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.
Original Language Analysis
בְּנֵֽי
from the children
H1121
בְּנֵֽי
from the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 22
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בְּנֵֽי
from the children
H1121
בְּנֵֽי
from the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 22
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
הַכֹּהֵ֗ן
the priest
H3548
הַכֹּהֵ֗ן
the priest
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
6 of 22
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
הֵשִׁ֤יב
away
H7725
הֵשִׁ֤יב
away
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
7 of 22
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
חֲמָתִי֙
my wrath
H2534
חֲמָתִי֙
my wrath
Strong's:
H2534
Word #:
9 of 22
heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
מֵעַ֣ל
H5921
מֵעַ֣ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
10 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בְּנֵֽי
from the children
H1121
בְּנֵֽי
from the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
11 of 22
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
12 of 22
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
14 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
17 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
כִלִּ֥יתִי
them that I consumed
H3615
כִלִּ֥יתִי
them that I consumed
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
18 of 22
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
19 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּנֵֽי
from the children
H1121
בְּנֵֽי
from the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
20 of 22
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
Cross References
Psalms 78:58For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.Deuteronomy 32:21They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.Deuteronomy 32:16They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.Exodus 20:5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;1 Corinthians 10:22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?2 Corinthians 11:2For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.1 Kings 14:22And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.Zephaniah 1:18Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.Zephaniah 3:8Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Historical Context
Numbers 25 records Israel's apostasy at Shittim on the plains of Moab, just before entering Canaan. Balaam's inability to curse Israel (Numbers 22-24) was followed by his evil counsel: seduce Israel into immorality and idolatry with Midianite and Moabite women (Numbers 31:16, Revelation 2:14). The plague killed 24,000 Israelites (25:9). Phinehas, Aaron's grandson and son of Eleazar the high priest, executed summary judgment on an Israelite chief and Midianite princess engaged in public fornication and Baal worship (25:6-8, 14-15). This bold action stopped the plague and earned Phinehas God's covenant of peace and eternal priesthood (25:12-13). Later, Phinehas served as high priest and is commended in Scripture for his zeal (Psalm 106:30-31, 1 Maccabees 2:26, 54). His action illustrates the principle that love for God sometimes requires opposing evil decisively.
Questions for Reflection
- How can we cultivate zeal for God's glory without falling into self-righteous judgmentalism?
- What does God's commendation of Phinehas teach about the place of holy anger against sin?
- How should church discipline function today to protect God's honor and the community's purity?
- In what ways does this passage challenge contemporary tolerance that accommodates sin?
- What is the difference between godly jealousy (for God's honor) and sinful jealousy (self-centered envy)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God's commendation of Phinehas reveals the principle of righteous zeal for God's glory. The phrase 'hath turned my wrath away' uses the Hebrew 'heshiv chamati' (הֵשִׁיב חֲמָתִי), meaning to turn back or avert My burning anger. Phinehas' decisive action (executing an Israelite man and Midianite woman engaged in flagrant immorality and idolatry, 25:7-8) demonstrated the kind of jealousy for God's honor that satisfied divine justice. The phrase 'while he was zealous for my sake' translates 'beqano et-qinati' (בְּקַנְאוֹ אֶת־קִנְאָתִי), literally 'in his being zealous with my jealousy'—Phinehas' zeal reflected God's own jealous love for His people's purity. This prevented God from consuming Israel 'in my jealousy' (25:11). God's 'jealousy' isn't petty envy but passionate commitment to His people's exclusive devotion, like a husband's rightful expectation of marital faithfulness. Phinehas' reward was a covenant of perpetual priesthood (25:12-13). This narrative is difficult for modern readers who value tolerance above holiness, but it demonstrates that God's people must actively oppose sin that defiles the community and dishonors God.