The Meaning of Numbers 25:5 Explained

Numbers 25:5

KJV: And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.

YLT: And Moses saith unto the judges of Israel, 'Slay ye each his men who are joined to Baal-Peor.'

Darby: And Moses said to the judges of Israel, Slay every one his men that have joined themselves to Baal-Peor.

ASV: And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto Baal-peor.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  said  unto the judges  of Israel,  Slay  ye every  one  his men  that were joined  unto Baalpeor. 

What does Numbers 25:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 25:1-18 - The Zeal Of Phinehas Against Impurity
Unable to curse Israel directly, Balaam suggested to Balak the device of destroying the union between Israel and their divine Protector by enticing them into sin. Once bring license and passion into play, and let the seductions of evil prevail, and surely the holiness of God would compel Him to withdraw His protection! This was a diabolical suggestion to gain his wage. See Revelation 2:14.
The women of the land, notorious for their wantonness, seduced the men of Israel to join in the sensual rites of their worship. All did not fall into this sin. See Deuteronomy 4:3-4. But it brought terrible chastisement on the offenders, 1 Corinthians 10:8. You must amputate a gangrened limb.
For Phinehas, see Malachi 2:4, etc. Let us come out of the world, cleansing ourselves from its filthiness! 2 Corinthians 6:14, etc. There are crises when love for God's honor demands strenuous action, which never fails, as in the case of Phinehas, of an abounding recognition, Numbers 25:12. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Numbers 25:5 mean?

So said Moses to the judges of Israel kill every one of you his men who were joined to Baal of Peor
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל־ שֹׁפְטֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הִרְגוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֲנָשָׁ֔יו הַנִּצְמָדִ֖ים לְבַ֥עַל פְּעֽוֹר

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  So  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
שֹׁפְטֵ֖י  the  judges 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
הִרְגוּ֙  kill 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָרַג  
Sense: to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand.
אִ֣ישׁ  every  one  of  you 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱנׄושׁ 
Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
אֲנָשָׁ֔יו  his  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱנׄושׁ 
Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
הַנִּצְמָדִ֖ים  who  were  joined 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: צָמַד  
Sense: to bind, join, fasten.
פְּעֽוֹר  Baal  of  Peor 
Parse: Preposition, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בַּעַל פְּעֹור  
Sense: the deity worshipped at Peor with probable licentious rites.