Numbers Chapter 30

Men’s Vows

                           1 Then Moses told the tribal leaders,  

            “This is what the LORD has commanded. 2 If a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath that obligates him to do something, he must keep his word.

Women’s Vows

            3 If a woman takes a vow to the LORD and obligates herself to do something while in her father’s family in her youth, 4 and her father hears it and doesn’t object, then her vow or pledge stands. 5 But if her father forbids her, her vow or pledge doesn’t stand. The LORD will release her from them because her father forbade her.

                  6 “But, if she marries while under her vow or rash statement 7 and her husband hears about it and doesn’t object, then her vow or pledge stands. 8 But, if he forbids her, he annuls her vow or rash statement, and the LORD will release her from it.

                  9 “The vow of a widow or divorced woman stands.                      

Num 30:1-9

                           10 “However, if she vows in her husband’s house or binds herself to an obligation with an oath 11 and her husband hears it, but doesn’t object, then her vow or pledge stands. 12 But if her husband annuls it, it won’t stand, and the LORD will release her from them.

                  13 “A husband can annul any vow or binding oath a wife submits herself to. 14 If he doesn’t say anything to her the day he hears it, then he confirms it. 15 But if he tries to annul it later, he’ll bear her guilt.”

                  16 Those statutes the LORD commanded Moses about a husband and wife and a father and daughter in her youth in his home.                

Num 30:10-16

From the CNT translation by Virgil Warren, PhD