Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.
NUMBERS 31:17KJVWhat 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.