Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

NUMBERS 31:17KJV
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Numbers 31:17 (KJV)

What does Numbers 31:17 mean?

Numbers 31:17 records Moses commanding the Israelite army to kill every male child and every woman who had slept with a man among the Midianites after a battle. This instruction is part of a larger account of Israel’s war against Midian, reflecting the severe measures taken in the aftermath.

Moses is speaking to the Israelite soldiers who have returned from fighting the Midianites. The context is a response to earlier events where Midianite women had led Israel into idolatry and immorality. The verse’s language is direct and reflects ancient warfare practices, emphasizing a complete removal of those seen as threats to Israel’s spiritual and communal life.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 31:17

  • הָרֹג (harog, H2026) — “kill”: This word is a direct command for lethal action, showing the severity of the instruction. It is used twice in this verse, stressing the totality of what is being ordered.
  • זָכָר (zakar, H2145) — “male”: This term specifically refers to male children, not just adult men, highlighting the comprehensive nature of the command.
  • יָדַע (yada‘, H3045) — “known”: In this context, “known” is a Hebrew way of describing sexual relations. The command singles out women who have had sexual relations, connecting to the earlier narrative where such relationships led Israel astray.
  • מִשְׁכָּב (mishkav, H4904) — “lying”: This word refers to sexual intercourse, clarifying what is meant by “known man by lying with him.” It underlines the specific criteria for which women were to be killed.

Why Numbers 31:17 matters

  • Numbers 31:17 is often misunderstood without its context; knowing it follows an episode where Midianite women led Israel into sin helps explain the severity of the command.
  • The verse shows the ancient world’s harsh realities of warfare and the lengths to which Israel went to protect its identity and covenant relationship.
  • This verse connects to the broader narrative in Numbers 31, where the focus is on purging influences that had previously caused Israel to stumble, not just on military victory.

Where else these words appear

“ones” Hebrew H2945 · used in 42 verses

  • Genesis 34:29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.
  • Numbers 16:27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
  • Joshua 1:14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;

“lying” Hebrew H4904 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
  • Judges 21:12 And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.
  • Psalms 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

“male” Hebrew H2145 · used in 80 verses

  • Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
  • Leviticus 12:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
  • Deuteronomy 4:16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,