Numbers 5:26

Verse

Then 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.

American Standard Version (1901)

and the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.

Bible in Basic English

And he will take some of it in his hand, burning it on the altar as a sign, and then he will give the woman the bitter water.

Free Bible Version

Then the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering as a reminder portion and burn it on the altar, and make the woman drink the water.

King James (Authorized) Version

And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.

One Unity Resource Bible

The priest shall take a handful of the meal offering, as its memorial, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.

Translation for Translators

and burn part of it as a sacrifice. Then the woman must drink the bitter water.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The priest must take a handful of the grain offering as a representative offering, and burn it on the altar. Then he must give the woman the bitter water to drink.

Noah Webster Bible

And the priest shall take a handful of the offering, even the memorial of it, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.

World English Bible

The priest shall take a handful of the meal offering, as its memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.

Young's Literal Translation

and the priest hath taken a handful of the present, its memorial, and hath made perfume on the altar, and afterwards doth cause the woman to drink the water:

Context

The Adultery Test

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

This verse describes a ritual for a woman suspected of adultery, where the priest would have her stand before the Lord, uncover her head, and hold the grain offering of jealousy in her hands. The priest would then administer an oath, involving curses if she was guilty, and blessings if she was innocent. This process was a test of faithfulness and truth, demonstrating the importance of honesty and purity in relationships. It also reflects the seriousness of sin and the need for accountability before God.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof,.... For good or evil, according as her works were, as Aben Ezra observes; a memorial for good, if innocent, and a memorial for evil, if guilty: and burn it upon the altar; as the handful of other meat offerings used to be, Lev 1:2, and afterwards shall cause the woman to drink the water; oblige her to it; having proceeded thus far, and no confession made, namely, an oath taken, the curses of it written in a scroll and scraped into the waters, and the jealousy offering waved and offered.