Laws Concerning Vows
Numbers 30
Moses relays the Lord's instructions on vows and oaths, establishing that a man's word must stand, while a woman's vow may be confirmed or annulled by her father or husband on the day he hears of it. A widow's or divorced woman's vow, however, stands on her own account.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonSo Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord commanded him.
BrentonAnd Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the Lord commanded Moses.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Μωυσῆς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐνετείλατο Κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ.
KJVAnd Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.
JPSAnd Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.
2
ThomsonMOREOVER Moses spoke to the chiefs of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded.
BrentonAnd Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord has commanded.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Μωυσῆς πρὸς τοὺς ἄρχοντας τῶν φυλῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, λέγων, τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα ὃ συνέταξε Κύριος.
KJVAnd Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.
JPSAnd Moses spoke unto the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying: This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.
3
ThomsonIf any man vow a vow to the Lord, or swear an oath, or bind himself with a solemn promise concerning his soul, he shall not break his word. Whatever hath proceeded from his mouth he shall do.
BrentonWhatsoever man shall vow a vow to the Lord, or swear an oath, or bind himself with an obligation upon his soul, he shall not break his word; all that shall come out of his mouth he shall do.
GreekἌνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος ὃς ἂν εὔξηται εὐχὴν Κυρίῳ, ἢ ὀμόσῃ ὅρκον, ἢ ὁρίσηται ὁρισμῷ περὶ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ, οὐ βεβηλώσει τὸ ῥῆμα αὐτοῦ· πάντα ὅσα ἂν ἐξέλθῃ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ, ποιήσει.
KJVIf 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.
JPSWhen a man voweth a vow unto the LORD, or sweareth 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.
4
ThomsonAnd if a woman vow to the Lord, or bind herself with a solemn promise, in her father’s house, in her youth;
BrentonAnd if a woman shall vow a vow to the Lord, or bind herself with an obligation in her youth in her father's house; and her father should hear her vows and her obligations, wherewith she has bound her soul, and her father should hold his peace at her, then all her vows shall stand,
GreekἘὰν δὲ εὔξηται γυνὴ εὐχὴν Κυρίῳ, ἢ ὁρίσηται ὁρισμὸν ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτῆς ἐν τῇ νεότητι αὐτῆς,
KJVIf a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth;
JPSAlso when a woman voweth a vow unto the LORD, and bindeth herself by a bond, being in her father’s house, in her youth,
5
Thomsonand her father hear her vows, and her promises with which she hath bound her soul, and hold his peace at her; all her vows, and all the promises with which she bound her soul, shall stand. They shall be binding on her.
Brentonand all the obligations with which she has bound her soul, shall remain to her.
Greekκαὶ ἀκούσῃ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς τὰς εὐχὰς αὐτῆς, καὶ τοὺς ὁρισμοὺς αὐτῆς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, καὶ παρασιωπήσῃ αὐτῆς ὁ πατὴρ, καὶ στήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ πάντες οἱ ὁρισμοὶ οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, μενοῦσιν αὐτῇ·
KJVAnd 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.
JPSand her father heareth her vow, or her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father holdeth his peace at her, then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
6
ThomsonBut if her father expressly disapprove on the day he heareth her vows and the promises, with which she hath bound her soul, they shall not stand. And the Lord will acquit her because her father hath disallowed her.
BrentonBut if her father straitly forbid her in the day in which he shall hear all her vows and her obligations, which she has contracted upon her soul, they shall not stand; and the Lord shall hold her guiltless, because her father forbade her.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀνανεύων ἀνανεύσῃ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς, ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἀκούσῃ πάσας τὰς εὐχὰς αὐτῆς καὶ τοὺς ὁρισμοὺς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, οὐ στήσονται· καὶ Κύριος καθαριεῖ αὐτὴν, ὅτι ἀνένευσεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς.
KJVBut 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.
JPSBut if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth, none of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand; and the LORD will forgive her, because her father disallowed her.
7
ThomsonAnd if she be married, and vows be upon her; according to the opening of her lips—with what promises soever she may have bound her soul,
BrentonBut if she should be indeed married, and her vows be upon her according to the utterance of her lips, in respect of the obligations which she has contracted upon her soul;
GreekἘὰν δὲ γενομένη γένηται ἀνδρὶ, καὶ αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς ἐπʼ αὐτῇ κατὰ τὴν διαστολὴν τῶν χειλέων αὐτῆς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς,
KJV—
JPSAnd if she be married to a husband, while her vows are upon her, or the clear utterance of her lips, wherewith she hath bound her soul;
8
Thomsonif her husband shall hear, and hold his peace at her on the day when he heareth, so shall all her vows stand, and the promises shall stand with which she hath bound her soul.
Brentonand her husband should hear, and hold his peace at her in the day in which he should hear, then thus shall all her vows be binding, and her obligations, which she has contracted upon her soul shall stand.
Greekκαὶ ἀκούσῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, καὶ παρασιωπήσῃ αὐτῇ ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἀκούσῃ, καὶ οὕτω στήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ οἱ ὁρισμοὶ αὐτῆς, οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, στήσονται.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSand her husband hear it, whatsoever day it be that he heareth it, and hold his peace at her; then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.
9
ThomsonBut if her husband expressly disallow her on the day when he shall hear, none of her vows, and none of the obligations with which she hath bound her soul, shall be binding, because her husband disallowed her. And the Lord will acquit her.
BrentonBut if her husband should straitly forbid her in the day in which he should hear her, none of her vows or obligations which she has contracted upon her soul shall stand, because her husband has disallowed her, and the Lord shall hold her guiltless.
