Numbers 31:18 Meaning and Explanation
“But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Virginal women and girls are to be kept alive and integrated into Israel's community.
The Context of Numbers 31:18
Exception is made for virgin women and girls.
What Does Numbers 31:18 Mean?
A significant exception is made for women and girls who are virgins—those who have not participated in sexual relations. These women and girls are to be preserved alive and incorporated into Israel's community. They represent the future of any integration between populations. By keeping them alive, Israel gains population and resources while simultaneously assimilating Midianite people into the Israelite nation. These women could marry Israelite men and have their children raised in Israel's covenant community.
The distinction between those who knowingly participated in seduction and those who did not reflects a theological principle: those who perpetuated the corruption bear responsibility, while innocents can be redeemed through integration. This approach aims to eliminate the immediate threat while allowing for the incorporation of future generations. The women's survival ensures that the conquest is not absolute destruction but conquest followed by assimilation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 31:18
What does Numbers 31:18 mean?
Virginal women and girls are to be kept alive and integrated into Israel's community.
What is the context of Numbers 31:18?
Exception is made for virgin women and girls.