King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Why, these are the ones who - because of Bil'am's advice -caused the people of Isra'el to rebel, breaking faith with ADONAI in the P'or incident, so that the plague broke out among ADONAI's community!
Berean Standard Bible:
“Look, these women caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to turn unfaithfully against the LORD at Peor, so that the plague struck the congregation of the LORD.
American Standard Version:
Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Jehovah.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Behold, these{H2007} caused{H1961} the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}, through the counsel{H1697} of Balaam{H1109}, to commit{H4560} trespass{H4604} against the LORD{H3068} in the matter{H1697} of Peor{H6465}, and there was a plague{H4046} among the congregation{H5712} of the LORD{H3068}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 25:1
- ¶ And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
Numbers 25:9
- And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
2 Peter 2:15
- Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
Revelation 2:14
- But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Deuteronomy 4:3
- Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
Numbers 24:14
- And now, behold, I go unto my people: come [therefore, and] I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.
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,
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 31:16
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Retribution:** Numbers 31:16 reflects the theme of divine retribution, where those who led the Israelites into sin are held accountable for their actions, resulting in a plague as punishment from God.
2. **Consequences of Sin:** The verse underscores the severe consequences of sin, particularly idolatry and sexual immorality, which in this case led to a deadly plague among the Israelites.
3. **Warning Against False Counsel:** It serves as a warning to heed the advice one accepts, as Balaam's counsel led to apostasy and divine judgment.
4. **Holiness of God's People:** The passage emphasizes the importance of the holiness of God's people and the need to remain separate from the practices of pagan nations.
**Historical Context:**
Numbers 31:16 is set within the context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. The verse specifically references the incident at Peor, where the Israelites engaged in idolatrous worship of Baal of Peor and sexual immorality with Moabite women, as a result of the counsel of Balaam (Numbers 25). Balaam was a non-Israelite prophet initially hired by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse Israel, but who was instead used by God to bless them. However, Balaam later advised Balak on how to lead Israel into sin, which proved successful and brought about God's wrath.
The verse is part of a larger narrative where Moses commands the Israelites to take vengeance on the Midianites for their role in the Peor incident. The Midianites, along with the Moabites, had sought to undermine Israel's relationship with God. The plague mentioned in the verse was a direct result of the sin at Peor, which killed many Israelites. This event illustrates the ongoing struggle of the Israelites to remain faithful to God and the dangers of external influences that could lead them astray.
*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: H2007
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הֵנָּה
Transliteration: hênnâh
Pronunciation: hane'-naw
Description: prolongation for הֵן; themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation); [idiom] in, [idiom] such (and such things), their, (into) them, thence, therein, these, they (had), on this side, whose, wherein. - Strong's Number: H1961
There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָיָה
Transliteration: hâyâh
Pronunciation: haw-yaw
Description: a primitive root (compare הָוָא); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary); beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - 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: H1697
There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּבָר
Transliteration: dâbâr
Pronunciation: daw-baw'
Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work. - Strong's Number: H1109
There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בִּלְעָם
Transliteration: Bilʻâm
Pronunciation: bil-awm'
Description: probably from בַּל and עַם; not (of the) people, i.e. foreigner; Bilam, a Mesopotamian prophet; also a place in Palestine; Balaam, Bileam. - Strong's Number: H4560
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָסַר
Transliteration: mâçar
Pronunciation: maw-sar'
Description: a primitive root; to sunder, i.e. (transitively) set apart, or (reflex.) apostatize; commit, deliver. - Strong's Number: H4604
There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַעַל
Transliteration: maʻal
Pronunciation: mah'-al
Description: from מָעַל; treachery, i.e. sin; falsehood, grievously, sore, transgression, trespass, [idiom] very. - 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: H6465
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּעוֹר
Transliteration: Pᵉʻôwr
Pronunciation: peh-ore'
Description: from פָּעַר; a gap; also בַּעַל פְּעוֹר); Peor, a mountain East of Jordan; Baal Peor, (for a deity worshipped there; Peor. See also בֵּית פְּעוֹר. - Strong's Number: H4046
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַגֵּפָה
Transliteration: maggêphâh
Pronunciation: mag-gay-faw'
Description: from נָגַף; a pestilence; by analogy, defeat; ([idiom] be) plague(-d), slaughter, stroke. - Strong's Number: H5712
There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵדָה
Transliteration: ʻêdâh
Pronunciation: ay-daw'
Description: feminine of עֵד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd); assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare עֵדָה.