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἀνανεύων ἀνανεύσῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ᾗ ἐὰν ἡμέρᾳ ἀκούσῃ, πᾶσαι αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ οἱ ὁρισμοὶ αὐτῆς οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, οὐ μενοῦσιν, ὅτι ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀνένευσεν ἀπʼ αὐτῆς· καὶ Κύριος καθαριεῖ αὐτήν.
KJVBut 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.
JPS—
10
ThomsonBut the vows of a widow, or of one divorced—whatever vows she may have made to bind her soul, shall stand against her.
BrentonAnd the vow of a widow and of her that is put away, whatsoever she shall bind upon her soul, shall stand to her.
GreekΚαὶ εὐχὴ χήρας καὶ ἐκβεβλημένης ὅσα ἐὰν εὔξηται κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, μενοῦσιν αὐτῇ.
KJVBut every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.
JPSBut the vow of a widow, or of her that is divorced, even every thing wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand against her.
11
ThomsonAnd if her vow, or the obligation with which she bound her soul with an oath, be made in her husband’s house;
BrentonAnd if her vow be made in the house of her husband, or the obligation upon her soul with an oath,
GreekἘὰν δὲ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς ἡ εὐχὴ αὐτῆς, ἢ ὁ ὁρισμὸς κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς μεθʼ ὅρκου,
KJVAnd if she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath;
JPSAnd if a woman vowed in her husband’s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath,
12
Thomsonand her husband shall hear, and hold his peace at her, and not disallow her; all her vows and all her promises with which she hath bound her soul shall stand against her.
Brentonand her husband should hear, and hold his peace at her, and not disallow her, then all her vows shall stand, and all the obligations which she contracted against her soul, shall stand against her.
Greekκαὶ ἀκούσῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, καὶ παρασιωπήσῃ αὐτῇ, καὶ μὴ ἀνανεύσῃ αὐτῇ, καὶ στήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ εὐχαὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ πάντες οἱ ὁρισμοὶ αὐτῆς οὓς ὡρίσατο κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, στήσονται κατʼ αὐτῆς.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSand 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.
13
ThomsonBut if her husband on the day when he heareth, actually disannul all that may have proceeded out of her lips, of what nature soever her vows may be, or the obligations with which she bound her soul, they shall not be binding on her. Her husband hath made them void, and the Lord will acquit her.
BrentonBut if her husband should utterly cancel the vow in the day in which he shall hear it, none of the things which shall proceed out of her lips in her vows, and in the obligations contracted upon her soul, shall stand to her; her husband has cancelled them, and the Lord shall hold her guiltless.
GreekἘὰν δὲ περιελὼν περιέλῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς ᾗ ἂν ἡμέρᾳ ἀκούσῃ, πάντα ὅσα ἐὰν ἐξέλθῃ ἐκ τῶν χειλέων αὐτῆς κατὰ τὰς εὐχὰς αὐτῆς, καὶ κατὰ τοὺς ὁρισμοὺς τοὺς κατὰ τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτῆς, οὐ μενεῖ αὐτῇ· ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς περιεῖλε, καὶ Κύριος καθαριεῖ αὐτήν.
KJVBut if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her.
JPSBut if her husband make them null and void in the day that he heareth them, then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips, whether it were her vows, or the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD will forgive her.
14
ThomsonEvery vow, and every binding oath to afflict her soul, her husband may establish, or make void.
BrentonEvery vow, and every binding oath to afflict her soul, her husband shall confirm it to her, or her husband shall cancel it.
GreekΠᾶσα εὐχὴ καὶ πᾶς ὅρκος δεσμοῦ κακῶσαι ψυχὴν, ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς στήσει αὐτῇ, καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς περιελεῖ
KJVEvery vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.
JPSEvery vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may let it stand, or her husband may make it void.
15
ThomsonAnd if he hold his peace at her, day after day, he shall establish upon her all her vows, and confirm the obligations upon her, because he held his peace at her on the day he heard them.
BrentonBut if he be wholly silent at her from day to day, then shall he bind upon her all her vows; and he shall confirm to her the obligations which she has bound upon herself, because he held his peace at her in the day in which he heard her.
GreekἘὰν δὲ σιωπῶν παρασιωπήσῃ αὐτῇ ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας, καὶ στήσει αὐτῇ πάσας τὰς εὐχὰς αὐτῆς, καὶ τοὺς ὁρισμοὺς τοὺς ἐπʼ αὐτῆς στήσει αὐτῇ, ὅτι ἐσιώπησεν αὐτῇ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ ἤκουσεν.
KJVBut if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.
JPSBut if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day, then he causeth all her vows to stand, or all her bonds, which are upon her; he hath let them stand, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.
16
ThomsonAnd if her husband disannul them after the day when he heard, he shall bear the sin of this.
BrentonAnd if her husband should in any wise cancel them after the day in which he heard them, then he shall bear his iniquity.
GreekἘὰν δὲ περιελὼν περιέλῃ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς μετὰ τὴν ἡμέραν ἣν ἤκουσε, καὶ λήψεται τὴν ἁμαρτίαν αὐτοῦ.
KJVBut if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.
JPSBut if he shall make them null and void after that he hath heard them, then he shall bear her iniquity.
17
ThomsonThese are the judgments which the Lord gave in charge to Moses, between a husband and wife, and between a father and a daughter in her youth, in her father’s house.
BrentonThese are the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, and between a father and daughter in her youth in the house of her father.
GreekΤαῦτα τὰ δικαιώματα ὅσα ἐνετείλατο Κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ, ἀναμέσον ἀνδρὸς καὶ γυναικὸς αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναμέσον πατρὸς καὶ θυγατρὸς ἐν νεότητι ἐ οἴκῳ πατρός.
KJVThese are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father’s house.
JPSThese are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter, being in her youth, in her father’s house.