But if, on the day that her husband comes to hear of it, he expresses disapproval: See verse 5. On the day that her husband comes to hear of it is literally “on the day of her husband’s hearing,” which Good News Translation renders “when he hears about it.” Good News Translation places this temporal clause later in the verse, which other languages may find helpful. He expresses disapproval is literally “he expresses disapproval to her,” as in verse 5.

Then he shall make void her vow which was on her, and the thoughtless utterance of her lips, by which she bound herself: The Hebrew verb for make void (hefer) means “suspend, annul, render ineffectual” a promise or agreement. Her vow which was on her may be rendered “the vow that obligates her” (TNIV; compare verse 6). Instead of vow, the Septuagint, the Peshitta, and the Samaritan Pentateuch have the plural word “vows.” For the thoughtless utterance of her lips, by which she bound herself, see verse 6.

And the LORD will forgive her: See verse 5.

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 .