Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

NUMBERS 5:15KJV
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Numbers 5:15 (KJV)

What does Numbers 5:15 mean?

Numbers 5:15 describes how a man who suspects his wife of unfaithfulness must bring her to the priest along with a specific offering: a tenth of an ephah of barley meal, without oil or frankincense. This offering is called an “offering of jealousy,” meant to bring any wrongdoing to light before God.

In this passage, God is giving Moses instructions for handling cases of suspected marital unfaithfulness among the Israelites. The man is to bring his wife and a grain offering to the priest, but this offering is different from others because it is plain—no oil or incense is added, which usually symbolize joy or favor. The ritual is designed to address jealousy and to reveal hidden iniquity, not to celebrate or seek blessing.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 5:15

  • “Offering” (קָרְבָּן, qorban): This word means something brought near or presented, emphasizing that the man is bringing something before God, not just the priest.
  • “Jealousy” (קִנְאָה, qin’ah): This term refers to intense emotion, often zeal or suspicion, highlighting that the ritual is about addressing deep relational tension.
  • “Memorial” (אַזְכָּרָה, azkarah): This word means a reminder or something that brings to mind, showing that the offering is meant to call attention to possible wrongdoing.
  • “Bringing iniquity to remembrance” (הַזְכֵּר עָוֹן, hazker avon): This phrase means to make guilt or sin known, stressing that the purpose is to reveal any hidden sin, not just to perform a ritual.

Why Numbers 5:15 matters

  • Numbers 5:15 clarifies that the offering in this situation is intentionally plain, without oil or incense, to reflect the seriousness and somberness of the accusation.
  • The verse shows that the process is not just about human suspicion but is meant to bring the matter before God for resolution, emphasizing fairness and divine involvement.
  • This verse connects to the larger passage about community purity and trust, showing that even private suspicions were handled with care and ritual, not left to personal vengeance or gossip.

Where else these words appear

“meal” Hebrew H7058 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 18:6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
  • 2 Samuel 17:28 Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
  • 1 Kings 17:16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

“frankincense” Hebrew H3828 · used in 21 verses

  • Exodus 30:34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
  • Leviticus 6:15 And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD.
  • Song of Solomon 4:14 Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

“memorial” Hebrew H2146 · used in 22 verses

  • Exodus 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
  • Leviticus 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
  • Esther 6:1 On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.

“tenth” Hebrew H6224 · used in 26 verses

  • Genesis 8:5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
  • Deuteronomy 23:3 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:
  • Isaiah 6:13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.