NUMBERS 30 - Vows 

CONSIDER

• Numbers 30 begins with laws about vows, underlining the seriousness of promises made before the Lord

• The first five books of Moses (Torah) are clear that truth is foundational

• A society where vows are taken lightly ends up rudderless

• But in God’s economy, oaths bind, build, and bless  <W212>

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** Anytime we promise to do or not do something, we are making a vow; it is important to follow through with it  <W212>

• For example, if parents don’t follow through on what they say they will do, children can get the idea that they can lie

• When we don’t follow through on what we promise, it’s a reflection on our character

• The Lord will always keep His word, and so He wants us to keep ours as well

Numbers 30:2 NIV

[2] When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

Ephesians 4:29 NIV

[29] Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

** Vows were to be fulfilled as promised and be part of the offering to the Lord

• Vows were voluntary pledges to give money or something else of value to the Lord

• Once a person uttered such an oath, it was binding and could not be broken  <R1795>

Numbers 30:2 NIV

[2] When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

Numbers 29:39 NIV

[39] “ ‘In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings. ’ ”

** Vows uttered by women could be nullified by their father or husband and a woman would then be released by the Lord

• If the husband or father did not say anything when first hearing of a wife or young daughter’s vow then it was binding

• The principle is simple: silence implies consent  <R1795>

• The man nullifying the vow would be held responsible for any wrong-doing that resulted

Numbers 30:6-8 NIV

[6] “If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself [7] and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. [8] But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the Lord will release her.

Numbers 30:15 NIV

[15] If, however, he nullifies them some time after he hears about them, then he must bear the consequences of her wrongdoing.”

** On the surface, it seemed as though Israel discriminated against women but fathers provided daughters a dowry when marrying – such as clothing, jewelry, furniture, money represented from the estate – that was a form of inheritance; women were valued in Israel, but shown in a different way than the men  <R1795>

Numbers 30:6-8 NIV

[6] “If she marries after she makes a vow or after her lips utter a rash promise by which she obligates herself [7] and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand. [8] But if her husband forbids her when he hears about it, he nullifies the vow that obligates her or the rash promise by which she obligates herself, and the Lord will release her.