Numbers 21 35

Numbers 21:35 kjv

So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.

Numbers 21:35 nkjv

So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land.

Numbers 21:35 niv

So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.

Numbers 21:35 esv

So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no survivor left. And they possessed his land.

Numbers 21:35 nlt

And Israel killed King Og, his sons, and all his subjects; not a single survivor remained. Then Israel occupied their land.

Numbers 21 verses

Numbers 21 35 Meaning

Numbers 21:35 details the decisive and comprehensive victory of the Israelites over Og, king of Bashan. This verse confirms the complete eradication of Og, his entire lineage, and his people, ensuring no one was left alive. Following this total destruction, the Israelites successfully took full possession of Og's land, signifying the fulfillment of God's promise to grant them the territories of their enemies. It illustrates God's power in battle and His faithfulness in providing for His people's inheritance.

Numbers 21 35 Context

Numbers chapter 21 chronicles pivotal moments in Israel's journey through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. It begins with the defeat of Arad, a Canaanite king, signifying Israel's readiness for conflict under God's guidance. The chapter then shifts to Israel's complaint against God and Moses, leading to the plague of fiery serpents and the provision of the bronze serpent for healing—a testament to God's immediate judgment and provision. Subsequently, the narrative describes Israel's strategic bypass of Moab and Ammon, and their direct confrontations with two formidable Amorite kings: Sihon of Heshbon (verses 21-30) and Og of Bashan (verses 33-35).

The historical and cultural context is one of ancient Near Eastern conquest. Kingdoms asserted dominance through military might, often involving total annihilation of rival groups and taking over their lands. Israel’s actions, however, were divinely mandated. Their conquest was not simply an act of geopolitical expansion but a fulfillment of God’s ancient covenant with Abraham (Gen 12, 15), delivering a promised inheritance. Moreover, it was an act of divine judgment against the inherent wickedness, idolatry, and morally abhorrent practices of the Amorite nations, whose "iniquity... was not yet complete" (Gen 15:16) until this period. The defeat of powerful kings like Og (whose physical stature and iron bed are noteworthy in Deut 3:11) demonstrated Yahweh's unparalleled power over all earthly rulers and their supposed gods, serving as a direct polemic against polytheistic beliefs of the surrounding nations that might attribute their strength to local deities.

Numbers 21 35 Word analysis

• So they struck him down:

  • Hebrew: וַיַּכּוּ (wayyakku) - a form of the verb נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike, smite, kill." This is a strong, active verb implying a decisive and forceful blow leading to death.
  • Significance: Highlights the military action and its absolute result. It emphasizes Israel's agency under God's command.

• and his sons:

  • Hebrew: וְאֶת-בָּנָיו (v'et-bānāw) - "and his sons."
  • Significance: Denotes the termination of his lineage and potential successors, ensuring no claim to the throne or land could remain through direct heirs.

• and all his people:

  • Hebrew: וְאֶת-כָּל-עַמּוֹ (v'et-kol-'ammô) - "and all his people."
  • Significance: Underscores the totality of the destruction. It was not merely the king but the entire population associated with him. This reflects the principle of herem (complete devotion/destruction) applied against certain enemy groups in the promised land, to remove pagan idolatry and prevent corruption of Israel's faith.

• until there was no survivor left:

  • Hebrew: עַד-בְּלִי הִשְׁאִיר-לוֹ שָׂרִיד ('ad-b^elī hish'îr-lô śārîd) - literally "until not a remnant was left to him" or "until he left him no survivor."
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes the absolute completeness of the destruction. It reiterates the herem principle where all inhabitants were to be annihilated, ensuring no one remained who could tempt Israel into idolatry or challenge their claim to the land.

• and they took possession of his land:

  • Hebrew: וַיִּרְשׁוּ אֶת-אַרְצוֹ (wayyiršû 'et-ʾarṣô) - from the verb יָרַשׁ (yarash), meaning "to take possession of, inherit."
  • Significance: This is the desired outcome and ultimate goal of the conquest. It signifies the fulfillment of God's promise of the land to Abraham's descendants and establishes Israel's physical presence and inheritance in Transjordan. The "land" (אַרְצוֹ, 'arṣô) encompasses all territories ruled by Og. This action physically manifested the spiritual reality of God's covenant faithfulness.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So they struck him down, and his sons and all his people, until there was no survivor left": This phrase cumulatively emphasizes the thoroughness and totality of Israel's victory. It reflects God's complete judgment against a wicked kingdom and the complete removal of any threat, both military and ideological (pagan practices). The severity of this judgment is connected to the land's previous defilement (Lev 18:24-28).
• "and they took possession of his land": This segment highlights the outcome directly tied to God's covenant promise. The physical act of taking land symbolizes the spiritual inheritance granted by God. It marks a significant step in the literal fulfillment of the promise given centuries earlier to Abraham (Gen 12:7, 15:18-21), demonstrating God's faithfulness and power to His people.

Numbers 21 35 Bonus section

The victory over Og, king of Bashan, holds additional significance because Og was presented as a particularly formidable adversary. Deuteronomy 3:11 explicitly describes his immense stature and his unusually large iron bedstead (9 cubits long, 4 cubits wide, roughly 13.5 x 6 feet). This detail is often used to emphasize that even a king of such physical dominance and perhaps legendary strength could not withstand the power of the Lord fighting for Israel. The conquest of Og and Sihon provided Israel with their first substantial territories east of the Jordan, forming the tribal lands of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (Num 32; Deut 3:12-17). This acquisition was a foundational step in preparing Israel for the full conquest of Canaan proper, validating God's faithfulness and inspiring confidence for the greater challenges ahead under Joshua. The completeness of the herem acted as a safeguard for Israel's unique covenant relationship with Yahweh, emphasizing that their identity was to be wholly separate from the idolatrous nations around them.

Numbers 21 35 Commentary

Numbers 21:35 encapsulates the final decisive victory over Og, king of Bashan, immediately following the triumph over Sihon. This verse is not merely a record of a military win, but a profound theological statement. It affirms God’s direct involvement and enablement in Israel’s conquests, proving Him as the Divine Warrior fighting on behalf of His people. The "striking down" of Og, his sons, and "all his people" to the point of "no survivor" signifies the application of the herem principle. This was not indiscriminate slaughter but a specific, consecrated act commanded by God, serving as divine judgment against the entrenched wickedness and idolatry of these nations (Deut 9:5, Lev 18:24-28). It also protected Israel from adopting pagan practices and thus ensured their covenant purity.

The immediate follow-up, "and they took possession of his land," confirms the purpose of the war: the fulfillment of God's ancient promise of land to Abraham and his descendants. This physical inheritance represented God's provision and the tangible blessings of obedience. This completeness in conquest prefigures spiritual truths: just as Israel utterly conquered and possessed the physical land, believers in Christ are called to complete victory over spiritual enemies (Eph 6:12) and to take possession of their spiritual inheritance in Him (Col 2:15, Eph 1:3). For instance, facing deeply ingrained sin, the verse encourages "striking it down" completely without leaving "survivors" in one's life, thereby "taking possession" of the freedom and righteousness offered in Christ.