What is the meaning of Numbers 5:21? and the priest shall have the woman swear under the oath of the curse Numbers 5 sets out a solemn procedure for suspected marital unfaithfulness. • The priest stands as God’s representative (Leviticus 10:11; Malachi 2:7), ensuring that the oath is not a mere formality but a sacred covenant appeal. • Swearing “under the oath of the curse” calls down divine judgment if the woman is lying, echoing the seriousness of covenant oaths in Deuteronomy 6:13 and prompting the fear of God reflected in Hebrews 10:31. • The community is involved—this oath is administered “before the LORD” (Numbers 5:16), reinforcing that hidden sin cannot remain hidden from God (Psalm 139:1–4). then may the LORD make you an attested curse among your people • “May the LORD” makes clear the source of the verdict: God Himself will confirm innocence or guilt (Proverbs 17:15). • To become “an attested curse” is to be a living warning to the nation, much like Israel was warned in Deuteronomy 28:37 that covenant violation would make them “a horror, a proverb, and a byword.” • Public consequences also protect the innocent spouse and deter future sin (1 Timothy 5:20). • The community aspect recalls Joshua 7, where Achan’s hidden sin brought corporate trouble; sin is never purely private. by making your thigh shrivel and your belly swell • Scripture presents this as a literal physical judgment: an internal wasting away that affects fertility and visibly marks guilt (compare Deuteronomy 28:21–22, 27). • “Thigh” often represents reproductive capability (Genesis 46:26); its shriveling signals barrenness. A swollen belly mirrors the outward appearance of pregnancy yet reveals emptiness—an ironic picture of deceit bearing no real life. • God’s power over the body underscores His authority over life and covenant blessing (1 Samuel 2:6; Psalm 103:3). • For the innocent woman, no harm would occur (Numbers 5:28), highlighting both divine justice and mercy. summary Numbers 5:21 portrays a divinely ordained test in which the priest administers a solemn oath that invites God to expose hidden sin. If the woman is guilty, the LORD Himself will render her a visible, physical sign of His curse—her shriveled thigh and swollen belly turning her into a sober example for the community. The passage affirms God’s holiness, His intimate knowledge of every heart, and His power to judge or vindicate with perfect righteousness. |
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