But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be immune and conceive children.
Parallel translations
- WEB If the woman isn’t defiled, but is clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive offspring.
- KJV And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.
- BSB But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, she will be unaffected and able to conceive children.
- NKJV But if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she shall be free and may conceive children.
- NLT But if she has not defiled herself and is pure, then she will be unharmed and will still be able to have children.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
An innocent woman is vindicated, remains unharmed, and is even blessed with the ability to bear children.
Overview
The rite protected the innocent: clearance brought not just acquittal but blessing in fruitfulness. God's justice here defends the wrongly accused, a mercy in a patriarchal setting where suspicion alone could ruin a woman. It reflects the Lord who justifies and blesses those who are found clean before Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Num 5:19The priest shall cause her to swear, and shall tell the woman, “If no man has lain with you, and if you haven’t gone aside to uncleanness, being under your husband, be free from this water of bitterness that brings a curse.
- Mic 7:7–10But as for me, I will look to Yahweh. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
- 2 Cor 4:17For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
- Ps 113:9He settles the barren woman in her home, as a joyful mother of children. Praise Yah!
- 1 Pet 1:7that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ —
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 5:28 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.