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 5:15KJVWhat 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.