Numbers 5:27 net — When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, the…

NET Bible

"When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, the water that brings a curse will enter her to produce bitterness– her abdomen will swell, her thigh will fall away, and the woman will become a curse among her people."

— Numbers 5:27, NET Bible

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Numbers 5:27 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.”

  • ASV

    “And when he hath made her drink the water, then it shall come to pass, if she be defiled, and have committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her and become bitter, and her body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. ”

  • WEB

    “When he has made her drink the water, then it shall happen, if she is defiled, and has committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causes the curse will enter into her and become bitter, and her body will swell, and her thigh will fall away: and the woman will be a curse among her people.”

  • DRB

    “And when she hath drunk them, if she be defiled, and having despised her husband be guilty of adultery, the malediction shall go through her, and her belly swelling, her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse, and an example to all the people.”

  • BBE

    “And it will be that if the woman has become unclean, sinning against her husband, when she has taken the bitter water it will go into her body, causing disease of the stomach and wasting of the legs, and she will be a curse among her people.”

  • KJVA

    “And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.”

Numbers 5 — Context

24

He will make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and the water that brings a curse will enter her to produce bitterness.

25

The priest will take the grain offering of suspicion from the woman’s hand, wave the grain offering before the LORD, and bring it to the altar.

26

Then the priest will take a handful of the grain offering as its memorial portion, burn it on the altar, and afterward make the woman drink the water.

27

When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, the water that brings a curse will enter her to produce bitterness– her abdomen will swell, her thigh will fall away, and the woman will become a curse among her people.

28

But if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she will be free of ill effects and will be able to bear children.

29

“‘This is the law for cases of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband’s authority, goes astray and defiles herself,

30

or when jealous feelings come over a man and he becomes suspicious of his wife; then he must have the woman stand before the LORD, and the priest will carry out all this law upon her.

Numbers 5:27 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Numbers 5:27 say?
Numbers 5:27 in the NET Bible reads: “When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, the water that brings a curse will enter her to produce bitterness– her abdomen will swell, her thigh will fall away, and the woman will become a curse among her people.”
Where is Numbers 5:27 in the Bible?
Numbers 5:27 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Numbers, chapter 5, verse 27.
Who wrote Numbers?
Numbers is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Numbers about?
Numbers records Israel's forty years of wilderness wandering — two censuses (hence the name), rebellions, the failure at Kadesh-Barnea, and the slow journey to the plains of Moab. It is a sober portrait of human unbelief and God's patient faithfulness across a generation.
What are the major themes of Numbers?
Numbers explores themes including Wilderness, Faithfulness, Rebellion, Guidance, Provision. These themes shape the meaning and context of Numbers 5:27.
What translation should I read Numbers 5:27 in?
Numbers 5:27 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Numbers 5:27?
Numbers 5:27 reads (NET): “When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, the water that brings a curse will enter her to produce bitterness– her abdomen will swell, her thigh will fall away, and the woman will become a curse among her people.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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