And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

NUMBERS 25:4KJV
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Numbers 25:4 (KJV)

What does Numbers 25:4 mean?

Numbers 25:4 presents the LORD’s command to Moses as a response to Israel’s joining in the worship of Baal. The KJV describes a public punishment involving the people’s leaders, so that the LORD’s fierce anger will turn away from Israel.

The words “against the sun” picture the punishment taking place in daylight, where people could see it. “Before the LORD” places the act in the LORD’s sight, rather than treating it as a private matter.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 25:4

  • “heads” — רֹאשׁ (rosh): This word can mean a physical head or a leader. Here, “heads of the people” refers to people in positions of leadership.
  • “up” — יָקַע (yaqaʿ): The Hebrew word is associated with exposing or hanging someone publicly. Its exact form of punishment is uncertain; the KJV renders the command “hang them up.”

Why Numbers 25:4 matters

  • The reason for the command is the worship described just before it. Numbers 25:3 says Israel joined itself to Baal-peor, and the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel.
  • The surrounding account distinguishes the leaders addressed in verse 4 from those identified as offenders in verse 5. Moses tells Israel’s judges to kill the men under them who had joined themselves to Baal-peor.

Where else these words appear

“up” Hebrew H3363 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
  • 2 Samuel 21:9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
  • Jeremiah 6:8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

“before” Hebrew H5048 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
  • 1 Kings 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
  • Nehemiah 13:21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

“fierce” Hebrew H2740 · used in 40 verses

  • Exodus 15:7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
  • Job 20:23 When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
  • Jeremiah 25:38 He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

“sun” Hebrew H8121 · used in 127 verses

  • Genesis 15:12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
  • 2 Samuel 3:35 And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
  • Ecclesiastes 5:18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.