Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “’The priest is to write these curses on a scroll and then wash them off into the bitter water. New Living Translation And the priest will write these curses on a piece of leather and wash them off into the bitter water. English Standard Version “Then the priest shall write these curses in a book and wash them off into the water of bitterness. Berean Standard Bible And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. King James Bible And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: New King James Version ‘Then the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall scrape them off into the bitter water. New American Standard Bible ‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness. NASB 1995 ‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness. NASB 1977 ‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness. Legacy Standard Bible ‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll, and he shall wash them off into the water of bitterness. Amplified Bible ‘The priest shall then write these curses on a scroll and shall wash them off into the water of bitterness; Christian Standard Bible “Then the priest is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then the priest is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. American Standard Version And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness: Contemporary English Version The priest will write these curses on special paper and wash them off into the bitter water, English Revised Version And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness: GOD'S WORD® Translation "The priest will write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. Good News Translation Then the priest shall write this curse down and wash the writing off into the bowl of bitter water. International Standard Version "Then the priest is to write all of these words in a document and wipe it off with the contaminated water. Majority Standard Bible And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. NET Bible "'Then the priest will write these curses on a scroll and then scrape them off into the bitter water. New Heart English Bible "The priest shall write these curses on a scroll, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness. Webster's Bible Translation And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: World English Bible “‘The priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall wipe them into the water of bitterness. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the priest has written these execrations in a scroll, and has blotted [them] out with the bitter waters, Young's Literal Translation And the priest hath written these execrations in a book, and hath blotted them out with the bitter waters, Smith's Literal Translation And the priest wrote these curses in a book, and he wiped off into the water of contradiction. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the priest shall write these curses in a book, and shall wash them out with the most bitter waters, upon which he hath heaped the curses, Catholic Public Domain Version And the priest shall write these curses in a little book, and then he shall erase them with the very bitter waters, into which he had gathered the curses, New American Bible The priest shall put these curses in writing and shall then wash them off into the water of bitterness, New Revised Standard Version Then the priest shall put these curses in writing, and wash them off into the water of bitterness. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot out the writing in the water of testing; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the Priest shall write these curses in a scroll and he shall blot them out with the water of testing. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the priest shall write these curses in a scroll, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness. Brenton Septuagint Translation And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and shall blot them out with the water of the conviction that brings the curse. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Adultery Test…22May this water that brings a curse enter your stomach and cause your belly to swell and your thigh to shrivel.’ Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’ 23And the priest shall write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water. 24He is to have the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and it will enter her and cause her bitter suffering.… Cross References Deuteronomy 27:15-26 ‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of a craftsman—and sets it up in secret.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ / ‘Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ / ‘Cursed is he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stone.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ ... Jeremiah 17:1 “The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus, engraved with a diamond point on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars. Job 31:35 (Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment. Isaiah 30:8 Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever. Jeremiah 36:2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today. Exodus 32:15-16 Then Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. / The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 2 Kings 22:13 “Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.” Ezekiel 2:9-10 Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, / which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe. Revelation 10:9-10 And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” / So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter. Jeremiah 51:60-63 Jeremiah had written on a single scroll about all the disaster that would come upon Babylon—all these words that had been written concerning Babylon. / And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud, / and say, ‘O LORD, You have promised to cut off this place so that no one will remain—neither man nor beast. Indeed, it will be desolate forever.’ ... 2 Chronicles 34:21 “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.” Isaiah 8:1 Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Habakkuk 2:2 Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it. Revelation 1:11 saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Jeremiah 36:28 “Take another scroll and rewrite on it the very words that were on the original scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah has burned. Treasury of Scripture And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water: write these Exodus 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. Deuteronomy 31:19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. 2 Chronicles 34:24 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: blot Psalm 51:1,9 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions… Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Jump to Previous Bitter Bitterness Blot Blotted Book Curses Execrations Scroll Wash Washing Water Waters Write Writing WrittenJump to Next Bitter Bitterness Blot Blotted Book Curses Execrations Scroll Wash Washing Water Waters Write Writing WrittenNumbers 5 1. The unclean are removed out of camp5. Restitution is to be made in trespass 11. The trial of jealously The priest In ancient Israel, the priest held a significant role as a mediator between God and the people. The Hebrew word for priest, "kohen," signifies one who is set apart for sacred duties. The priest's involvement in this ritual underscores the seriousness of the matter and the divine authority behind the proceedings. The priest's actions are not merely ceremonial but are imbued with spiritual significance, reflecting the holiness and justice of God. is to write these curses on a scroll and wash them off into the bitter water Persons / Places / Events 1. The PriestA representative of God who performs the ritual. In this context, the priest acts as a mediator between God and the people, executing the law as given to Moses. 2. The Woman The subject of the ritual, suspected of infidelity. This passage is part of a larger section dealing with laws concerning purity and faithfulness in marriage. 3. The Bitter Water A concoction used in the ritual to determine the guilt or innocence of the woman. It symbolizes the judgment of God. 4. The Scroll The medium on which the curses are written. It represents the written law and the seriousness of the covenant between God and His people. 5. The Curses Specific consequences outlined for unfaithfulness. They serve as a deterrent and a means of divine justice. Teaching Points The Seriousness of SinThis passage underscores the gravity of sin, particularly in the context of marriage. It reminds us that God takes faithfulness seriously. The Role of the Law The law serves as a guide to holiness and a means to maintain community purity. It points to the need for a mediator, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. God's Justice and Mercy While the ritual seems harsh, it reflects God's justice. However, it also points to the need for mercy, which is fully realized in the New Testament through Jesus. The Power of Words The written curses remind us of the power of words and the importance of speaking truth and life, rather than curses and death. Faithfulness in Relationships This passage calls us to examine our own relationships and strive for faithfulness, reflecting God's covenant love.Verse 23. - In a book. On a roll. Blot them out with the bitter water. Rather, "wash them off into the bitter water," in order to transfer the venom of the curses to the water. Ἐξαλείψει... εἰς τὸ ὔδωρ, Septuagint. The writing on the scroll was to be washed off in the vessel of water. Of course the only actual consequence was that the ink was mixed with the water, but in the imagination of the people, and to the frightened conscience of a guilty woman, the curses were also held in solution in the water of trial. The direction was founded on a world-wide superstition, still prevalent in Africa, and indeed amongst most semi-barbarous peoples. In the 'Romance of Setnan,' translated by Brugsch. Bey, the scene of which is laid in the time of Rameses the Great, a magical formula written on a papyrus leaf is dissolved in water, and drunk with the effect of imparting all its secrets to him that drinks it. So in the present day, by a similar superstition, do sick Mahomedans swallow texts of the Koran; and so in the middle ages the canonized Archbishop Edmund Rich (1240) on his death-bed washed a crucifix in water and drank it, saying, "Ye shall drink water from the wells of salvation." Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew And the priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ן (hak·kō·hên) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3548: Priest shall write וְ֠כָתַב (wə·ḵā·ṯaḇ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3789: To grave, to write these הָאֵ֛לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh) Article | Pronoun - common plural Strong's 428: These, those curses הָאָלֹ֥ת (hā·’ā·lōṯ) Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 423: An imprecation on a scroll בַּסֵּ֑פֶר (bas·sê·p̄er) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5612: A missive, document, writing, book and wash them off וּמָחָ֖ה (ū·mā·ḥāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4229: To stroke, rub, to erase, to smooth, grease, make fat, to touch, reach to into אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the bitter הַמָּרִֽים׃ (ham·mā·rîm) Article | Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 4751: Bitter, bitterness, bitterly water. מֵ֥י (mê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen Links Numbers 5:23 NIVNumbers 5:23 NLT Numbers 5:23 ESV Numbers 5:23 NASB Numbers 5:23 KJV Numbers 5:23 BibleApps.com Numbers 5:23 Biblia Paralela Numbers 5:23 Chinese Bible Numbers 5:23 French Bible Numbers 5:23 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 5:23 The priest shall write these curses (Nu Num.) |
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