Numbers 25 · Verse 3

Numbers 25:3

And Israel joined himself unto Baal–peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
Numbers 25:3, King James Version

Numbers 25:3 in other translations

BSBSo Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.
WEBIsrael joined himself to Baal Peor, and the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.
ASVAnd Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel.
YLTand Israel is joined to Baal-Peor, and the anger of Jehovah burneth against Israel.
DARBYAnd Israel joined himself to Baal-Peor; and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel.
BBESo Israel had relations with the women of Moab in honour of the Baal of Peor: and the Lord was moved to wrath against Israel.
WebsterAnd Israel joined himself to Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

What does Numbers 25:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor--Baal was a general name for "lord," and Peor for a "mount" in Moab. The real name of the idol was Chemosh, and his rites of worship were celebrated by the grossest obscenity. In participating in this festival, then, the Israelites committed the double offense of idolatry and licentiousness.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor - The same as the Priapus of the Romans, and worshipped with the same obscene rites as we have frequently had occasion to remark. The joining to Baal-peor, mentioned here, was probably what St. Paul had in view when he said, 2Cor 6:14 : Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. And this joining, though done even in a matrimonial way, was nevertheless fornication, (see Rev 2:14), as no marriage between an Israelite and a Midianite could be legitimate, according to the law of God. See the propositions at the close of the preceding chapter Num 24:25 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 25:1-5

The friendship of the wicked is more dangerous than their enmity; for none can prevail against God's people if they are not overcome by their inbred lusts; nor can any enchantment hurt them, but the enticements of worldly interests and pleasures. Here is the sin of Israel, to which they are enticed by the daughters of Moab and Midian. Those are our worst enemies who draw us to sin, for that is the greatest mischief…

Read the full comment on Numbers 25:1-5 →

Numbers 25:3 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.

וַיִּצָּ֥מֶדvai.yi.Tza.medand it joined itselfH6775
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
לְבַ֣עַלle.Va.'alto BaalH1187
פְּע֑וֹרpe.'orPeorH1187
וַיִּֽחַר\־vai.yi.char-and it burnedH2734
אַ֥ף'af[the] anger ofH639
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃be.Yis.ra.'Elon IsraelH3478

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

Cross references for Numbers 25:3

  • Psalms 106:28-29

    They joined themselves also unto Baal–peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead. Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.

  • Joshua 22:17

    Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord,

  • Hosea 9:10

    I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baal–peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

  • Judges 2:20

    And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

  • Judges 2:14

    And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

  • Psalms 90:11

    Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

  • Jeremiah 17:4

    And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.

  • Deuteronomy 4:3-4

    Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baal–peor: for all the men that followed Baal–peor, the Lord thy God hath destroyed them from among you. But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day.

  • Numbers 25:5

    And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal–peor.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
joined.
5; De 4:3,4; Jos 22:17; Ps 106:28,29; Ho 9:10
the anger.
Jos 22:17; Jud 2:14,20; Ps 90:11; Jer 17:4

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

Context

  • Numbers 25:2

    And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.

  • Numbers 25:3

    And Israel joined himself unto Baal–peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

  • Numbers 25:4

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel.

Read all of Numbers 25

Numbers 25:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y allegóse el pueblo á Baal-peor; y el furor de Jehová se encendió contra Israel.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Israël s’attacha à Baal-Péor; et la colère de l’ Éternel s’embrasa contre Israël.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und Israel hängte sich an den Baal-Peor; und der Zorn Jehovas entbrannte wider Israel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Initiatusque est Israël Beelphegor: et iratus Dominus,