Numbers 25:17

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Numbers 25:17 in Multiple Translations

Berean Standard Bible BSB

“Attack the Midianites and strike them dead.

King James Version KJV

Vex the Midianites, and smite them:

American Standard Version ASV

Vex the Midianites, and smite them;

Bible in Basic English BBE

Take up arms against the Midianites and overcome them;

Free Bible Version FBV

“Attack the Midianites and kill them,

Geneva Bible 1599 GNV

Vexe the Midianites, and smite them:

Young's Literal Translation YLT

'Distress the Midianites, and ye have smitten them,

World English Bible WEB

“Harass the Midianites, and strike them;

Noah Webster Bible WBS

Distress the Midianites, and smite them:

Douay-Rheims 1899 DRV

Let the Madianites find you enemies, and slay you them:

Translation for Translators T4T

“Take your men and attack the Midian people-group and kill them.

Study Highlights

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Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 25:17

BAB

Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Numbers 25:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB

HEB צָר֖וֹר אֶת הַ/מִּדְיָנִ֑ים וְ/הִכִּיתֶ֖ם אוֹתָֽ/ם

צָר֖וֹר tsârar H6887 to confine V-Qal-Ptc

אֶת ʼêth H853 Obj. DirObjM

הַ/מִּדְיָנִ֑ים Midyânîy H4084 Midianite Art | Ngmpa

וְ/הִכִּיתֶ֖ם nâkâh H5221 to smite Conj | V-Hiphil-2mp

אוֹתָֽ/ם ʼêth H853 Obj. DirObjM | Suff

Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 25:17

צָר֖וֹר tsârar H6887 "to confine" V-Qal-Ptc

To rival means to oppose or afflict someone. In the Bible, this word is used to describe the struggles of the Israelites, such as when they were oppressed by their enemies or faced internal conflicts and afflictions.

Definition: to confine, besiege Another spelling of tsur (צוּר "to confine" H6696A)

Usage: Occurs in 52 OT verses. KJV: adversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex. See also: Exodus 12:34; Psalms 8:3; Psalms 6:8.

אֶת ʼêth H853 "Obj." DirObjM

In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.

Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.

הַ/מִּדְיָנִ֑ים Midyânîy H4084 "Midianite" Art | Ngmpa

A Midianite is someone from the tribe of Midian, which was known for its strife and conflict. In the book of Genesis, Moses married a Midianite woman, Zipporah. The Midianites are also mentioned in the book of Numbers.

Definition: Someone from Midian Group of mid.yan (מִדְיָן "Midian" H4080H) § Midianite, of Midian "strife" a member of the tribe of Midian 2) an inhabitant of the land of Midian

Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: Midianite. Compare H4092 (מְדָנִי). See also: Genesis 37:28; Numbers 25:14; Numbers 31:2.

וְ/הִכִּיתֶ֖ם nâkâh H5221 "to smite" Conj | V-Hiphil-2mp

In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.

Definition: 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill 1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast) 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten 1d1) to receive a blow 1d2) to be wounded 1d3) to be beaten 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain 1d5) to be attacked and captured 1d6) to be smitten (with disease) 1d7) to be blighted (of plants)

Usage: Occurs in 461 OT verses. KJV: beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. See also: Genesis 4:15; Joshua 10:20; 1 Samuel 29:5.

אוֹתָֽ/ם ʼêth H853 "Obj." DirObjM | Suff

Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)

Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.

Study Notes — Numbers 25:17

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Context
Cross References
Numbers 25:17 Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Reflection Questions
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 25:17
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 25:17
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 25:17
Trapp's Commentary on Numbers 25:17
Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 25:17
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Numbers 25:17
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 25:17
Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 25:17
Sermons on Numbers 25:17

Context — The Zeal of Phinehas

15And the name of the slain Midianite woman was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family. 16And the LORD said to Moses,

17“Attack the Midianites and strike them dead.

18For they assailed you deceitfully when they seduced you in the matter of Peor and their sister Cozbi, the daughter of the Midianite leader, the woman who was killed on the day the plague came because of Peor.”

Cross References

	Reference	Text (BSB)
1	Numbers 31:1–3	And the LORD said to Moses, “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.” So Moses told the people, “Arm some of your men for war, that they may go against the Midianites and execute the LORD’s vengeance on them.
2	Revelation 18:6	Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.

Numbers 25:17 Summary

This verse means that God told the Israelites to fight against the Midianites because they had tricked them into doing bad things. The Midianites had led the Israelites into idolatry and immorality, and God was not happy about it (Numbers 25:18). This shows us that God takes sin seriously and will judge those who lead others into sin, as also seen in Deuteronomy 32:35. We can learn from this verse to be careful about the influence of others in our lives and to trust in God's sovereignty and judgment, just like it says in Proverbs 3:5-6 to trust in the Lord with all our heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did God command the Israelites to attack the Midianites?

God commanded the Israelites to attack the Midianites because they had deceived and seduced them, leading them into idolatry and immorality, as seen in Numbers 25:18 and also referenced in Genesis 34:30 where deceit led to trouble for the Israelites.

What was the significance of the Midianites' actions in Numbers 25:1-9?

The Midianites' actions were significant because they led the Israelites into idolatry and immorality, causing a plague to come upon them, as seen in Numbers 25:9, reminiscent of the consequences seen in Exodus 32:35 for similar idolatrous behavior.

How does this verse relate to the concept of God's judgment?

This verse relates to the concept of God's judgment because it shows that God will judge those who lead His people into sin, as seen in Numbers 25:17 and also in Deuteronomy 32:35 where God's judgment is declared on those who rebel against Him.

What can we learn from God's command to attack the Midianites?

We can learn that God takes sin seriously and will judge those who lead others into sin, as seen in Numbers 25:17, and also that He desires His people to be holy and separate from the world, as seen in Leviticus 20:26 and 1 Peter 1:16.

Reflection Questions

What are some ways that I may be leading others into sin, and how can I repent and turn from those actions?
How can I balance God's command to love my enemies with His command to judge those who lead others into sin?
What are some modern-day 'Midianites' that may be leading people into sin, and how can I avoid their influence?
How can I trust in God's sovereignty and judgment, even when I don't understand His ways?

Gill's Exposition on Numbers 25:17

Vex the Midianites, and smite them. Go to war with them, and smite them with the sword; not the Moabites, but the Midianites, though they were both confederates against Israel; but God had given a

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 25:17

Vex the Midianites, and smite them: Vex the Midianites. They seem to have been the most guilty parties (cf.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 25:17

And why not the Moabites, who were as guilty, ? Answ. 1. Because God will reserve to himself a liberty of punishing or sparing, according to his own good pleasure. 2. God had a kindness for the Moabites for Lot’ s sake, . 3. God punished the Moabites in another manner, partly, by his own immediate hand, whereby it is probable he cut off those Moabitish women that were guilty of this fact; partly, by a particular and dreadful kind of excommunication, ; and partly, by impunity, which in its consequences is commonly worse and more pernicious than any or all temporal punishments, which none that believes the Bible can deny. 4. It is probable the Midianites were most guilty, as in persuading Balak to send for Balaam, as may be gathered from ,7; so in the reception of Balaam after Balak had dismissed him, , and in further consultation with him, and in contriving the means for the executing of this wicked plot. Smite them, i.e. kill them; in which words, as there is a command to war against them, so there is a promise of success.

Trapp's Commentary on Numbers 25:17

Numbers 25:17 Vex the Midianites, and smite them:Ver. 17. Vex the Midianites.] As more malicious and mischievous than the Moabites; as appears, (1.) By their detaining of Balaam, when the Moabites dismissed him in great displeasure; (2.) By the wickedness of their women, who by Cozbi may seem to have been meretrices meretricissimae, such as afterwards was Julia, Messalina, and that Romish Lucretia, concubine to Pope Alexander VI., of whom Pontanus, “ Hoc tumulo dormit Lucretia nomine, sed re Thais, Alexandri filia, sponsa, nurus. ” Lib. ii. tum.

Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 25:17

(17) Vex the Midianites, and smite them.—The Midianites appear to have been joint actors with the Moabites throughout the whole of the opposition which was offered to Israel, and the chief actors in the wiles by which the Israelites were seduced. As the descendants of Abraham, the father of the faithful, the Midianites ought to have feared and obeyed Abraham’s God, and to have shown brotherly kindness to His people, who were their own kindred. The special judgments of God are directed against the sins of apostacy and of seduction. (Comp. Revelation 2:14; Revelation 18:6.) Although the Moabites were not to be smitten with the Midianites (see Deuteronomy 2:9), nevertheless they did not escape punishment, but were shut out, even to the tenth generation, from the congregation of the Lord. (See Deuteronomy 23:3-4.) Their exemption at this time from the judgment executed upon the Midianites was probably due, not to their descent from Lot (for the Midianites were descended from Abraham), but to the fact that the measure of their sin was not yet full. (Comp. Genesis 15:16.)

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Numbers 25:17

Verse 17. Vex the Midianites, &c.] See this order fulfilled, Numbers 31:1-20. Twelve thousand Israelites attacked the Midianites, destroyed all their cities, slew their five kings, every male, and every grown up woman, and took all their spoils.

Cambridge Bible on Numbers 25:17

16–18. are an editorial note. The compiler who placed side by side the two narratives in Numbers 25:1-15 here combines them in such a way as to represent the Midianites as responsible for tempting Israel in both cases. And at the same time he anticipates the command given to Moses in Numbers 31:1.

Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 25:17

WAR AGAINST MIDIAN , Numbers 25:16-18. 17. Vex the Midianites — Although Midian and Moab were united in bringing Balaam from the east, (Numbers 22:4; Numbers 22:7,) and the daughters of Moab were

Sermons on Numbers 25:17

	Sermon	Description
	Gideon by Norman Grubb	In this sermon, the speaker discusses the story of Gideon from the Bible. Gideon and his men were facing a formidable enemy, but God instructed them to use unconventional methods t
	From the Rejection of That Generation to the Death of Moses by Flavius Josephus	Moses sends an army to destroy the Midianites due to their corrupting influence on the Hebrews. Phineas leads the army and defeats the Midianites, killing their kings and taking a
	(Revelation) the Doom of the Commercial Babylon by Willie Mullan	In this sermon, the speaker begins by praising the Lord and emphasizing His strength and power. The speaker then mentions singing a song of praise to Jesus and expresses gratitude
	Exposition on Psalm 149 by St. Augustine	St. Augustine preaches about the importance of praising the Lord in voice, understanding, and good works, emphasizing the need to sing a new song unto Him. He contrasts the old son