The Meaning of Numbers 5:21 Explained

Numbers 5:21

KJV: Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell;

YLT: (then the priest hath caused the woman to swear with an oath of execration, and the priest hath said to the woman) -- Jehovah doth give thee for an execration, and for a curse, in the midst of thy people, in Jehovah's giving thy thigh to fall, and thy belly to swell,

Darby: then the priest shall adjure the woman with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman: Jehovah make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when Jehovah doth make thy thigh to shrink, and thy belly to swell;

ASV: then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, Jehovah make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when Jehovah doth make thy thigh to fall away, and thy body to swell;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then the priest  shall charge  the woman  with an oath  of cursing,  and the priest  shall say  unto the woman,  The LORD  make  thee a curse  and an oath  among  thy people,  when the LORD  doth make  thy thigh  to rot,  and thy belly  to swell; 

What does Numbers 5:21 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Numbers 5

1  The unclean are removed out of camp
5  Restitution is to be made in trespass
11  The trial of jealously

What do the individual words in Numbers 5:21 mean?

then shall put the priest - the woman under the curse of the oath and shall say the priest to the woman make Yahweh you an oath and a curse among your people when makes - your thigh to rot and your belly to swell
וְהִשְׁבִּ֨יעַ הַכֹּהֵ֥ן אֶֽת־ הָֽאִשָּׁה֮ בִּשְׁבֻעַ֣ת הָאָלָה֒ וְאָמַ֤ר הַכֹּהֵן֙ לָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה יִתֵּ֨ן יְהוָ֥ה אוֹתָ֛ךְ לְאָלָ֥ה וְלִשְׁבֻעָ֖ה בְּת֣וֹךְ עַמֵּ֑ךְ בְּתֵ֨ת אֶת־ יְרֵכֵךְ֙ נֹפֶ֔לֶת וְאֶת־ בִּטְנֵ֖ךְ צָבָֽה

וְהִשְׁבִּ֨יעַ  then  shall  put 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
הַכֹּהֵ֥ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָֽאִשָּׁה֮  the  woman 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
בִּשְׁבֻעַ֣ת  under  the  curse 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: oath, curse.
הָאָלָה֒  of  the  oath 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָלָה  
Sense: oath.
וְאָמַ֤ר  and  shall  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַכֹּהֵן֙  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
לָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה  to  the  woman 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
יִתֵּ֨ן  make 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
יְהוָ֥ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְאָלָ֥ה  an  oath 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אָלָה  
Sense: oath.
וְלִשְׁבֻעָ֖ה  and  a  curse 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: oath, curse.
עַמֵּ֑ךְ  your  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בְּתֵ֨ת  when  makes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְרֵכֵךְ֙  your  thigh 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: יָרֵךְ  
Sense: thigh, side, loin, base.
נֹפֶ֔לֶת  to  rot 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
בִּטְנֵ֖ךְ  your  belly 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: בֶּטֶן  
Sense: belly, womb, body.
צָבָֽה  to  swell 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: צָבָה  
Sense: to swell, swell up.