Numbers 30:3
“If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth;”
Numbers 30:3 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James Version
- If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth;
- DRADouay–Rheims
- If a woman vow any thing, and bind herself by an oath, being in her father's house, and but yet a girl in age: if her father knew the vow that she hath promised, and the oath wherewith she hath bound her soul, and held his peace, she shall be bound by the vow:
- ASVAmerican Standard Version
- Also when a woman voweth a vow unto Jehovah, and bindeth herself by a bond, being in her father's house, in her youth,
- DARBYDarby
- If a woman also vow a vow to Jehovah, and bind herself by a bond, in her father's house in her youth,
- WEBThe World English Bible
- Also when a woman vows a vow to Yahweh, and binds herself by a bond, being in her father's house, in her youth,
- YLTYoung's Literal Translation
- 'And when a woman voweth a vow to Jehovah, and hath bound a bond in the house of her father in her youth,
- BPVBiblePics Version
- If a woman makes a vow to the Lord and binds herself by a bond while she is still living in her father's house as a young woman;
Context: Numbers 30
1And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.
2If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.
3If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth;
4And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
5But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.
About Numbers 30: The Law of Vows
God commands that a person's vow must be fulfilled, but also commands that a parent or husband has the right to nullify a vow made by a woman under their authority.
Commentary
In Numbers 30, we see the Lord giving Moses instructions on how to handle vows and oaths. The Lord is very clear that if a man makes a vow or an oath, he must keep it. If a woman makes a vow or an oath, her father or husband can nullify it if he so chooses. This is an interesting distinction, as it shows that the Lord is aware of the power dynamics between men and women in the ancient world.