Numbers 30:9
“But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.”
Numbers 30:9 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James Version
- But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.
- DRADouay–Rheims
- The widow, and she that is divorced, shall fulfil whatsoever they vow.
- ASVAmerican Standard Version
- But the vow of a widow, or of her that is divorced, even everything wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand against her.
- DARBYDarby
- But the vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, everything wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand against her.
- WEBThe World English Bible
- But the vow of a widow, or of her who is divorced, [even] everything with which she has bound her soul, shall stand against her.
- YLTYoung's Literal Translation
- 'As to the vow of a widow or cast-out woman, all that she hath bound on her soul is established on her.
- BPVBiblePics Version
- However, every vow made by a widow or a divorced woman, by which they have bound their souls, will remain in effect.
Context: Numbers 30
7And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.
8But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.
9But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.
10And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath;
11And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.
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.