Baal-Peor and the Zeal of Phinees
Numbers 25
Israel joins itself to the daughters of Moab and worships the idol Beel-phegor, provoking the Lord's anger and a plague among the people. Phinees the son of Eleazar puts a stop to the plague by killing an Israelite man and a Madianitish woman, and the Lord grants him a covenant of peace and a perpetual priesthood.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonWHILE Israel abode at Sattin, the people profaned themselves to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab,
BrentonAnd Israel sojourned in Sattin, and the people profaned itself by going a-whoring after the daughters of Moab.
GreekΚαὶ κατέλυσεν Ἰσραὴλ ἐν Σαττεὶν, καὶ ἐβεβηλώθη ὁ λαὸς ἐκπορνεῦσαι εἰς τὰς θυγατέρας Μωάβ.
KJVAnd Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
JPSAnd Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab.
2
Thomsonwho invited them to the sacrifices of their idols; and the people ate of their sacrifices, and worshipped their idols,
BrentonAnd they called them to the sacrifices of their idols; and the people ate of their sacrifices, and worshipped their idols.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσαν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰς θυσίας τῶν εἰδώλων αὐτῶν· καὶ ἔφαγεν ὁ λαὸς τῶν θυσιῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ προσεκύνησαν τοῖς εἰδώλοις αὐτῶν·
KJVAnd they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
JPSAnd they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
3
Thomsonand Israel consecrated himself to Belphegor. Whereupon the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel;
BrentonAnd Israel consecrated themselves to Beel-phegor; and the Lord was very angry with Israel.
GreekΚαὶ ἐτελέσθη Ἰσραὴλ τῷ Βεελφεγώρ· καὶ ὠργίσθη θυμῷ Κύριος τῷ Ἰσραήλ.
KJV—
JPS—
4
Thomsonand the Lord said to Moses, Take all those leaders of the people and make a public example of them for the Lord, in the face of the sun; so shall the wrath of the Lord be turned away from Israel.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to Moses, Take all the princes of the people, and make them examples of judgment for the Lord in the face of the sun, and the anger of the Lord shall be turned away from Israel.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος τῷ Μωυσῇ, λάβε πάντας τοὺς ἀρχηγοὺς τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ παραδειγμάτισον αὐτοὺς Κυρίῳ κατέναντι τοῦ ἡλίου, καὶ ἀποστραφήσεται ὀργὴ θυμοῦ Κυρίου ἀπὸ Ἰσραήλ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up unto the LORD in face of the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.’
5
ThomsonThen Moses said to the tribes of Israel, Kill ye, every one, him of his family, who hath consecrated himself to Belphegor.
BrentonAnd Moses said to the tribes of Israel, Slay ye every one his friend that is consecrated to Beel-phegor.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Μωυσῆς ταῖς φυλαῖς Ἰσραήλ, ἀποκτείνατε ἕκαστος τὸν οἰκεῖον αὐτοῦ τὸν τετελεσμένον τῷ Βεελφεγώρ.
KJVAnd Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.
JPSAnd Moses said unto the judges of Israel: ‘Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto the Baal of Peor.’
6
ThomsonAnd behold there came a man of the children of Israel, who conducted his brother to a Madianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and before all the congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony.
BrentonAnd, behold, a man of the children of Israel came and brought his brother to a Madianitish woman before Moses, and before all the congregation of the children of Israel; and they were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of witness.
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνθρωπος τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ ἐλθὼν προσήγαγε τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ πρὸς τὴν Μαδιανίτιν ἐναντίον Μωυσῆ, καὶ ἐναντίον πάσης συναγωγῆς υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ· αὐτοὶ δὲ ἔκλαιον παρὰ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου.
KJVAnd, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
JPSAnd, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting.
7
ThomsonUpon seeing this, Phineas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, started up from among the congregation, and taking a javelin in his hand,
BrentonAnd Phinees the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, and rose out of the midst of the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand,
GreekΚαὶ ἰδὼν Φινεὲς υἱὸς Ἐλεάζαρ υἱοῦ Ἀαρὼν τοῦ ἱερέως, ἐξανέστη ἐκ μέσου τῆς συναγωγῆς, καὶ λαβὼν σειρομάστην ἐν τῇ χειρὶ,
KJVAnd when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;
JPSAnd when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand.
8
Thomsonwent after the man—the Israelite, into the bedchamber, and ran them both through, the man, the Israelite, quite through, and the woman into her belly. Whereupon the plague stopped from the children of Israel.
Brentonand went in after the Israelitish man into the chamber, and pierced them both through, both the Israelitish man, and the woman through her womb; and the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
Greekεἰσῆλθεν ὀπίσω τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ Ἰσραηλίτου εἰς τὴν κάμινον, καὶ ἀπεκέντησεν ἀμφοτέρους, τόν τε ἄνθρωπον τὸν Ἰσραηλίτην, καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα διὰ τῆς μήτρας αὐτῆς· καὶ ἐπαύσατο ἡ πληγὴ ἀπὸ υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.
KJVAnd he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
JPSAnd he went after the man of Israel into the chamber, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.
