Numbers 5:20

Verse

But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority and have defiled yourself and lain carnally with a man other than your husband’—

American Standard Version (1901)

But if thou have gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband:

Bible in Basic English

But if you have been with another in place of your husband and have made yourself unclean with a lover:

Free Bible Version

But if you have been unfaithful while married to your husband and have become unclean and have had sex with someone else…”

King James (Authorized) Version

But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:

One Unity Resource Bible

But if you have gone astray, being under your husband, and if you are defiled, and some man has lain with you besides your husband:”

Translation for Translators

But if you have had sex with another man, Yahweh will curse you.

Unlocked Literal Bible

But if you, a woman under her husband, have gone astray, if you are defiled, and if some other man has slept with you,

Noah Webster Bible

But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou art defiled, and some man hath lain with thee besides thy husband:

World English Bible

But if you have gone astray, being under your husband’s authority, and if you are defiled, and some man has lain with you besides your husband—”

Young's Literal Translation

and thou, if thou hast turned aside under thy husband, and if thou hast been defiled, and any man doth give his copulation to thee besides thy husband —

Context

The Adultery Test

¹⁹And he is to put the woman under oath and say to her, ‘If no other man has slept with you and you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband’s authority, may you be immune to this bitter water that brings a curse.²⁰But if you have gone astray while under your husband’s authority and have defiled yourself and lain carnally with a man other than your husband’—²¹and the priest shall have the woman swear under the oath of the curse—‘then may the LORD make you an attested curse among your people by making your thigh shrivel and your belly swell.

Summary

In this verse, we see a ritual for a woman suspected of adultery, where she is brought before the priest with an offering of barley meal but without oil or incense. The absence of oil and incense symbolizes the removal of joy and prayer from her life due to the seriousness of the accusation. This ritual underscores the importance of purity and faithfulness in marriage, highlighting the consequences of unfaithfulness within the community. It also serves as a reminder of the need for honesty and integrity in relationships, as well as the consequences of breaking the marriage covenant.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband,.... Gone aside from the paths of modesty and chastity, and betook herself to another man's bed instead of her husband's: and if thou be defiled, by committing adultery: and some man hath lain with thee beside thy husband; these phrases are all synonymous, and a heap of words are made use of to express the sin, and that there might be no evasion of it, and that it might be clear what was intended, this being said on oath.