Numbers 30:13

13 Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.^[a]

Numbers 30:13 in Other Translations

13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.

13 Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself, her husband may establish, or her husband may make void.

13 So her husband may either confirm or nullify any vows or pledges she makes to deny herself.

13 Any vow and pledge that she makes that may be to her detriment can be either affirmed or annulled by her husband.

13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.

13 "A husband decides whether or not his wife has to keep any vow to do something or any oath to do without something.

13 Her husband may confirm or cancel any vow or any sworn obligation to deny herself.

13 "Her husband can let her keep any special promise she makes. Or he can refuse to let her keep it. "Suppose she takes an oath and agrees not to eat anything. Then her husband can let her keep her promise. Or he can refuse to let her keep it.

Numbers 30:13 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 30:13

Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul
By fasting, as Aben Ezra observes; as when a vow was made, or a person bound herself by an oath to abstain from such and such food, or to fast on such a day; to keep a fast which was not appointed, to set apart a day for fasting, besides the grand and general fast on the day of atonement: Jarchi from hence gathers, that a man only makes vows of afflicting the soul, or vows of fasting; but this is not said by way of limitation and restriction, but by way of amplification and illustration, giving a particular instance, by which others may be judged of:

her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void,
just as he pleased; and this power an husband had, to prevent confusion in the family, and trouble in the affairs of it, by vowing abstinence from such and such food, or from such and such liquor, and the like; and to prevent running into expenses he was not able to answer, by vowing and dedicating, this and the other to holy uses, for sacrifices, and repairs of the temple, and the like.

Numbers 30:13 In-Context

11 and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her and does not forbid her, then all her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand.

12 But if her husband nullifies them when he hears about them, then none of the vows or pledges that came from her lips will stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the LORD will release her.

13 Her husband may confirm or nullify any vow she makes or any sworn pledge to deny herself.

14 But if her husband says nothing to her about it from day to day, then he confirms all her vows or the pledges binding on her. He confirms them by saying nothing to her when he hears about them.

15 If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he must bear the consequences of her wrongdoing.”

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "to fast"