Numbers 5:15 meaning

In the intricate regulations concerning marital fidelity found in the Old Testament, particularly in cases of jealousy, there emerges a theme of divine justice intertwined with human fallibility. This passage describes a ritual whereby a husband, suspicious of his wife's fidelity, brings her before the priest along with an offering. The absence of oil and frankincense in the offering—a mere measure of barley meal—highlights the gravity of the situation and the need to seek God’s judgment in a matter marked by deep personal anguish.

The law prescribed in these verses serves a dual purpose: it aims to provide a way to confirm innocence in a situation rife with suspicion and to administer justice if wrongdoing occurred. When a man suspects his wife due to an unfounded jealousy or an actual infidelity, the process that follows is intended to restore order and truth within marital relations. The verse emphasizes that the offering itself symbolizes a plea for divine revelation and justice, clearly indicating the seriousness with which such matters were regarded in the eyes of God (Numbers 5:15).