Numbers 31:18 (KJV)

What does Numbers 31:18 mean?

Numbers 31:18 instructs the Israelites to spare the lives of the young women among the Midianites who have not had sexual relations with a man, allowing them to be kept alive. This command is given in the context of dividing the spoils after a battle, specifically distinguishing which captives are to be spared.

In this passage, Moses is speaking to the Israelite army after their victory over the Midianites. The verse is part of a larger set of instructions about how to handle the captives and the spoils of war. The focus on young women who "have not known a man by lying with him" is a way of identifying those who are considered virgins, and the command reflects ancient customs regarding war and captives.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 31:18

• אִשָּׁה (ishah; "women"): This word refers to females, but in this context, it is paired with "children" to indicate young girls or unmarried females rather than adult women.
• יֶלֶד (yeled; "children"): This term usually means "child" or "young person," and here it clarifies that the instruction is about young females, not adult women.
• יָדַע (yada; "known"): This verb often means "to know," but in this context, it is a common Hebrew way of referring to sexual relations.
• זָכָר (zakar; "man"): This word means "male" or "man," specifying the gender involved in the sexual relationship mentioned.
• מִשְׁכָּב (mishkav; "lying"): This noun refers to lying down, and when used with "to know," it is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
• חָיָה (chayah; "alive"): This verb means "to live" or "keep alive," highlighting the instruction to spare these individuals.

Why Numbers 31:18 matters

• Numbers 31:18 is often misunderstood without its historical and cultural context; it reflects ancient practices of war and the treatment of captives, not a general moral teaching.
• The verse draws a clear distinction between different groups among the captives, which is important for understanding the rest of the chapter's instructions about dividing the spoils and captives.
• This verse connects to the broader narrative of Israel's conflicts with the Midianites and the specific reasons given earlier in the chapter for the severity of the response, including the events at Peor.