Numbers 31 17

Numbers 31:17 kjv

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

Numbers 31:17 nkjv

Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man intimately.

Numbers 31:17 niv

Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man,

Numbers 31:17 esv

Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.

Numbers 31:17 nlt

So kill all the boys and all the women who have had intercourse with a man.

Numbers 31 verses

Numbers 31 17 Meaning

This verse contains Moses' instruction to the Israelite commanders to eliminate specific groups among the Midianite captives. It commands the killing of all male children and all women who are not virgins. The severe decree stems from the Midianites' role in seducing Israel into idolatry and immorality at Baal Peor, leading to a divine plague. This action serves as a retribution for their transgression and a measure to prevent future spiritual corruption of Israel.

Numbers 31 17 Context

Numbers chapter 31 describes the execution of divine vengeance against the Midianites, who, at the instigation of Balaam, had enticed Israel into immorality and idolatry with Baal Peor, resulting in a devastating plague that killed 24,000 Israelites (Numbers 25). Moses had ordered a thousand men from each tribe to go to war, accompanied by Phinehas, the priest, known for his zealous act in stopping the plague. The Israelites were victorious, killing all Midianite males, including their kings, and capturing the women, children, and livestock. However, upon their return, Moses was angered because the commanders had preserved the women who had played a central role in leading Israel to sin. This verse (31:17) is Moses' direct and immediate command to rectify what he perceived as a grievous oversight, ensuring the complete removal of the spiritual threat posed by the Midianite women and potential male offspring.

Numbers 31 17 Word analysis

• Now therefore, (וְעַתָּה `ve’attah`): A transitional phrase indicating a conclusion drawn from previous circumstances, in this case, the Midianite women's culpability in leading Israel to sin (Numbers 25) and the divine mandate for retribution. It emphasizes the immediacy and decisiveness of the command.
• kill (הָרְגוּ `haragu`): From the verb הָרַג (`harag`), meaning "to slay," "to kill," "to murder." This is a strong, uncompromising command in the imperative plural, reflecting the severity of the offense and the necessity for a definitive eradication of the spiritual danger. It points to a literal, physical killing.
• every male (כָּל זָכָר `kol zakhar`): "Every" indicates totality; "male" refers to males of all ages among the "little ones" as specified further. This targeting of males ensured that no future generation of Midianite men, who could grow up to propagate the Midianite culture and potentially threaten Israel's religious purity or military security, would survive.
• among the little ones (בַּטָּף `battaph`): "Among the children/little ones." `Taph` (טַף) generally refers to young children, irrespective of sex. The combination specifies "every male child." This measure prevents the rearing of Midianite male heirs who might eventually seek vengeance or perpetuate their idolatrous practices against Israel.
• and kill (וְכֹל הָרְגוּ `vekol haragu`): Repetition of the command to kill, reinforcing the previous directive and applying it to a different group.
• every woman (אִשָּׁה `ishshah`): Refers to the female sex. This universal command is then narrowed by the subsequent clause.
• that hath not known man by lying with him (אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדְעָה מִשְׁכַּב זָכָר `asher lo yada'ah mishkav zakhar`): Literally, "who has not known the lying of a male." This idiomatic phrase clearly indicates a virgin, one who has not experienced sexual intercourse. These particular women were spared from death as spoils of war. The distinction points to the non-virgin women as the primary agents of corruption at Peor. The virgins, presumed not to have been involved in the specific sexual idolatry that brought the plague, were kept, likely as bondswomen (Num 31:18), although this action still presented challenges for future generations in terms of cultural integration and potential for future spiritual compromise (Deut 7:3-4).

Words-group Analysis:

• "kill every male among the little ones": This harsh decree aims at completely eliminating the future male population of the Midianites, perceived as a potential future threat both militarily and culturally. From a divine justice perspective, it reflects the severe consequences of corporate sin and the judgment upon nations steeped in practices anathema to God's holiness. It parallels the judgment seen in other accounts of 'holy war' against wicked nations.
• "and kill every woman that hath not known man by lying with him": This phrase highlights the key differentiator for execution—sexual experience, specifically tied to the previous sin at Baal Peor. The command implies that non-virgin women were those actively involved in the sexual immorality that led to Israel's sin and subsequent plague (Num 25:1-3, 9, 17-18). By singling them out, the text reinforces the immediate danger posed by those already corrupted or capable of further corrupting Israel. The act, though shocking to modern sensibilities, was viewed within its ancient context as a measure to protect the spiritual purity and covenant fidelity of the Israelite community from highly contagious forms of pagan influence and cult prostitution, which were prevalent practices among some Midianites and other Canaanite peoples. The allowance for virgin females (verse 18) indicates a calculated measure rather than indiscriminate slaughter.

Numbers 31 17 Bonus section

The severity of this command can be understood within the theological framework of ancient Israel, where purity (spiritual, ritual, and physical) was paramount for maintaining the covenant relationship with God. The Midianites' offense was not merely a military skirmish but a spiritual war. Their practices, specifically associated with cultic prostitution and worship of Baal Peor, directly challenged Israel's monotheism and unique covenant. Moses' command, therefore, aimed to remove not just a military threat, but a contagion that jeopardized Israel's very identity as God's holy nation. The distinction between virgins and non-virgins points to the specific danger perceived from those women who had engaged in the practices (cultic or otherwise) that enticed Israel. While morally challenging from a human perspective, from a divine perspective within the narrative, this act was a radical measure to sever a cancerous spiritual limb to save the whole body of Israel, ensuring the preservation of the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come.

Numbers 31 17 Commentary

Numbers 31:17 reflects Moses' stringent command, arising from a divine mandate, to utterly destroy specific Midianite populations following their entanglement with Israel at Baal Peor. This drastic measure underscores God's severe judgment against idolatry and sexual immorality, particularly when it directly corrupts His covenant people. The command to kill all male children removed any future generation that could perpetuate the Midianite threat or beliefs. The focus on eliminating non-virgin women, who were likely instrumental in the Peor seduction, reveals a specific punitive justice targeting those deemed directly responsible for the spiritual contagion. While difficult to reconcile with modern ethics, within the Old Testament narrative of divine retribution and the imperative for Israel's holiness and separation from corrupting pagan influences, it signifies the profound consequences of sin and God's uncompromising commitment to His people's purity and fidelity. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the spiritual danger posed by compromising with the world's systems of idolatry and immorality.