Numbers 25:5
in Numbers 25So Moses told the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill all of his men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto Baal-peor.
KJV
And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal–peor.
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This verse in Numbers 25
Commentary
5 notes on this verseAnd Moses said unto the judges of Israel,.... Either the same with the heads of the people, or the rulers of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, according to the distribution by the advice of Jethro: slay ye everyone his men, that were joined unto Baalpeor; all that were under their several districts and jurisdictions, that were found guilty of that crime; these they are ordered to slay, either with their own hands, or rather cause to be slain by proper persons they should appoint to be executioners.
This site's exposition
Take all the heads of the people
on Numbers 25:4-5
Two orders are given and they differ. God tells Moses to take the heads of the people and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, and Moses tells the judges to slay every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor. Readers divide over who the heads are, with Jamieson, Fausset and Brown taking them as the principal offenders in the Peor outrage, and Adam Clarke reading the order as a charge to assemble the chiefs, hold an inquiry, and hang those found guilty. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 is the law that governs a body hanged on a tree, and it requires the body taken down and buried the same day.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
15 And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian. Here is a remarkable contest between wickedness and righteousness, which shall be most bold and resolute; and righteousness carries the day, as no doubt it will at last.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:29w-of-57
Everyone his men - Those under his charge, for as these seventy were chosen to assist Moses in the government, so doubtless the care and management of the people was distributed among them by just and equal proportions.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Slay ye every one his men - In the different departments where you preside over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, slay all the culprits that shall be found.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| מֹשֶׁ֔ה | mosheh | Moses | H4872 → | 765 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| שֹׁפְטֵ֖י | shofetei | [the] judges of | H8199 → | |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| הִרְגוּ֙ | hirgu | kill | H2026 → | 167 times |
| אִ֣ישׁ | ʾish | everyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| אֲנָשָׁ֔יו | ʾanashav | men his | H582 → | 566 times |
| הַנִּצְמָדִ֖ים | hanitzmadim | who have joined themselves | H6775 → | |
| לְבַ֥עַל | levaal | to Baal | H1187 → | 12 times |
| פְּעֽוֹר׃ | peor | Peor | H1187 → | 12 times |
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
מֹשֶׁ֔הMoses
moshehH4872 →765 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
שֹׁפְטֵ֖י[the] judges of
shofeteiH8199 →
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
הִרְגוּ֙kill
hirguH2026 →167 times
אִ֣ישׁeveryone
ʾishH376 →1663 times
אֲנָשָׁ֔יוmen his
ʾanashavH582 →566 times
הַנִּצְמָדִ֖יםwho have joined themselves
hanitzmadimH6775 →
לְבַ֥עַלto Baal
levaalH1187 →12 times
פְּעֽוֹר׃Peor
peorH1187 →12 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Exodus 18:21Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
it leads to
- Acts 6:3
Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them
- Deuteronomy 1:13–17
Choose for yourselves wise, understanding, and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will appoint them as your leaders.”
- 2 Chronicles 19:5–10
He appointed judges in the land, in each of the fortified cities of Judah.
- Deuteronomy 16:18–19
You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
- Acts 6:3
Through
Exodus 22:20If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 18:20
But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 17:2–5
If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His…
- Numbers 25:7–8
On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand,
- Deuteronomy 18:20
Through
Deuteronomy 13:6If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 17:2–7
If a man or woman among you in one of the towns that the LORD your God gives you is found doing evil in the sight of the LORD your God by transgressing His…
- Deuteronomy 17:2–7
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Numbers
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.