Numbers 25 15

Numbers 25:15 kjv

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.

Numbers 25:15 nkjv

And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a father's house in Midian.

Numbers 25:15 niv

And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Kozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

Numbers 25:15 esv

And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was the tribal head of a father's house in Midian.

Numbers 25:15 nlt

The woman's name was Cozbi; she was the daughter of Zur, the leader of a Midianite clan.

Numbers 25 verses

Numbers 25 15 Meaning

Numbers 25:15 meticulously identifies Cozbi, the Midianite woman killed by Phinehas, as the daughter of Zur, a prominent chieftain. This identification highlights the high status of the individuals involved in the defilement, underscoring that their transgression was not an isolated act of common immorality but a deliberate, high-level religious and moral affront, intensifying the gravity of the sin against God's covenant people. The detailed naming serves to underscore the official and deliberate nature of the judgment against those who led Israel astray into idolatry and sexual immorality.

Numbers 25 15 Context

Numbers chapter 25 details a grave apostasy committed by Israel while encamped in Shittim. They engaged in sexual immorality with Moabite and Midianite women, who then invited them to sacrifices to their gods, notably Baal of Peor. This act of spiritual unfaithfulness, termed "yoking himself to Baal of Peor," ignited God's fierce anger, resulting in a devastating plague that killed 24,000 Israelites. In this context, Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, acted with zealous righteous indignation. He pierced through an Israelite leader, Zimri, and a Midianite princess, Cozbi, as they publicly engaged in this illicit act. The precise identification of Cozbi as "daughter of Zur," a head of a father's house, elevates the significance of the act. It reveals that the sin was not merely by common individuals but involved prominent leaders from both sides, indicating a high-level spiritual and perhaps even political seduction, amplifying the insult to God and the magnitude of Phinehas's judgment.

Numbers 25 15 Word analysis

• And the name of the Midianite woman:

  • "name" (שֵׁם, shem): The act of naming, especially here, confers significance and identity, confirming the specificity and deliberate nature of the divine record.
  • "Midianite woman" (הַמִּדְיָנִית, ha-Midyanit): Explicitly identifies her ethnicity and tribal affiliation. Midianites, descendants of Abraham through Keturah, were semi-nomadic peoples frequently interacting with Israel, often antagonistic, and here, spiritually corrupting. This links directly to the "wiles" mentioned later (Num 25:18).

• who was killed:

  • "killed" (הֻכָּה, hukka): Literally "smitten" or "struck down." This is the passive form of a verb often used for divine or divinely authorized judgment, implying a definitive, decisive, and justified execution, not merely a murder. It indicates an immediate, forceful action that ceased the spiritual rebellion.

• was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur:

  • "Cozbi" (כָּזְבִּי, Kozbi): This name is phonetically significant, resembling the Hebrew root kazav (כָּזָב), meaning "lie," "deception," or "falsehood." Given her role in enticing Israel to spiritual defilement and idolatry, her name prophetically or ironically underscores the deceptive nature of the temptation and the spiritual falsehood of the idols. It may also suggest she herself was "my lie" or a tool of deceit.
  • "Zur" (צוּר, Tzur): This name means "rock" or "fortress." It's a common, strong name. The irony is poignant as this "rock" of a man facilitated his daughter in leading others away from the True Rock, God Himself (Deut 32:4, Psa 18:2). Later, Zur is explicitly named among the five kings/princes of Midian whom Israel killed in divine judgment (Num 31:8).

• he was head of the peoples of a father's house in Midian:

  • "head" (רֹאשׁ, rosh): Denotes a chief, leader, or primary authority.
  • "peoples of a father's house" (עַמּוֹת בֵּית-אָב, ammot beit-av): This is a crucial phrase. "Father's house" (beit-av) refers to a basic socio-familial unit or clan. "Peoples" (ammot), here, refers to different clans or kin-groups. Thus, Zur was not just a head of one single household or even one simple clan but exercised authority over a confederation of "peoples" or numerous clans/tribal groups. This designates him as a significant, high-ranking ruler, perhaps equivalent to a tribal king or prince, reinforcing the idea that Cozbi was a princess.
  • "in Midian": Clearly situates his authority within the Midianite tribal structure.

Numbers 25 15 Bonus section

The detailed genealogical and status identification of Cozbi and Zur highlights several critical points beyond immediate understanding:

• Political Nature of Temptation: The high rank of Cozbi suggests that the Midianite's tactics went beyond casual encounters. It points to a deliberate strategy, possibly political in nature, designed to weaken Israel from within through spiritual and moral corruption, echoing the counsel of Balaam (Num 31:16, Rev 2:14).
• Forensic Detail: The meticulous naming provides a level of legal or forensic detail to the narrative, confirming the exactness of the divine record and the justification of Phinehas's action. It’s as if a courtroom record is being established, explicitly identifying the perpetrator from a place of high authority.
• Responsibility of Leadership: This verse strongly emphasizes that leaders, both within Israel (Zimri) and among adversaries (Zur), bear immense responsibility for the actions and spiritual direction of their "peoples." Their sin or complicity carries a heavier weight and greater consequences.
• Spiritual Warfare Implications: The mention of Cozbi’s name possibly meaning "deception" directly connects to the concept of spiritual warfare. The enemy’s strategies often involve cunning, high-level influences to lead God’s people into false worship and immoral living, which breaks the covenant with God.

Numbers 25 15 Commentary

Numbers 25:15 is a vital verse within the narrative of Israel's sin at Peor and Phinehas's zealous intervention. By providing the precise identity and prestigious lineage of Cozbi, the Midianite woman, the text amplifies the gravity of the spiritual and moral transgression. She was not a casual temptress but a royal figure, a "princess," signifying that the spiritual defilement was no mere spontaneous lapse but potentially a high-level strategic enticement or state-sponsored spiritual warfare by the Midianites against Israel. Her father, Zur, was a prominent chief or even a regional king, implying that the Midianite leadership itself was actively involved in corrupting Israel's relationship with God. Phinehas's act of piercing Zimri and Cozbi thus stands not only as an execution of justice for individual sin but as a profound judicial judgment against the high leadership complicit in orchestrating spiritual prostitution and idolatry, demonstrating God's unwavering demand for holiness, especially concerning the covenant relationship and the conduct of leaders. It underscores that leading God's people astray carries severe divine retribution.