NUMBERS 30:16 VOWS

 Q: What kind of vows would be made between father and daughter, husband and wife?

This verse, taken by itself in the fairly literal NIV translation, does seem to imply that there might be vows between family members. However, that is not at all the intent.

Today's English Version renders the underlying thought of this verse better: “These are the rules that the LORD gave Moses concerning vows made by an unmarried woman living in her father's house or by a married woman.” In other words, verse 16 is simply a summary of the rules outlined in verses 1-15. These all deal with vows made to God. As a matter of fact, when the Bible speaks about vows, they are always made between human beings and God, not between two people. (New Bible Dictionary, p.1313)

Reviewing the regulations in Numbers 30, one could easily get the idea that a woman's vows were not taken as seriously as a man's vows because a woman was not considered mature enough to make responsible decisions by herself. That is obviously not the case since verse 9 states that vows made by a widow or divorced woman is to be fully binding. And no one would argue that a divorced woman is necessarily more mature than a married one.

Then why could a father or husband overrule a woman's vows if he wished? Robin Wakely gives the most probable reason: “Given the economic dependence of women on men in ancient Israelite society, it was felt necessary to protect fathers and husbands from excessive commitments made by women who were not ultimately responsible for finding the resources necessary to fulfill those commitments.” (Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis, Vol. 1, p. 474) Nevertheless, the man had the responsibility to speak now or forever hold his peace regarding his daughter's or wife's vow as soon as he learned of it. If he later changed his mind and did not let her go ahead with the vow, he would be the guilty party in God's eyes, not her.