9
ThomsonNow they who had died of the plague were twenty four thousand.
BrentonAnd those that died in the plague were four and twenty thousand.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένοντο οἱ τεθνηκότες ἐν τῇ πληγῇ, τέσσαρες καὶ εἴκοσι χιλιάδες.
KJVAnd those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.
JPSAnd those that died by the plague were twenty and four thousand.
10
ThomsonAnd the Lord spoke to Moses saying,
BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, λέγων,
KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
11
ThomsonPhineas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, hath stayed my wrath from Israel, by shewing a zeal for me among them, so that in my jealousy I have not utterly consumed the children of Israel.
BrentonPhinees the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest has caused my wrath to cease from the children of Israel, when I was exceedingly jealous among them, and I did not consume the children of Israel in my jealousy.
GreekΦινεὲς υἱὸς Ἐλεάζαρ υἱοῦ Ἀαρὼν τοῦ ἱερέως κατέπαυσε τὸν θυμόν μου ἀπὸ υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, ἐν τῷ ζηλῶσαί μου τὸν ζῆλον ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ οὐκ ἐξανήλωσα τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ ἐν τῷ ζήλῳ μου.
KJVPhinehas, 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.
JPS’Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned My wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was very jealous for My sake among them, so that I consumed not the children of Israel in My jealousy.
12
ThomsonTherefore say: Behold I give him the covenant of peace. It shall be to him,
BrentonThus do thou say to him, Behold, I give him a covenant of peace:
GreekΟὕτως εἰπον, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ δίδωμι αὐτῷ διαθήκην εἰρήνης,
KJVWherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:
JPSWherefore say: Behold, I give unto him My covenant of peace;
13
Thomsonand to his seed after him, an everlasting covenant of the priests’ office, because he shewed a zeal for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.
Brentonand he and his seed after him shall have a perpetual covenant of priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.
Greekκαὶ ἔσται αὐτῷ καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ μετʼ αὐτὸν διαθήκη ἱερατείας αἰωνία, ἀνθʼ ὧν ἐζήλωσεν τῷ Θεῷ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐξιλάσατο περὶ τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSand it shall be unto him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.’
14
ThomsonNow the name of the man—the Israelite, who was slain with the Madianitish woman, was Zambri, son of Salmon, the chief of the patriarchal house of the Symeonites;
BrentonNow the name of the smitten Israelitish man, who was smitten with the Madianitish woman, was Zambri son of Salmon, prince of a house of the tribe of Symeon.
GreekΤὸ δὲ ὄνομα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοῦ Ἰσραηλείτου τοῦ πεπληγότος, ὃς ἐπλήγη μετὰ τῆς Μαδιανίτιδος, Ζαμβρὶ, υἱὸς Σαλμὼν, ἄρχων οἴκου πατριᾶς τῶν Συμεών.
KJVNow the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.
JPSNow the name of the man of Israel that was slain, who was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers’house among the Simeonites.
15
Thomsonand the name of the Madianitish woman, who was slain, was Chasbi, a daughter of Sour, the chief of the clan of Ommath, which is the head family of Madiam.
BrentonAnd the name of the Madianitish woman who was smitten, was Chasbi, daughter of Sur, a prince of the nation of Ommoth: it is a chief house among the people of Madiam.
GreekΚαὶ ὄνομα τῇ γυναικὶ τῇ Μαδιανίτιδι τῇ πεπληγυίᾳ, Χασβὶ, θυγάτηρ Σοὺρ, ἄρχοντος ἔθνους Ὀμμὼθ· οἴκου πατριᾶς ἐστι τῶν Μαδιάμ.
KJVAnd the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.
JPSAnd the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a fathers’house in Midian.
16
ThomsonMoreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and say,
BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, λέγων, λάλησον τοῖς υἱοῖς Ἰσραὴλ, λέγων,
KJVAnd the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:
17
ThomsonTreat as enemies the Madianites, and smite them, for they are acting as enemies against you, with craftiness, in all their attempts to beguile you by means of Phogor, and by means of Chasbi, the daughter of a prince of Madiam, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague, on account of Phogor.
BrentonPlague the Madianites as enemies, and smite them,
Greekἐχθραίνετε τοῖς Μαδιηναίοις καὶ πατάξατε αὐτοὺς,
KJVVex the Midianites, and smite them:
JPS’Harass the Midianites, and smite them;
18
Thomson—
Brentonfor they are enemies to you by the treachery wherein they ensnare you through Phogor, and through Chasbi their sister, daughter of a prince of Madiam, who was smitten in the day of the plague because of Phogor.
Greekὅτι ἐχθραίνουσιν αὐτοὶ ὑμῖν ἐν δολιότητι, ὅσα δολιοῦσιν ὑμᾶς διὰ Φογὼρ, καὶ διὰ Χασβὶ θυγατέρα ἄρχοντος Μαδιὰμ ἀδελφὴν αὐτῶν, τὴν πεπληγυῖαν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῆς πληγῆς διὰ Φογώρ.
KJVFor they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.
JPSfor they harass you, by their wiles wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.’