Numbers 31:17
15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
16 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.
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
18 But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
19 And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh 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
- So now, kill all the boys, as well as every woman who has had relations with a man,
- KJV
- Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
- WEB
- Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.
- ASV
- Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
- DARBY
- And now slay every male among the little ones, and slay every woman that hath known man by lying with him,
- BLB
- And now kill every male among the little ones, and every woman who has known a man by lying with him you must kill.
- ÅB
- Så slå nå ihjel alle guttebarn og alle kvinner som har hatt samleie med menn.
- OTB
- Nå skal dere derfor drepe alle guttebarn, og hver kvinne som har kjent en mann ved samleie.
- B1930
- Så slå nu ihjel alle guttebarn og alle kvinner som har hatt samleie med menn.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 20:16–18
But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
Read in contextJudges 21:11–12
And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 7:2
And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
Read in context