Numbers 5:11
New International Version
Then the LORD said to Moses,

New Living Translation
And the LORD said to Moses,

English Standard Version
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Berean Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses,

Berean Literal Bible
And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,

King James Bible
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

New King James Version
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

New American Standard Bible
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

NASB 1995
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

NASB 1977
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Amplified Bible
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Berean Annotated Bible
Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out),

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses: “

American Standard Version
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

Contemporary English Version
The LORD told Moses

English Revised Version
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said to Moses:

Good News Translation
The LORD commanded Moses

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told Moses,

NET Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses:

New Heart English Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to Moses,

World English Bible
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying,

Berean Literal Bible
And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will speak to Moses, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

New American Bible
The LORD said to Moses:

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH spoke with Moshe and said to him:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Additional Translations ...



Context
The Adultery Test
11Then the LORD said to Moses, 12“Speak to the Israelites and tell them that if any man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him…

Cross References
Then the LORD said to Moses,

Exodus 40:1
Then the LORD said to Moses,

Exodus 6:10
So the LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 15:1
Then the LORD said to Moses,
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 8:3-11
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 5:27-28
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ / But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Proverbs 6:32
He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

Exodus 20:14
You shall not commit 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.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

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

2 Samuel 11:2-5
One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. / So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” / Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. …

Hosea 4:2
Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

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.

Jeremiah 3:8-9
She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. / Indifferent to her own infidelity, Israel had defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

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












Then the LORD said to Moses,

God continued to reveal His will through Moses, whom He appointed to lead Israel and deliver His commands during the wilderness journey. The instructions that follow addressed matters affecting marital faithfulness, purity, and justice within the camp. By speaking directly to Moses, the LORD established these laws as binding for the covenant community and placed their administration under the authority He had given Moses.

Exo 40:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
Exo 6:10 So the LORD said to Moses,
Num 15:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is giving instructions to Moses. Yahweh is central to the account as the divine lawgiver.

2. Moses
The leader of the Israelites and the mediator between God and His people. He receives and communicates God's laws to the Israelites.

3. Israelites
The people of God who are receiving these laws as part of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. They are in the wilderness, journeying towards the Promised Land.

4. The Wilderness
The setting where the Israelites are camped and where God is giving His laws through Moses.

5. The Tabernacle
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, it is the central place of worship and where God's presence dwells among the Israelites.
Teaching Points
God's Holiness and Law
God's instructions to Moses highlight His holiness and the need for His people to live according to His standards. This calls us to reflect on how we uphold God's holiness in our lives today.

The Role of Mediators
Moses serves as a mediator between God and the Israelites, pointing to the ultimate mediator, Jesus Christ. We are reminded of the importance of Christ's role in our relationship with God.

Community and Accountability
The laws given to the Israelites were meant to maintain purity and accountability within the community. We should consider how we hold each other accountable in our faith communities.

Faithfulness in Relationships
The broader context of Numbers 5 deals with faithfulness in relationships, particularly marriage. This challenges us to examine our own commitments and faithfulness in our relationships.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Numbers 5:11?

2. How does Numbers 5:11 emphasize the importance of marital faithfulness and trust?

3. What role does the priest play in resolving disputes in Numbers 5:11-31?

4. How can we apply the principles of Numbers 5:11 to modern-day relationships?

5. What other biblical passages address the issue of marital fidelity and trust?

6. How does Numbers 5:11 reflect God's desire for holiness within the community?

7. What is the significance of the ritual described in Numbers 5:11-31 for ancient Israelites?

8. How does Numbers 5:11-31 reflect the cultural context of its time?

9. What theological message is conveyed through the test of adultery in Numbers 5:11-31?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 5?


Numbers 5:11—“Then the LORD said to Moses,”—may seem a simple introductory clause, yet each word carries weight. “Then” links God’s ongoing call to holiness; “the LORD” grounds the passage in His unchanging character; “said” underscores the power and clarity of divine speech; “to Moses” affirms mediated, authoritative revelation. Together they set the stage for the law of jealousy that follows, reminding us that every detail of Scripture is purposeful and trustworthy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Moses,
מֹשֶׁ֥ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver


Additonal Resources
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OT Law: Numbers 5:11 Yahweh spoke to Moses saying (Nu Num.)

Numbers 5:10
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