What is the meaning of Numbers 5:22? May this water that brings a curse - The “holy water” (Numbers 5:17) mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor is not symbolic only; it is an actual instrument God uses to reveal hidden sin. - The curse is not arbitrary. It is rooted in God’s covenant justice (Leviticus 26:14-16; Deuteronomy 28:15-22). - Because adultery destroys covenant faithfulness, the Lord Himself steps in where human evidence is lacking (Psalm 7:9; Proverbs 5:21). enter your stomach - The water is ingested, showing that guilt or innocence is ultimately an internal matter before God (1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 51:6). - As the woman drinks, she places her very life under the scrutiny of the Lord who “searches mind and heart” (Jeremiah 17:10). and cause your belly to swell - A literal physical reaction is promised if she is guilty—God ties the spiritual offense to a bodily consequence (Deuteronomy 28:27; 1 Corinthians 11:30). - The swollen abdomen mirrors pregnancy, exposing the crime of conceiving through adultery while at the same time declaring divine judgment on that illicit act. and your thigh to shrivel - “Thigh” often points to the reproductive area (Genesis 24:2; 46:26). Its wasting signifies impaired fertility—a direct hit to the blessing of offspring promised within lawful marriage (Deuteronomy 28:18). - This visible sign prevents the innocent husband from punishing her further and warns the community that God defends marital purity (Hebrews 13:4). Then the woman is to say, ‘Amen, Amen.’ - Doubling “Amen” signals full agreement and submission to God’s verdict (Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Nehemiah 8:6). - By vocalizing amen, she testifies that the Lord is just, whether He vindicates or judges (Job 1:20-22; 2 Corinthians 1:20). - The spoken response seals the oath, reminding us that every word and vow matters before God (Matthew 12:36; Ecclesiastes 5:4-6). summary Numbers 5:22 teaches that God sovereignly protects the marriage covenant and exposes hidden sin. The curse water, literal and potent, places the matter directly in His hands. If guilt exists, He brings visible judgment—swollen belly and shriveled thigh—upholding righteousness and deterring further immorality. If innocence reigns, the absence of these signs publicly clears the woman. In either outcome, the repeated “Amen” affirms that the Lord’s justice is perfect, calling His people to walk in holiness and truth. |
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