Bitterness, Water Of
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
The water of bitterness was a ritual drink prepared from holy water and dust from the tabernacle floor, administered to a woman accused of adultery by her husband in the absence of witnesses, as described in Numbers 5:11-31.
What is the meaning of Bitterness, Water Of in the Bible?
The water of bitterness was a ritual drink prepared from holy water and dust from the tabernacle floor, administered to a woman accused of adultery by her husband in the absence of witnesses, as described in Numbers 5:11-31.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this ritual clarifies the ancient Israelite legal framework where divine intervention served as the final arbiter in cases lacking human evidence, highlighting the societal emphasis on marital fidelity and communal purity.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.