Numberschapter 30

16 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 78 cross-references outward and receives 45 — heaviest partner: Numbers.

Chapter summary

Laws of vows. A man's vow binds him; he shall not break his word. A woman's vow in her father's house — if her father holds his peace it stands; if he disallows on the day he hears, it is void. A wife's vow — the husband may confirm or disallow on the day he hears. A widow's or divorcée's vow stands of itself. The husband who, hearing a vow, holds his peace and then afterward makes it void shall bear her iniquity. The chapter sets a family-structural rule around religious speech — the free utterance guarded by the head of household, binding only when heard and not disallowed.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Numbers overview for the book's full setting.

1 And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded.

2 When a man voweth a vow unto Jehovah, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

3 Also when a woman voweth a vow unto Jehovah, and bindeth herself by a bond, being in her father’s house, in her youth,

4 and her father heareth her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father holdeth his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.

5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth, none of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and Jehovah will forgive her, because her father disallowed her.

6 And if she bemarriedto a husband, while her vows are upon her, or the rash utterance of her lips, wherewith she hath bound her soul,

7 and her husband hear it, and hold his peace at her in the day that he heareth it; then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.

8 But if her husband disallow her in the day that he heareth it, then he shall make void her vow which is upon her, and the rash utterance of her lips, wherewith she hath bound her soul: and Jehovah will forgive her.

9 But the vow of a widow, or of her that is divorced, even everything wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand against her.