Numbers 5:31The man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.'"
The setting
Sinai Peninsula, ~1445 BC. The conclusion of a painful ordeal. Either the woman drinks the bitter water and nothing happens (proving innocence), or she suffers consequences (confirming guilt). The community watches divine justice unfold.
The emotion here: relief at recording God's perfect justice system
The original word
naqah (נָקָה) — to be clean, free from guilt, acquitted completely
Why it matters
This is one of the few Old Testament laws where guilt or innocence was determined by supernatural intervention rather than human witnesses
Read with care
What most readers miss in Numbers 5:31
If the woman was innocent, the husband bore the shame of false accusation publicly - his reputation suffered, not just hers
Common misconceptionPeople think this only affected the woman, but if she was innocent, the husband faced public humiliation for his baseless accusations and paranoia.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Numbers 5:31
Bible Genome reading
Numbers 5:31 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Numbers 5:31 comes from the book of Numbers, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the law genre of biblical literature. Key themes include justice, accountability, innocence. Notable phrases: free from iniquity; bear her iniquity. This verse contains a promise of God.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Numbers 5:31 mean to you, today?
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