Numbers 25 12

Numbers 25:12 kjv

Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:

Numbers 25:12 nkjv

Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace;

Numbers 25:12 niv

Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him.

Numbers 25:12 esv

Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace,

Numbers 25:12 nlt

Now tell him that I am making my special covenant of peace with him.

Numbers 25 verses

Numbers 25 12 Meaning

Numbers 25:12 declares God's solemn promise of a "covenant of peace" to Phinehas. This divine pronouncement follows Phinehas's zealous act of executing Zimri and Cozbi, thereby staunching a deadly plague sent as judgment against Israel's idolatry and immorality at Peor. The verse signifies divine commendation, rewarding Phinehas's deep concern for God's honor and ensuring an enduring, unshakeable promise of divine favor and continuity, particularly for his priestly lineage.

Numbers 25 12 Context

Numbers chapter 25 details a severe crisis at Shittim, where Israel committed egregious sin with the Moabite women, engaging in sexual immorality and idolatry by worshipping Baal of Peor. This betrayal of the Lord provoked His fierce anger, resulting in a deadly plague that swept through the Israelite camp, claiming 24,000 lives. In the midst of this disaster, when Moses and the whole congregation were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting, an Israelite man brought a Midianite woman openly into the camp. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, witnessed this and, moved by divine jealousy for the Lord, took swift and decisive action. He pursued the couple into their tent and thrust a spear through both of them, instantly stopping the plague. Numbers 25:12 immediately follows God's acknowledgment of Phinehas's zeal, outlining the divine reward for his decisive action, which restored peace and purity within the camp and appeased God's wrath.

Numbers 25 12 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lakhen): This word signifies a logical consequence or a resultant action. It establishes a direct link between Phinehas's preceding zealous act (stopping the plague) and God's subsequent promise. It underscores that this covenant is a direct, divinely ordained reward for his specific behavior.
• say (אֱמֹר - emor): An imperative verb, directing Moses to declare God's solemn message. This highlights the divine origin and authoritative nature of the covenant being established. It's not a mere suggestion, but a command to convey a direct revelation from God.
• Behold, I give (הִנֵּנִי נֹתֵן - hinneh nothen): The phrase hinneh (behold!) signals immediate importance and emphasis. Combined with nothen (giving), it denotes God's active, certain, and immediate bestowal of the covenant. "Behold, I myself am giving" conveys God's personal and undeniable commitment to the promise.
• to him (ל֥וֹ - lo): Specifically refers to Phinehas. This clarifies that the covenant is a personal and direct promise to him and, by extension, to his lineage, distinct from general covenants with all Israel or the Levites.
• my covenant (בְּרִיתִי֙ - beriti): Berith signifies a solemn, binding agreement, usually initiated by a greater party, God. It implies faithfulness and often involves specific terms, blessings, or obligations. "My covenant" stresses that this pact originates from and belongs to God, carrying His authority and unwavering commitment.
• of peace (שָׁלֽוֹם - shalom): More than just absence of conflict, shalom encompasses wholeness, completeness, well-being, prosperity, health, and security. In this context, it signifies a restoration of divine favor, enduring stability for Phinehas's priestly line, and a cessation of the plague's destructive force. It stands in direct contrast to the unrest, plague, and divine wrath that preceded it.

• "Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give’": This grouping emphasizes God's immediate and direct response to Phinehas's action, framed as a divine decree through Moses. It underlines God's intentionality and authority in establishing the covenant.
• "to him my covenant of peace": This phrase succinctly captures the essence of the promise: a specific, God-initiated, personal agreement with Phinehas, centered on enduring well-being, stability, and divine favor for his lineage. It's a foundational promise for his perpetual priestly service.

Numbers 25 12 Bonus section

The "covenant of peace" granted to Phinehas specifically solidifies the perpetual priestly ministry through his descendants, known historically as the Zadokite line. This is implicitly fulfilled when Zadok, a descendant of Phinehas, becomes the chief priest under Solomon (1 Ki 2:35) after Abiathar, who was of Eli's line (a different branch of Aaron's descendants), was removed. This transition solidified Phinehas's lineage as the enduring, faithful high priestly family. The zealous action of Phinehas foreshadows the zeal of Christ (John 2:17) who, by His ultimate act of zeal for God's holiness on the cross, established a superior, everlasting covenant of peace for all believers, reconciling humanity to God and securing eternal spiritual priesthood for all who believe (Heb 7:24-28, 1 Pet 2:9). The permanence promised to Phinehas is ultimately rooted and fulfilled in the unchanging, eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Numbers 25 12 Commentary

Numbers 25:12 unveils God's profound appreciation and enduring commitment in response to Phinehas's righteous zeal. Faced with widespread apostasy and the ensuing plague, Phinehas did not hesitate but passionately defended God's holiness. His act was not impulsive vigilanteism but a decisive intervention sanctioned by divine righteous indignation against profanity. The "covenant of peace" bestowed upon him represents an unshakeable promise: it guarantees not merely personal tranquility but primarily the lasting stability and perpetuation of his priestly lineage. This covenant is the divine recompense for his zeal, ensuring his descendants would hold an eternal priesthood, distinct even within the wider Levitical priesthood. It highlights that faithfulness and a jealousy for God's glory bring lasting divine blessing and position, transforming divine wrath into profound peace.