Numbers 25:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Moses commands Israel's judges to execute their own people who joined Baal-peor.
The Context of Numbers 25:5
The judges of Israel are tasked with enforcing the judgment against idolaters.
What Does Numbers 25:5 Mean?
Moses transfers God's command to the judges, the elders who governed Israel's tribes. This forced Israel itself to participate in the judgment, making the covenant-breaking not a distant crime but a personal and communal failure. The judges were to slay every one his men—each tribe would judge its own, sharpening the sense that this was Israel's own covenant, not something imposed on them.
By requiring the people themselves to execute the judgment, God prevented the penalty from being viewed as Moses' personal vendetta or a priest's overreach. It became the act of a covenanted people defending their own bond.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 25:5
What does Numbers 25:5 mean?
Moses commands Israel's judges to execute their own people who joined Baal-peor.
What is the context of Numbers 25:5?
The judges of Israel are tasked with enforcing the judgment against idolaters.