King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
Complete Jewish Bible:
With Isra'el thus joined to Ba'al-P'or, the anger of ADONAI blazed up against Isra'el.
Berean Standard Bible:
So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.
American Standard Version:
And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Israel{H3478} joined{H6775} himself unto Baalpeor{H1187}: and the anger{H639} of the LORD{H3068} was kindled{H2734} against Israel{H3478}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Joshua 22:17
- [Is] the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,
Hosea 9:10
- I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: [but] they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto [that] shame; and [their] abominations were according as they loved.
Psalms 106:28
- They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Psalms 106:29
- Thus they provoked [him] to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
Psalms 90:11
- Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, [so is] thy wrath.
Judges 2:14
- And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Jeremiah 17:4
- And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, [which] shall burn for ever.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 25:3
Numbers 25:3 is a part of the narrative describing a significant event in the history of the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land. The verse captures a moment when the people of Israel began to worship Baal, a Canaanite god, at Peor, hence the name Baalpeor. This act of idolatry was in direct disobedience to the commandments God had given them, particularly the first two commandments which prohibit the worship of other gods and the making of idols.
**Themes:**
1. **Idolatry:** The Israelites' engagement with the worship of Baal illustrates the recurring theme of idolatry in the Old Testament, highlighting the temptation and spiritual adultery that occurs when the people turn away from the God of Israel to foreign deities.
2. **Divine Jealousy and Wrath:** The verse reflects God's passionate and exclusive claim on His people, and His response of anger when they betray their covenant relationship with Him.
3. **Covenant and Fidelity:** The incident underscores the importance of the covenant between God and Israel, and the necessity of Israel's faithfulness to God's laws and statutes.
4. **Spiritual Leadership and Accountability:** The broader context of the chapter shows the role of spiritual leadership in guiding the people and the need for accountability to prevent such apostasy.
**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** This event takes place towards the end of the Israelites' forty-year wandering in the wilderness, just before they enter the land of Canaan.
- **Location:** The worship of Baalpeor occurred in the region of Moab, where the Israelites had stopped after their victory over the Amorites.
- **Cultural Context:** The Moabites, descended from Lot, practiced their own religious rituals, which included the worship of Baal. The Israelites' participation in these rites reflects the cultural and religious influences they were exposed to and the challenges they faced in maintaining their unique identity and religious purity.
- **Consequences:** The immediate consequence of this idolatry was a plague sent by God, which is described later in the chapter. Moses and the judges of Israel are instructed to execute those who have yoked themselves to Baalpeor, which begins to halt the spread of the idolatrous worship and the plague.
In summary, Numbers 25:3 highlights the themes of idolatry, divine wrath, covenant fidelity, and the importance of spiritual leadership within the historical context of the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land and their interactions with the native peoples and their religious practices.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H6775
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָמַד
Transliteration: tsâmad
Pronunciation: tsaw-mad'
Description: a primitive root; to link, i.e. gird; figuratively, to serve, (mentally) contrive; fasten, frame, join (self). - Strong's Number: H1187
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּעַל פְּעוֹר
Transliteration: Baʻal Pᵉʻôwr
Pronunciation: bah'-al peh-ore'
Description: from בַּעַל and פְּעוֹר; Baal of Peor; Baal-Peor, a Moabitish deity; Baal-peor. - Strong's Number: H639
There are 306 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַף
Transliteration: ʼaph
Pronunciation: af
Description: from אָנַף; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire; anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H2734
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָרָה
Transliteration: chârâh
Pronunciation: khaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root (compare חָרַר); to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy; be angry, burn, be displeased, [idiom] earnestly, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, [idiom] very, be wroth. See תַּחָרָה.