Numbers 5 · Verse 17

Numbers 5:17

And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:
Numbers 5:17, King James Version

Numbers 5:17 in other translations

BSBThen he is to take some holy water in a clay jar and put some of the dust from the tabernacle floor into the water.
WEBThe priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and the priest shall take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water.
ASVand the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water.
YLTand the priest hath taken holy water in an earthen vessel, and of the dust which is on the floor of the tabernacle doth the priest take, and hath put it into the water,
DARBYAnd the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and the priest shall take of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle, and put it into the water.
BBEAnd the priest will take holy water in a pot and put in it dust from the floor of the House;
WebsterAnd the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:

What does Numbers 5:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 5:17-18
17-18. the priest shall take holy water--Water from the laver, which was to be mixed with dust--an emblem of vileness and misery (Ge 3:14; Psa 22:15). in an earthen vessel--This fragile ware was chosen because, after being used, it was broken in pieces (Le 6:28; 11:33). All the circumstances of this awful ceremony--her being placed with her face toward the ark--her uncovered head, a sign of her being deprived of the protection of her husband (1Co 11:7)--the bitter potion being put into her hands preparatory to an appeal to God--the solemn adjuration of the priest (Nu 5:19-22), all were calculated in no common degree to excite and appall the imagination of a person conscious of guilt.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 Holy water - Water out of the laver, called holy because consecrated to sacred uses. This is the most ancient case of the trial by ordeal. See at Num 5:31 (note). In an earthen vessel - Supposed by the Jews to be such as had never been previously used. Dust that is in the floor - Probably intended to point out the baseness of the crime of which she was accused.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 5:11-31

This law would make the women of Israel watch against giving cause for suspicion. On the other hand, it would hinder the cruel treatment such suspicions might occasion. It would also hinder the guilty from escaping, and the innocent from coming under just suspicion. When no proof could be brought, the wife was called on to make this solemn appeal to a heart-searching God. No woman, if she were guilty, could say…

Read the full comment on Numbers 5:11-31 →

Numbers 5:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְלָקַ֧חve.la.Kachand he will takeH3947
הַכֹּהֵ֛ןha.ko.Henthe priestH3548
מַ֥יִםMa.yimwaterH4325
קְדֹשִׁ֖יםke.do.ShimholyH6918
בִּכְלִי\־bikh.li-in a vessel ofH3627
חָ֑רֶשׂCha.researthenwareH2789
וּמִן\־u.min-and some ofH4480
הֶֽעָפָ֗רhe.'a.Farthe dustH6083
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherwhichH834
יִהְיֶה֙yih.Yehit will beH1961
בְּקַרְקַ֣עbe.kar.Ka'on [the] floor ofH7172
הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ןha.mish.Kanthe tabernacleH4908
יִקַּ֥חyi.Kachhe will takeH3947
הַכֹּהֵ֖ןha.ko.Henthe priestH3548
וְנָתַ֥ןve.na.Tanand he will put [it]H5414
אֶל\־'el-intoH413
הַמָּֽיִם\׃ha.Ma.yimthe waterH4325

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 5:17

  • Exodus 30:18

    Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

  • John 8:6

    This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

  • Lamentations 3:29

    He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.

  • John 8:8

    And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

  • Numbers 19:2-9

    This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: …

  • Jeremiah 17:13

    O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.

  • Job 2:12

    And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
holy water.That is, water from the laver; called holy, because separated from common to sacred uses. This is the most ancient account of the trial by ordeal, which obtained so generally among various nations; and it was calculated to fortify the minds of the Israelitish women in the hour of temptation, and to render them watchful against all occasions of exciting suspicion in the breasts of their husbands.
19:2-9; Ex 30:18
of the dust.
Job 2:12; Jer 17:13; La 3:29; Joh 8:6,8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 5:16

    And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the Lord:

  • Numbers 5:17

    And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:

  • Numbers 5:18

    And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord, and uncover the woman’s head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:

Read all of Numbers 5

Numbers 5:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Luego tomará el sacerdote del agua santa en un vaso de barro: tomará también el sacerdote del polvo que hubiere en el suelo del tabernáculo, y echarálo en el agua.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et le sacrificateur prendra de l’eau sainte dans un vase de terre, et le sacrificateur prendra de la poussière qui sera sur le sol du tabernacle, et la mettra dans l’eau.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und der Priester nehme heiliges Wasser in einem irdenen Gefäße; und der Priester nehme von dem Staube, der auf dem Fußboden der Wohnung ist, und tue ihn in das Wasser.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		assumetque aquam sanctam in vase fictili, et pauxillum terræ de pavimento tabernaculi mittet in eam.