Numbers 5:25

Verse

The priest shall take from her hand the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD, and bring it to the altar.

American Standard Version (1901)

And the priest shall take the meal-offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the meal-offering before Jehovah, and bring it unto the altar:

Bible in Basic English

And the priest will take from her hand the meal offering of doubt, waving it before the Lord, and will take it to the altar;

Free Bible Version

The priest shall take back from her the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the Lord, and take it to the altar.

King James (Authorized) Version

Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar:

One Unity Resource Bible

The priest shall take the meal offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the meal offering before Adonai , and bring it to the altar.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The priest must take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand. He must hold up the grain offering before Yahweh and bring it to the altar.

Noah Webster Bible

Then the priest shall take the jealousy-offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar:

World English Bible

The priest shall take the meal offering of jealousy out of the woman’s hand, and shall wave the meal offering before Yahweh, and bring it to the altar.

Young's Literal Translation

'And the priest hath taken out of the hand of the woman the present of jealousy, and hath waved the present before Jehovah, and hath brought it near unto the altar;

Context

The Adultery Test

²⁴He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and cause her bitter suffering.²⁵The priest shall take from her hand the grain offering for jealousy, wave it before the LORD, and bring it to the altar.²⁶Then the priest is to take a handful of the grain offering as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar; after that he is to have the woman drink the water.

Summary

In this passage, a ritual is described where a woman suspected of adultery is brought before the priest with an offering. The priest administers a bitter water test to determine her guilt or innocence. If she is innocent, she will be unharmed and blessed, but if guilty, she will suffer physical consequences as a result of her sin. This ritual underscores the importance of purity, faithfulness, and the consequences of sin in the sight of God.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand,.... Which she was obliged to hold in her hand while the above rites and ceremonies were performed; which was very heavy, being an omer of barley flour, a measure about three quarts, which was put into an Egyptian basket made of small palm tree twigs: and this was put into her hands to weary her, as before observed, that, having her mind distressed, she might the sooner confess her crime: and shall wave the offering before the Lord: backwards and forwards, upwards and downwards, as Jarchi; who also observes, that the woman waved with him, for her hand was above the hand of the priest so the tradition is,"he (her husband) took her offering out of the Egyptian basket, and put it into a ministering vessel, and gave it into her hand, and the priest put his hand under hers, and waved it (a):" and offer it upon the altar: this was the bringing of it to the southwest corner of the altar, as Jarchi says, before he took a handful out of it, as in other meat offerings. (a) Misnah, ut supra, (Sotah) c. 3. sect. 1.