Verses 6-7 introduce a case concerning vows that differs from the one in verse 3-5, so it may be helpful to begin a new paragraph here (so Good News Translation).

And if she is married to a husband is literally “And if to become she becomes to a man” (similarly Alter). The Hebrew verb for “become” is repeated here for emphasis, first as an infinitive absolute and then as a finite verb. New Revised Standard Version renders this idiomatic Hebrew expression simply as “If she marries.” The young woman of the preceding subsection is undoubtedly in view here, but she seems to be older now and closer to marriage, so Good News Translation calls her “an unmarried woman.”

While under her vows is literally “and her vows [are still] upon her,” which means she is still under obligation to fulfil the vows she made before she was married. Good News Translation makes this clear by rendering this phrase and the previous clause as “If an unmarried woman makes a vow … and then marries.” New Revised Standard Version is similar with “If she marries, while obligated by her vows…,” and so is New International Version with “If she marries after she makes a vow….”

Or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself refers to a new kind of verbal obligation, one that is made “carelessly … to abstain from something” (Good News Translation). New Living Translation renders this clause as “or binds herself with an impulsive pledge,” New Century Version has “or a careless promise,” and Chewa says “or a vow uttered without thinking/considering well.” The woman is not able to foresee the potential effects of a change in circumstances. When she gets married, her husband may feel adversely affected by the obligation she took upon herself while single (so Gane, page 762).

And her husband hears of it, and says nothing to her on the day that he hears: See verse 4.

Then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand: See verse 4.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .