Numbers 5:28

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 5:28 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.
Numbers 5:28 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
28And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.

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 the woman be not defiled, but be clean, etc.] If she is not guilty of adultery, but pure from that sin: then she shall be free; from the effects of the bitter water; they shall have no such influence upon her, but she shall be as soured and healthful as ever; nay, the Jewish writers say more so, that if she had any sickness or disease upon her she would now be freed from it f58; the Targum of Jonathan has it, her splendour shall shine, the brightness and beauty of her countenance: and shall conceive seed; a man child, as the same Targum; and the Jewish writers say, if she was barren before, now she would be fruitful; but no more is meant by it than that her husband should receive her…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The trial of jealousy. Since the crime of adultery is especially defiling and destructive of the very foundations of social order, the whole subject is dealt with at a length proportionate to its importance. The process prescribed has lately been strikingly illustrated from an Egyptian “romance,” which refers to the time of Rameses the Great, and may therefore well serve to illustrate the manners and customs of the Mosaic times. This mode of trial, like several other ordinances, was adopted by Moses from existing and probably very ancient and widely spread institutions. Numbers 5:15 The offering was to be of the cheapest and coarsest kind, barley (compare 2 Kings 7:1, 2 Kings 7:16, 2 Kings…”
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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
“Conceive seed - That is, shall bring forth children, as the Jews say, in case of her innocency, she infallibly did, yea though she was barren before. Numbers 5:31”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“And if: Num 5:19; Mic 7:7-10; Co2 4:17; Pe1 1:7 and shall: Psa 113:9 Numbers 5:29”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification