Exodus 32:27
25 Moses saw that the people were out of control, for Aaron had let them run wild and become a laughingstock to their enemies.
26 So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.
He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”
28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.
29 Afterward, Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so the LORD has bestowed a blessing on you this day.”
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- He told them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each of you men is to fasten his sword to his side, go back and forth through the camp from gate to gate, and slay his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.’”
- KJV
- And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.
- WEB
- He said to them, “The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Every man put his sword on his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and every man kill his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.’”
- ASV
- And he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.
- DARBY
- And he said to them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Put every man his sword upon his hip; go and return from gate to gate through the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbour.
- BLB
- And he said to them, “Thus says YHWH God of Israel, ‘Put each man his sword on his side, pass over and turn back from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each man kill his brother, and each man his companion, and each man his neighbor.’”
- ÅB
- Og han sa til dem: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Hver binde sitt sverd ved sin lend! Gå så fram og tilbake fra port til port i leiren og slå ihjel hver sin bror og hver sin venn og hver sin frende!
- OTB
- Han sa til dem: «Dette er hva Herren, Israels Gud, sier: ‘Hver mann spenne et sverd til sin side. Gå frem og tilbake gjennom leiren fra den ene enden til den andre, hver mann drepe sin bror, venn og nabo.’»
- B1930
- Og han sa til dem: Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Hver binde sitt sverd ved sin lend! Gå så frem og tilbake fra port til port i leiren og slå ihjel hver sin bror og hver sin venn og hver sin frende!
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Numbers 25:5
So Moses told the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill all of his men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.”
Read in contextLuke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 33:8–9
Concerning Levi he said: “Give Your Thummim to Levi and Your Urim to Your godly one, whom You tested at Massah and contested at the waters of Meribah.
Read in contextNumbers 25:7–12
On seeing this, Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, got up from the assembly, took a spear in his hand,
Read in contextExodus 32:29
Afterward, Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for service to the LORD, since each man went against his son and his brother; so the LORD has bestowed a blessing on you this day.”
Read in context2 Corinthians 5:16
So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
Read in contextExodus 32:26
So Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites gathered around him.
Read in context