Numbers 25 16

Numbers 25:16 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 25:16 nkjv

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

Numbers 25:16 niv

The LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 25:16 esv

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Numbers 25:16 nlt

Then the LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 25 verses

Numbers 25 16 Meaning

Numbers 25:16 acts as a critical transitional verse, introducing a new divine command from the Lord to Moses. It signals a shift in focus from the internal purge of sin within Israel, initiated by Phinehas's zealous act, to a broader, external judgment against the Midianites. This verse establishes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the subsequent instruction for holy war against those who led Israel into apostasy and immorality at Baal-Peor.

Numbers 25 16 Context

Numbers 25:16 immediately follows the highly dramatic and pivotal events at Baal-Peor. Israel, while encamped in Shittim, fell prey to idolatry and sexual immorality with Moabite and Midianite women, which led to a devastating plague that killed 24,000 people. Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, acted decisively to stop the plague by executing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who publicly flaunted their sin. This zealous act was highly commended by the Lord (Num 25:10-13). Numbers 25:16 transitions from God's response to Phinehas's individual action to a new, broader directive. It shifts the divine wrath from Israel's internal purges (the plague and Phinehas's action) to an explicit command for external vengeance against the Midianites, who were identified as primary instigators of Israel's defection. The historical and cultural context underscores the seriousness of covenant breaking, idolatry, and syncretism, which were pervasive temptations for ancient Near Eastern peoples. This command is a strong polemic against the "holy" practices of surrounding nations that often involved temple prostitution and pagan rituals, asserting God's demand for exclusive worship and moral purity.

Numbers 25 16 Word analysis

• Then (וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר, vaydabber): Connects the command to the immediate aftermath of Phinehas's action and the cessation of the plague. It indicates sequence and continuity of divine attention and action following Israel's great sin and the demonstration of zeal.
• the LORD (יְהוָה֙, YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His unchanging character, righteousness, and His active involvement in the affairs of His people. This underscores the divine authority and unchallengeable nature of the forthcoming instruction, ensuring it is not a human decision but a direct mandate from the sovereign God of Israel.
• said (יְהוָה֙, vaydabber, lit. "and spoke"): Indicates direct verbal communication. God's spoken word carries creative and judicial power. This formula is common in Scripture to denote divine initiation and solemn commands.
• to Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה, el-Moshe): Moses remains the divinely appointed mediator and recipient of God's instructions to Israel, reinforcing the hierarchical structure of divine revelation and the process of leading the nation.
• (Implicit): The verse ends here in the original text, implicitly pointing forward to the content of God's directive, which is revealed in the very next verse (Num 25:17). This emphasizes that the immediate focus of this verse is the issuance of the command rather than its content.

Words-group analysis

• Then the LORD said to Moses,: This standard introductory formula in prophetic and legal texts marks a direct revelation from God. It highlights that the ensuing command (found in Numbers 25:17) is not Moses's initiative but a direct, authoritative instruction from YHWH, reflecting His righteous judgment and will to maintain the covenant's purity. It establishes divine precedent and emphasizes the absolute necessity of the impending action against the Midianites, building on God's holy character and His response to the recent spiritual adultery and idolatry.

Numbers 25 16 Bonus section

The brevity of Numbers 25:16 is noteworthy, placing absolute emphasis on the divine origin of the subsequent command against the Midianites. This immediate transition from a miraculous plague cessation to a direct war order reveals the intensity of God's hatred for syncretism and idolatry. The Midianites, through their women and the counsel of Balaam (later revealed in Num 31:16), were instruments of the "teaching of Balaam" that lured Israel into immorality and the eating of sacrificed food. Therefore, the command to "harass the Midianites and strike them" (Num 25:17), which stems from verse 16, is not merely political retribution but a necessary act of cleansing and separation, defending the very sanctity and distinctiveness of God's people in the promised land.

Numbers 25 16 Commentary

Numbers 25:16, though brief, is profoundly significant as the gateway to God's definitive response to the Baal-Peor apostasy. It highlights that the horrific plague and Phinehas's immediate intervention were not the end of God's dealings with the matter. Rather, this verse initiates a phase of punitive action against the external parties who enticed Israel into sin. It reveals God's unyielding intolerance for sin, particularly idolatry and sexual immorality, which directly threaten His covenant relationship with Israel. The command underscores that spiritual warfare extends beyond Israel's internal purity; it also requires confrontation with the external forces that seek to defile and draw away His people. This verse therefore sets the stage for a divine war of vengeance, crucial for purifying the camp and ensuring future covenant fidelity. This specific event and divine instruction served as a warning, for future generations, against compromise with foreign gods and practices, especially when they posed an existential threat to Israel's holiness.