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Book of Numbers - Chapter 5 - Verse 22

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.

Meaning

In the passage, the water that causes the curse is described as going into the bowels of a woman, causing her belly to swell and her thigh to rot. This imagery is a depiction of a ritual prescribed in the Bible known as the ordeal of bitter water. This ritual was conducted to test the fidelity of a wife accused of adultery by her husband. The bitter water is a symbolic representation of the consequences of betrayal and serves as a test of the woman's innocence or guilt. The swelling of the belly and rotting of the thigh are symbolic of the physical manifestations of the curse that would befall the guilty party. The woman's response of saying "Amen, amen" is an acknowledgment and acceptance of the consequences if she is found guilty. This ritual highlights the importance of faithfulness in marriage and the gravity of breaking marital vows in biblical times.

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