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Numbers 31:18

16 “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.

17 So now, kill all the boys, as well as every woman who has had relations with a man,

but spare for yourselves every girl who has never had relations with a man.

19 All of you who have killed a person or touched the dead are to remain outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and the seventh day you are to purify both yourselves and your captives.

20 And purify every garment and leather good, everything made of goat’s hair, and every article of wood.”

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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
but spare for yourselves every girl who has never had relations with a man.
KJV
But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
WEB
But all the girls, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
ASV
But all the women-children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.
DARBY
but all the children among the women that have not known lying with a man, keep alive for yourselves.
BLB
And every child among the women who have not known the bed of a man, you shall keep alive for yourselves.
ÅB
Men alle unge piker som ikke har hatt samleie med menn, skal dere la leve, og de skal høre dere til.
OTB
Men alle jentebarn som ikke har kjent en mann ved samleie, skal dere la leve for dere selv.
B1930
Men alle unge piker som ikke har hatt samleie med menn, skal I la leve, og de skal høre eder til.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 21:10–14

    When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive,

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  • Leviticus 25:44

    Your menservants and maidservants shall come from the nations around you, from whom you may purchase them.

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  • Deuteronomy 20:14

    But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.

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  • 2 Chronicles 28:8–10

    Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their kinsmen—women, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a great deal of plunder and brought it to Samaria.

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  • Isaiah 14:2

    The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.

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