Numbers 30:10

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 30:10 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if she vowed in her husband`s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if she vowed in her husband`s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath,
Numbers 30:10 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 30

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
10And if she vowed in her husband`s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath,

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And if she vowed in her husband’s house, etc.] Before his death, in his lifetime, or before divorced: the Targum of Jonathan adds, by way of explanation, “and not at age for marriage”, understanding it of a betrothed, and not a married person; but Jarchi says, the Scripture speaks of a married one, which seems most likely: or bound her soul by a bond with an oath; to fulfil her vow, to abstain from this, or to do that or the other thing.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“If she vowed - If she that now a widow, or divorced, made that vow while her husband lived with her; as suppose she then vowed, that if she was a widow, she would give such a proportion of her estate to pious or charitable uses, of which vow she might repent when she came to be a widow, and might believe or repented she was free from it, because that vow was made in her husband's lifetime; this is granted, in case her husband then disallowed it; but denied, in case by silence, or otherwise he consented to it. Numbers 30:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“30:10-15 A married woman also needed the approval of her husband to make vows and pledges. Her husband could nullify her religious promise, but he had to make this decision on the day he heard about it. God did not hold the married woman guilty of breaking this promise if her husband cancelled it in the proper manner (cp. 30:5, 8, 12). The self-denial mentioned in 30:13 probably refers to fasting. If he raised no objection, the husband’s silence implied consent. He could not delay in his objection, or he would incur the guilt of a broken vow (cp. Lev 5:4-13).”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification