Numbers 25 5

Numbers 25:5 kjv

And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.

Numbers 25:5 nkjv

So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor."

Numbers 25:5 niv

So Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor."

Numbers 25:5 esv

And Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor."

Numbers 25:5 nlt

So Moses ordered Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death the men under your authority who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor."

Numbers 25 verses

Numbers 25 5 Meaning

This verse details Moses' direct command to the designated leaders, the judges of Israel, instructing them to execute those among their people who had willfully and intimately allied themselves with the idolatrous worship of Baal of Peor. This drastic measure was a response to the grave national sin of apostasy and immorality, which had provoked divine wrath and resulted in a devastating plague among the Israelites.

Numbers 25 5 Context

Numbers chapter 25 opens with Israel dwelling in the plains of Moab, where the men of Israel began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. These women then invited the Israelites to sacrifices to their gods, leading the Israelites to eat the sacrifices and bow down to their deities, specifically "Baal of Peor." This widespread act of apostasy and immorality directly violated the covenant with Yahweh. God’s immediate and fierce anger was ignited, leading to a severe plague. In response, the LORD commanded Moses to take the "heads of the people" and execute the offenders to turn away God’s hot anger. Verse 5 is Moses' direct conveyance of this divine command to the appointed judicial and administrative leaders, underscoring the severity of the sin and the urgency of the response required to prevent the plague from consuming the entire nation.

Numbers 25 5 Word analysis

• And Moses said: Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Mosheh) is God's divinely appointed mediator and leader for Israel. His declaration here is not a personal opinion but the relaying of a direct, authoritative, and non-negotiable command from Yahweh, emphasizing its divine imperative and gravity.
• to the judges of Israel: "Judges" (שֹׁפְטֵי, shofetei, from שָׁפַט, shaphat, meaning "to judge, govern") refers to the tribal elders and civil administrators. These were the appointed authorities and heads of households/tribes responsible for maintaining order, administering justice, and enforcing the Law within their jurisdictions. The command is delegated, indicating that the responsibility for dealing with national sin lay with the leaders.
• Each of you kill: "Kill" (הִרְגוּ, hirgu, from הָרַג, harag, "to slay, murder, butcher"). This is a strong, uncompromising imperative verb, signifying execution as capital punishment. It mandates decisive, severe action against the offenders. It reflects the extreme gravity of the offense in God's eyes and the absolute necessity of purging such evil from the community.
• your men: This phrase identifies the specific targets of the execution: individuals who fell under the jurisdiction or responsibility of the respective judges. It implies that these men were those directly accountable to each judge as part of their tribe, clan, or local administration, placing personal responsibility on the leaders for those under their charge.
• who have yoked themselves: "Yoked themselves" (הַנִּצְמָדִים, hannitzmadim, from צָמַד, tsamad, "to bind, to cleave, to join firmly"). This verb conveys a deep, intimate, and voluntary joining, akin to a strong alliance or commitment. It denotes more than casual participation; it suggests a deep spiritual and even physical betrayal, symbolizing the unholy union and spiritual prostitution of Israel, who were meant to be exclusively Yahweh's.
• to Baal of Peor: "Baal of Peor" (בַּעַל פְּעוֹר, Baʿal Peʿor). Baal ("lord, master") was a prominent Canaanite storm and fertility deity, often associated with rain, harvest, and life. Peor refers to a specific local cult or manifestation of Baal worship in Moab. This worship often involved ritualistic prostitution, licentious acts, and potentially child sacrifice, all practices anathema to Israel's covenant with Yahweh and explicitly forbidden in God's Law. This identifies the specific idolatrous, immoral sin being committed.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • Moses said to the judges of Israel: This grouping emphasizes the structured nature of leadership within Israel and the divine command being channeled through established authority. It shows God’s expectation that leadership enforce His standards.
  • Each of you kill your men: This highlights the distributed yet urgent nature of the judicial command. The responsibility to execute justice was placed squarely on individual leaders, preventing national inertia or widespread refusal to act against their kinsmen or charges.
  • who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor: This defines the core transgression with precision. It emphasizes the profound and intentional betrayal of the covenant through illicit spiritual union with a pagan deity known for its morally depraved worship practices. This "yoking" signifies an abandonment of fidelity to YHWH, marking them as spiritual traitors deserving the severest judgment.

Numbers 25 5 Bonus section

• The extreme measure commanded here illustrates the concept of "holy war" or zeal for God, where severe judgment against specific, egregious sin protects the entire covenant community from divine wrath.
• The incident at Peor served as a foundational cautionary tale for future generations of Israel, emphasizing the consequences of assimilation with pagan cultures and their religious practices, particularly those involving sexual immorality and idolatry.
• The prompt, decisive action taken in this passage contrasts with the slow and often incomplete purges against idolatry seen later in Israel's history, highlighting God's ideal for immediate and thorough obedience to His commands concerning purity.
• The "yoking" terminology implies spiritual adultery against Yahweh, the true "husband" of Israel, mirroring the intimate covenant relationship He desired with His people.

Numbers 25 5 Commentary

Numbers 25:5 captures a moment of severe divine judgment prompted by Israel's profound spiritual apostasy at Peor. Moses' command to the judges underscores the utmost seriousness of idolatry, especially when coupled with sexual immorality, against a holy God. The act of "yoking themselves" indicates a deep, covenant-breaking intimacy with a pagan deity, far beyond mere casual interaction. God's response was swift and uncompromising, demanding capital punishment, not out of mere vengeance, but to purify the community, stem the plague, and reaffirm His exclusive covenant demands. This command, coupled with Phinehas's zealous act (Num 25:7-8), demonstrates that active measures against egregious sin are sometimes necessary to uphold God's holiness and preserve the spiritual integrity of His people, thereby averting further wrath and ensuring the covenant remains honored.