Numbers 25:11

Translations

Modern

“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal.

Traditional

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

Literal

“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the sons of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal in their midst, so that I did not consume the sons of Israel in My zeal.

Latin

Phinees filius Eleazari filii Aaron sacerdotis avertit iram meam a filiis Israël: quia zelo meo commotus est contra eos, ut non ipse delerem filios Israël in zelo meo.

Original

Hebrew

English

“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal.

Notes

Numbers 25:10–13

Israel’s identity as the Lord’s people was in great danger because they were unfaithful at this time. Their sin threatened their special relationship with God.

Phinehas showed strong zeal (deep commitment and passion) for God’s holiness and justice. He acted in a way that matched God’s own concern for what is right. Because of this, God gave Phinehas and his descendants a special blessing.

God made a covenant of peace (a lasting promise of peace and favor) with Phinehas. The men in his family who were qualified could serve as priests forever (compare Malachi 2:5).

This covenant was unconditional (it did not depend on future actions). It was similar to the covenant God made with David (see Jeremiah 33:19–22).

Numbers 25:1–18

Israel was camped across the Jordan River from Jericho. They were almost ready to enter the land and begin the conquest. However, at this important moment, they fell into serious sin.

Balaam advised Israel’s enemies to lead the people into sexual immorality and idolatry at Baal-peor (31:16).

He could not harm Israel with a curse, so he chose another way. He led them into sin through lust and the worship of false gods.

The early church faced similar temptations. Believers were warned about idolatry and sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11).

Theme notes and profiles

Balaam Eleazar God’s Covenant with David Holy War

Related verses

Deuteronomy 32:16
They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with abominations.
Psalm 78:58
They enraged Him with their high places and provoked His jealousy with their idols.
Deuteronomy 32:21
They have provoked My jealousy by that which is not God; they have enraged Me with their worthless idols. So I will make them jealous by those who are not a people; I will make them angry by a nation without understanding.
Exodus 20:5
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
2 Corinthians 11:2
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
1 Kings 14:22
And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and by the sins they committed they provoked Him to jealous anger more than all their fathers had done.
1 Corinthians 10:22
Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
Zephaniah 3:8
Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.
Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.
Deuteronomy 29:20
The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. Instead, His anger and jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will fall upon him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
Psalm 106:23
So He said He would destroy them—had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach to divert His wrath from destroying them.

People

Aaron: Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel Eleazar: Son of Aaron, high priest after his father Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Phinehas: Aaron's grandson; zealous priest who opposed idolatry

Glossary

Areli, Arelite Balaam Deuteronomy, Book of Idols, Idolatry Joshua, Book of Malachi, Book of Midian, Midianite Moab, Moabites Numbers, Book of Peor (Place) Phinehas Shittim (Place)

Topics

Anger: Anger of God Decision: Phinehas Fear of God: Phinehas, in Turning Away the Anger of God at the Time of the Plague Israel: Punished by a Plague in Consequence, Twenty-Four Thousand People Die Jealousy: Attributed to God Phinehas: Religious Zeal of, in Killing the Israelitish Woman Who had Committed Abomination Religious Zeal in Punishing Evil People: Phinehas Religious Zeal: Phinehas Under the Law Atonement: Extraordinary Cases of Zeal: Holy: Phinehas Zeal: should be Exhibited for the Glory of God

Numbers 25:11

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?