Jealousy Offering
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Jealousy Offering in the Bible?
A ritual procedure described in the Book of Numbers wherein a priest administered a potion of bitter water to a woman suspected by her husband of adultery, with the physical outcome determining her guilt or innocence.
SIGNIFICANCE
This account provides insight into ancient Israelite legal traditions concerning marital fidelity and the reliance on divine intervention to adjudicate domestic conflicts without human witnesses.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Jealousy Offering. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Jealousy Offering in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Jealousy Offering clarify?
Related Topics
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Jealousy Offering." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/jealousy-offering/