Numbers 25 · Verse 12

Numbers 25:12

Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
Numbers 25:12, King James Version

Numbers 25:12 in other translations

BSBDeclare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace.
WEBTherefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace.
ASVWherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
YLT‘Therefore say, Lo, I am giving to him My covenant of peace,
DARBYTherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace!
BBESo say to them that I will make with him an agreement of peace:
WebsterWherefore say, Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace.

What does Numbers 25:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 25:11-13

11-13. Phinehas ... hath turned my wrath away--This assurance was a signal mark of honor that the stain of blood, instead of defiling, confirmed him in office and that his posterity should continue as long as the national existence of Israel.

Read the full comment on Numbers 25:11-13 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 My covenant of peace - of an everlasting priesthood - As the word peace implied all kinds of blessings, both spiritual and temporal, it may mean no more here than the promise of God, to grant him and his family the utmost prosperity in reference to both worlds. The everlasting priesthood refers properly to the priesthood of Christ which was shadowed out by the priesthood under the law; no matter in what family it was continued. Therefore the כהנת עולם kehunnath olam, or eternal priesthood, does not merely refer to any sacerdotal ministrations which should be continued in the family of Phinehas, during the Mosaic dispensation, but to that priesthood of Christ typified by that of Aaron and his successors. The priesthood alone is everlasting, and a covenant or grant of that was made to Phinehas, and his descendants. The Jews reckon twelve high priests of the race of Phinehas, from this time to the days of Solomon, nine more from that time to the captivity, (see 1Chr 6:4, 1Chr 6:15), and fifteen from their return to the time of Antiochus Eupator, the last of whom was Onias, slain by Lysias. Ezra, the great priest and scribe, was of this line, Ezr 7:1, Ezr 7:5. The family of Ithamar, uncle of Phinehas, had the priesthood for about 150 years; but it was restored to the family of Phinehas in the person of Zadok the priest, 1Chr 6:50, in which it continued in the whole about 950 years. Probably the Maccabees were of the same family; but though this is not certain, there is no evidence against it. See Calmet. God therefore sufficiently fulfilled his promise; he gave to him and his descendants almost the utmost temporal length that could be given of that priesthood which is, in its own nature, eternal. Here then the word עולם olam means, not a limited time, but what is eternal in its duration. See the note on Gen 21:33.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 25:6-15

Phinehas, in the courage of zeal and faith, executed vengeance on Zimri and Cozbi. This act can never be an example for private revenge, or religious persecution, or for irregular public vengeance.

Read the full comment on Numbers 25:6-15 →

Numbers 25:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לָכֵ֖ןla.Khen<to> thereforeH3651
אֱמֹ֑ר'e.MorsayH559
הִנְנִ֨יhi.Nihere IH2005
נֹתֵ֥ןno.Ten[am] about to giveH5414
ל֛וֹloto <the> him
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
בְּרִיתִ֖יbe.ri.Ticovenant myH1285
שָׁלֽוֹם\׃sha.LompeaceH7965

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 25:12

  • Malachi 2:4-5

    And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.

  • Isaiah 54:10

    For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

  • Malachi 3:1

    Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

  • Numbers 13:29

    The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

  • Ezekiel 34:25

    And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
13:29; Mal 2:4,5; 3:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 25:11

    Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

  • Numbers 25:12

    Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:

  • Numbers 25:13

    And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

Read all of Numbers 25

Numbers 25:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por tanto di les: He aquí yo establezco mi pacto de paz con él;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		C’est pourquoi dis: Voici, je lui donne mon alliance de paix;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Darum sprich: Siehe, ich gebe ihm meinen Bund des Friedens;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Idcirco loquere ad eum: Ecce do ei pacem fœderis mei,