Numbers 5:22 (KJV)

What does Numbers 5:22 mean?

Numbers 5:22 describes a ritual curse in which a woman suspected of adultery must drink special water, with the warning that if she is guilty, the water will cause her belly to swell and her thigh to rot. The woman is required to verbally agree to this curse by saying “Amen, amen,” affirming her acceptance of the terms.

In this scene, Moses is relaying God’s instructions to the Israelites about how to handle accusations of unfaithfulness in marriage. The priest speaks these words to the accused woman as part of a formal test, making the consequences clear and requiring her agreement. This verse highlights the seriousness and public nature of the ritual, as well as the physical signs that would supposedly result if the woman was guilty.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 5:22

• “Curse” (אָרוּר, ’arur, H779) means something under a ban or doomed to misfortune; here, it refers to the negative outcome the water is believed to bring if the woman is guilty.
• “Belly” (בֶּטֶן, beten, H990) and “thigh” (יָרֵךְ, yarekh, H3409) are specific body parts named to describe the visible effects of the curse, focusing on areas associated with fertility and childbirth.
• “Amen” (אָמֵן, amen, H543) is a Hebrew word meaning “so be it” or “truly,” and the double repetition (“Amen, amen”) stresses the woman’s full acceptance of the ritual’s terms and consequences.

Why Numbers 5:22 matters

• This verse clarifies that the ritual was not just symbolic—the physical effects described were expected as a sign of guilt, making the process very public and serious.
• The woman’s required response of “Amen, amen” shows her active participation and agreement, not just passive involvement, in the ritual.
• Understanding the specific body parts mentioned helps explain why this ritual focused on suspected adultery, as the curse directly relates to the woman’s ability to bear children.