Numbers 31:14 (KJV)

What does Numbers 31:14 mean?

Numbers 31:14 describes Moses’ anger at the military leaders returning from the battle against Midian. His anger is directed at the officers responsible for the army, bringing the account of the battle to a tense meeting with the returning force.

The verse identifies leaders of units of different sizes: thousands and hundreds. After Moses meets the returning army in verse 13, the attention turns to his reaction to its leaders. The next verse gives the reason for his anger: the soldiers had allowed the women to live.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 31:14

• “wroth” — קָצַף (qatsaph): This word means “became angry.” The Hebrew describes Moses’ reaction as anger, rather than merely disappointment or concern.
• “officers” — פָּקַד (paqad): This word can carry the sense of being appointed or placed in charge. Here it points to the leaders who had responsibility over the army.

Why Numbers 31:14 matters

• Moses addresses the people in command, not the returning soldiers as a group. The verse names both “captains over thousands” and “captains over hundreds,” identifying leaders at more than one level.
• The reason for Moses’ anger comes from what happened during the campaign. In verse 15, his question about the women makes that connection clear.
• The verse marks a change from the report of battle to a dispute over the prisoners. The women and children are among those brought back in verse 9, and Moses gives further orders concerning them in verses 17–18.