Numbers 25:11
New International Version
“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal.

New Living Translation
“Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest has turned my anger away from the Israelites by being as zealous among them as I was. So I stopped destroying all Israel as I had intended to do in my zealous anger.

English Standard Version
“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.

Berean Standard Bible
“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.

New American Standard Bible
“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has averted My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.

NASB 1995
“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.

NASB 1977
“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel, in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the sons of Israel in My jealousy.

Amplified Bible
“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the Israelites because he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the Israelites in My jealousy.

Christian Standard Bible
“Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the Israelites because he was zealous among them with my zeal, so that I did not destroy the Israelites in my zeal.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the Israelites because he was zealous among them with My zeal, so that I did not destroy the Israelites in My zeal.

American Standard Version
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 jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

Contemporary English Version
"In my anger, I would have wiped out the Israelites if Phinehas had not been faithful to me.

English Revised Version
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 jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Phinehas, son of Eleazar and grandson of the priest Aaron, turned my fury away from the Israelites. Since he stood up for me, I didn't have to stand up for myself and destroy them.

Good News Translation
"Because of what Phinehas has done, I am no longer angry with the people of Israel. He refused to tolerate the worship of any god but me, and that is why I did not destroy them in my anger.

International Standard Version
"Eleazar's son Phinehas, grandson of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from Israel. Because his zealousness reflected my own zeal for them, I didn't consume Israel in my jealousy.

Majority Standard Bible
?Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal.

NET Bible
"Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites, when he manifested such zeal for my sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in my zeal.

New Heart English Bible
"Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in my jealousy.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
“Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I didn’t consume the children of Israel in my jealousy.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My fury from the sons of Israel by his being zealous with My zeal in their midst, and I have not consumed the sons of Israel in My zeal.

Young's Literal Translation
'Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, hath turned back My fury from the sons of Israel, by his being zealous with My zeal in their midst, and I have not consumed the sons of Israel in My zeal.

Smith's Literal Translation
Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, turned back my wrath from the sons of Israel, in his being jealous with my jealousy in the midst of you, and I consumed not the sons of Israel, in my jealousy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Phinees the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned away my wrath from the children of Israel: because he was moved with my zeal against them, that I myself might not destroy the children of Israel in my zeal.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has averted my wrath from the sons of Israel. For he was moved against them by my zeal, so that I myself, in my zeal, might not wipe away the sons of Israel.

New American Bible
Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger from the Israelites by his being as jealous among them as I am; that is why I did not put an end to the Israelites in my jealousy.

New Revised Standard Version
“Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the Israelites by manifesting such zeal among them on my behalf that in my jealousy I did not consume the Israelites.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my wrath away from the children of Israel because he was moved with my zeal among them that I did not consume the children of Israel in my anger.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“Phinekhas, son of Eliazer, son of Ahron the Priest, turned my wrath from the children of Israel and he was zealous with my zeal among them, and I have not destroyed the children of Israel in my zeal.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Phinees 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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Zeal of Phinehas
10Then the LORD said to Moses, 11“Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned My wrath away from the Israelites; for he was zealous for My sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal. 12Declare, therefore, that I am granting him My covenant of peace.…

Cross References
Psalm 106:30-31
But Phinehas stood and intervened, and the plague was restrained. / It was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.

1 Corinthians 10:8
We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

Deuteronomy 4:3-4
Your eyes have seen what the LORD did at Baal-peor, for the LORD your God destroyed from among you all who followed Baal of Peor. / But you who held fast to the LORD your God are alive to this day, every one of you.

1 Kings 18:40
Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let a single one escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.

Exodus 32:28
The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people fell dead.

Joshua 22:17
Was not the sin of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day? It even brought a plague upon the congregation of the LORD.

1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

2 Kings 23:20
On the altars he slaughtered all the priests of the high places, and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Malachi 2:5-6
“My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. / True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. / And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been stricken with grief and have removed from your fellowship the man who did this? / Although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. ...

Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

2 Corinthians 7:11
Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

Romans 11:4
And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Jude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.


Treasury of Scripture

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has 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 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.

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…

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.

Jump to Previous
Aaron Anger Children Consume Consumed Destroy Eleazar Elea'zar Honor Israel Israelites Jealous Jealousy Passion Phinehas Phin'ehas Priest Sake Turned Wrath Zeal Zealous
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Aaron Anger Children Consume Consumed Destroy Eleazar Elea'zar Honor Israel Israelites Jealous Jealousy Passion Phinehas Phin'ehas Priest Sake Turned Wrath Zeal Zealous
Numbers 25
1. Israel at Shittim commit unfaithfulness and idolatry
6. Phinehas kills Zimri and Cozbi
10. God therefore gives him an everlasting priesthood
16. The Midianites are to be troubled














Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest
Phinehas is introduced as a significant figure in the priestly lineage, being the grandson of Aaron, the first high priest. This lineage emphasizes the continuity of the priestly role and the importance of maintaining holiness among the Israelites. The priesthood was central to Israelite worship and maintaining the covenant relationship with God. Phinehas's actions are seen as upholding the sanctity of this office.

has turned My wrath away from the Israelites
Phinehas's intervention stopped a plague that had begun as a result of Israel's sin with the Moabite women and their worship of Baal of Peor. His decisive action in killing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were blatantly defying God's commands was seen as an act of righteousness that appeased God's anger. This reflects the biblical principle that sin incurs divine wrath, but righteous action can restore favor.

for he was zealous for My sake among them
Phinehas's zeal is highlighted as being for God's sake, indicating his deep commitment to God's holiness and commands. This zeal is reminiscent of other biblical figures who acted passionately for God's honor, such as Elijah (1 Kings 19:10) and Jesus cleansing the temple (John 2:17). Zeal for God is portrayed as a commendable trait when it aligns with divine purposes.

so that I did not consume the Israelites in My zeal
God's zeal, or intense passion for His holiness and covenant, could have led to the destruction of the Israelites due to their sin. However, Phinehas's actions served as a form of intercession, preventing further judgment. This reflects the biblical theme of intercession, where individuals stand in the gap to avert God's wrath, as seen with Moses (Exodus 32:11-14) and ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who intercedes for humanity (Hebrews 7:25).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Phinehas
The grandson of Aaron, the high priest, and son of Eleazar. He is noted for his zealous action in stopping a plague among the Israelites by executing judgment on those who were sinning.

2. Eleazar
The son of Aaron and father of Phinehas. He served as a priest and was a key figure in the religious leadership of Israel.

3. Aaron
The first high priest of Israel and brother of Moses. He is the patriarch of the priestly line to which Phinehas belongs.

4. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were in a covenant relationship with Him but often fell into sin and idolatry.

5. The Plague
A divine punishment that came upon the Israelites due to their sin of idolatry and immorality with the Moabite women, which Phinehas stopped through his zealous act.
Teaching Points
Zeal for God's Honor
Phinehas' action teaches us the importance of being zealous for God's honor and righteousness. In our lives, we should be passionate about upholding God's standards and defending His name.

Righteous Indignation
There is a place for righteous indignation in the life of a believer. Like Phinehas, we must discern when to take a stand against sin, ensuring our motives align with God's will.

Intercession through Action
Sometimes, intercession requires action. Phinehas' decisive act stopped a plague, showing that faith can be demonstrated through bold actions that align with God's purposes.

The Consequences of Sin
The event reminds us of the serious consequences of sin and the importance of repentance. We must be vigilant in our walk with God, avoiding the pitfalls of idolatry and immorality.

Legacy of Faithfulness
Phinehas' zeal was remembered and honored by God. Our actions today can leave a legacy of faithfulness for future generations.(11) Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest . . . --The description of Phinehas, as in Numbers 25:7, is repeated in full, as if to denote that he was not a private individual, but one invested with public authority.

While he was zealous for my sake among them.--Better, in that he was jealous with my jealousy (or, in that he displayed my jealousy).

Verse 11. - While he was zealous for my sake. Rather, "while he was zealous with my zeal" (אֶת־קִנְאָתִי. Septuagint, ἐν τῷ ζηλωσαί μου τὸν ζῆλον, where μου stands emphatically before ζῆλον). In my jealousy. Rather, "in my zeal;" the same word is used.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Phinehas
פִּֽינְחָ֨ס (pî·nə·ḥās)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6372: Phinehas -- three Israelites

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Eleazar,
אֶלְעָזָ֜ר (’el·‘ā·zār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 499: Eleazar -- 'God has helped', six Israelites

the son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Aaron
אַהֲרֹ֣ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

the priest,
הַכֹּהֵ֗ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

has turned
הֵשִׁ֤יב (hê·šîḇ)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

My wrath
חֲמָתִי֙ (ḥă·mā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2534: Heat, anger, poison

away from
מֵעַ֣ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the Israelites;
בְּנֵֽי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

for he was zealous
בְּקַנְא֥וֹ (bə·qan·’ōw)
Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7068: Ardor, zeal, jealousy

[for My sake]
קִנְאָתִ֖י (qin·’ā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7068: Ardor, zeal, jealousy

among them,
בְּתוֹכָ֑ם (bə·ṯō·w·ḵām)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre

so that I did not
וְלֹא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

consume
כִלִּ֥יתִי (ḵil·lî·ṯî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

the Israelites
בְּנֵֽי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

in My zeal.
בְּקִנְאָתִֽי׃ (bə·qin·’ā·ṯî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7068: Ardor, zeal, jealousy


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OT Law: Numbers 25:11 Phinehas the son of Eleazar the son (Nu Num.)
Numbers 25:10
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