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What the Bible Says About Bitter Water

Overview

The Bible addresses bitter water across 10 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Numbers. Closely related themes include Adultery, Husband, Jealousy and Self-Crimination.

Key Bible verses about bitter water

Old Testament

Numbers

Numbers 5:18

And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:

Numbers 5:19

And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse: with another: or, being in the power of thy husband: Heb. under thy husband

Numbers 5:20

But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:

Numbers 5:21

Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell; rot: Heb. fall

Numbers 5:22

And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.

Numbers 5:23

And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:

Numbers 5:24

And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter.

Numbers 5:25

Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar:

Numbers 5:26

And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.

Numbers 5:27

And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying bitter water for yourself

  • Begin with Numbers 5:18, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Adultery, Husband, Jealousy and Self-Crimination.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about bitter water?

The Bible addresses bitter water across 10 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Numbers. Closely related themes include Adultery, Husband, Jealousy and Self-Crimination.

How many Bible verses are about bitter water?

The Bible references bitter water in 10 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention bitter water?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Numbers 5:18: “And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:”

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