3 "Also if a woman makes a vow to the Lord , and binds herself by an obligation in her father's house in her youth , 4 and her father hears her vow and her obligation by which she has bound herself , and her father says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand and every obligation by which she has bound herself shall stand . 5 "But if her father should forbid her on the day he hears of it, none e of her vows or her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand ; and the Lord will forgive her because her father had forbidden her. 6 "However, if she should marry e while under her vows or the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself , 7 and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day he hears it, then her vows shall stand and her obligations by which she has bound herself shall stand . 8 "But if on the day her husband hears of it, he forbids her, then he shall annul her vow which she is under and the rash statement of her lips by which she has bound herself ; and the Lord will forgive her.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 30:3-8
Commentary on Numbers 30:3-16
(Read Numbers 30:3-16)
Two cases of vows are determined. The case of a daughter in her father's house. When her vow comes to his knowledge, it is in his power either to confirm it or do it away. The law is plain in the case of a wife. If her husband allows her vow, though only by silence, it stands. If he disallows it, her obligation to her husband takes place of it; for to him she ought to be in subjection, as unto the Lord. The Divine law consults the good order of families. It is fit that every man should bear rule in his own house, and have his wife and children in subjection; rather than that this great rule should be broken, or any encouragement be given to inferior relations to break those bonds asunder, God releases the obligation even of a solemn vow. So much does religion secure the welfare of all societies; and in it the families of the earth have a blessing.