Numbers 5:20 Meaning and Explanation
“But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If the woman actually is guilty of infidelity, the bitter water will reveal it.
The Context of Numbers 5:20
The consequence for actual guilt is stated.
What Does Numbers 5:20 Mean?
The alternative possibility is presented: if the woman has truly committed adultery and the oath is false, she faces the consequences of the bitter water. The phrasing makes clear that actual guilt is what the test addresses—real unfaithfulness, not mere suspicion or accusation.
This verse lays out the reality that deception before God is futile. The woman who knows herself guilty faces not just social shame but divine judgment through the physical effect of the bitter water. The law offers no escape for those who are truly guilty yet choose to deny it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 5:20
What does Numbers 5:20 mean?
If the woman actually is guilty of infidelity, the bitter water will reveal it.
What is the context of Numbers 5:20?
The consequence for actual guilt is stated.