the idea of standing firm or being established. This posture before the LORD indicates readiness to receive judgment or vindication, reflecting the seriousness of the situation and the expectation of divine justice.

before the LORD
This phrase is pivotal, as it places the entire proceeding in the context of divine oversight. The Hebrew term "YHWH" is the sacred name of God, emphasizing His holiness and sovereignty. Standing before the LORD implies that the matter is not merely a human affair but one that requires divine insight and intervention. It serves as a reminder of God's omnipresence and His role as the ultimate judge and arbiter of truth.

Verse 16. - Before the Lord. Either at the brazen altar or at the door of the tabernacle.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The priest
הַכֹּהֵ֑ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

is to bring [the wife] forward
וְהִקְרִ֥יב (wə·hiq·rîḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

and have her stand
וְהֶֽעֱמִדָ֖הּ (wə·he·‘ĕ·mi·ḏāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

before
לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH


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OT Law: Numbers 5:16 The priest shall bring her near (Nu Num.)
Numbers 5:15
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