Numbers 25:1 Meaning and Explanation
“And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel commits sexual sin with Moabite women, beginning a cycle of infidelity to God's covenant.
The Context of Numbers 25:1
The Israelites, camped at Shittim near the end of wilderness wandering, are tempted away from the LORD.
What Does Numbers 25:1 Mean?
At Shittim, near Moab's border, Israel's young men begin sexual relations with Moabite women. This was not mere personal transgression; it marked a turning point in Israel's fidelity to the covenant made at Sinai. The act breached the sacred boundary between Israel and the surrounding nations, who worshipped false gods.
Whoredom here means both literal sexual unfaithfulness and spiritual adultery—breaking covenant with God. The pattern echoes through Scripture: idolatry leads to moral decay, and moral decay deepens idolatry. The sequence of Israel's testing was not yet finished.
Numbers 25:1 in the Original Language
qadesh (קָדֵשׁ), 'whoredom'—cultic prostitution, often tied to pagan worship, not mere theft of sexuality but covenant-breaking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 25:1
What does Numbers 25:1 mean?
Israel commits sexual sin with Moabite women, beginning a cycle of infidelity to God's covenant.
What is the context of Numbers 25:1?
The Israelites, camped at Shittim near the end of wilderness wandering, are tempted away from the LORD.