Numbers 25:3
New International Version
So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the LORD’s anger burned against them.

New Living Translation
In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the LORD’s anger to blaze against his people.

English Standard Version
So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.

King James Bible
And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

New King James Version
So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel.

New American Standard Bible
So Israel became followers of Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry with Israel.

NASB 1995
So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel.

NASB 1977
So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the anger of Yahweh burned against Israel.

Amplified Bible
So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor [in worship]. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Christian Standard Bible
So Israel aligned itself with Baal of Peor, and the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Israel aligned itself with Baal of Peor, and the LORD’s anger burned against Israel.

American Standard Version
And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD was angry with Israel because they had worshiped the god Baal Peor.

English Revised Version
And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since the Israelites joined in worshiping the god Baal of Peor, the LORD became angry with Israel.

Good News Translation
Baal of Peor. So the LORD was angry with them

International Standard Version
The people joined the Baal-peor cult. As a result, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel,

Majority Standard Bible
So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.

NET Bible
When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel.

New Heart English Bible
Israel joined himself to Baal Peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

World English Bible
Israel joined himself to Baal Peor, and Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Israel is joined to Ba‘al-Peor, and the anger of YHWH burns against Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
and Israel is joined to Baal-Peor, and the anger of Jehovah burneth against Israel.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Israel will be bound to Baal-Peor; and the anger of Jehovah will kindle against Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Israel was initiated to Beelphegor: upon which the Lord being angry,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Israel was initiated into Baal of Peor. And so the Lord, being angry,

New American Bible
Israel thereby attached itself to the Baal of Peor, and the LORD’s anger flared up against Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
Thus Israel yoked itself to the Baal of Peor, and the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Israel joined himself to Baal-peor; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Israel was initiated to Baal Peor and the wrath of LORD JEHOVAH was provoked against the children of Israel.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Israel joined himself unto the Baal of Peor; and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Israel consecrated themselves to Beel-phegor; and the Lord was very angry with Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moab Seduces Israel
2who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods. 3So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them. 4Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 4:3
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.

Psalm 106:28-29
They yoked themselves to Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods. / So they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them.

Hosea 9:10
I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.

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.

Exodus 34:14-16
For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. / Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices. / And when you take some of their daughters as brides for your sons, their daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods and cause your sons to do the same.

Judges 2:11-13
And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. / Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger, / for they forsook Him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.

2 Kings 17:10-12
They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. / They served idols, although the LORD had told them, “You shall not do this thing.”

Jeremiah 11:13
Your gods are indeed as numerous as your cities, O Judah; the altars of shame you have set up—the altars to burn incense to Baal—are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’

Ezekiel 20:28
When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings.

1 Kings 14:23-24
They also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. / There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land. They imitated all the abominations of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.

2 Chronicles 33:3
For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he raised up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. And he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.

Isaiah 57:5-6
who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? / Your portion is among the smooth stones of the valley; indeed, they are your lot. Even to them you have poured out a drink offering and offered a grain offering. Should I relent because of these?

Jeremiah 3:6-9
Now in the days of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, “Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every green tree to prostitute herself there. / I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. / She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well. ...

Hosea 4:14
I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.


Treasury of Scripture

And Israel joined himself to Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

all the heads

Numbers 25:14,15,18
Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites…

Exodus 18:25
And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Deuteronomy 4:3
Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.

and hang.

Deuteronomy 13:6-9,13,15
If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; …

Deuteronomy 21:23
His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

2 Samuel 21:6,9
Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them

that the fierce

Numbers 25:11
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.

Deuteronomy 13:17
And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;

Joshua 7:25,26
And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones…

Jump to Previous
Anger Angry Baal Ba'al Baalpeor Baal-Peor Burned Burneth Joined Kindled Lord's Moab Moved Peor Pe'or Relations Themselves Women Worshiping Wrath Yoked
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Anger Angry Baal Ba'al Baalpeor Baal-Peor Burned Burneth Joined Kindled Lord's Moab Moved Peor Pe'or Relations Themselves Women Worshiping Wrath Yoked
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














So Israel
The phrase "So Israel" refers to the collective nation of Israel, God's chosen people, who were delivered from Egypt and were on their journey to the Promised Land. This highlights the communal aspect of their identity and actions. In Hebrew, "Israel" (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el) means "God prevails" or "He who struggles with God," reflecting their covenant relationship with God. The use of "Israel" here underscores the gravity of their actions, as it was not just individuals but the nation as a whole that was implicated in this sin.

joined in worshiping
The Hebrew root for "joined" is "צָמַד" (tsamad), which means to bind or attach oneself. This indicates a deliberate and intimate association with the worship practices of Baal, suggesting a betrayal of their exclusive covenant with Yahweh. The act of "worshiping" (שָׁחָה, shachah) involves bowing down or prostrating oneself, signifying submission and reverence. This phrase highlights the severity of Israel's apostasy, as they not only participated in pagan rituals but also submitted themselves to a foreign deity.

Baal of Peor
"Baal" (בַּעַל, Ba'al) was a common name for various local deities in the ancient Near East, often associated with fertility and storms. "Peor" refers to a location, possibly a mountain or a region, where this particular manifestation of Baal was worshiped. The worship of Baal was characterized by immoral and idolatrous practices, which were in direct opposition to the worship of Yahweh. This phrase emphasizes the spiritual adultery of Israel, as they turned from the true God to a false idol, violating the first commandment.

and the LORD’s anger
The "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature and His special relationship with Israel. The "anger" (אַף, aph) of the LORD is a righteous and holy response to sin and rebellion. In the Hebrew context, this word can also mean "nostrils" or "face," metaphorically describing the flaring of nostrils in anger. This phrase conveys the seriousness of Israel's sin and the just nature of God's response, as His holiness cannot tolerate idolatry and unfaithfulness.

burned against them
The imagery of God's anger "burning" (חָרָה, charah) against Israel is vivid and powerful, suggesting an intense and consuming wrath. This reflects the covenantal breach and the consequences of Israel's actions. The historical context reveals that God's anger often led to judgment and discipline, intended to bring His people back to repentance and restoration. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the need for faithfulness to His covenant.

Verse 3. - Israel joined himself unto Baal-Peor. This is a technical phrase, repeated in verse 5, and quoted in Psalm 106:28, expressing the quasi-sacramental union into which they entered with the heathen deity by partaking of his sacrificial meats and by sharing in his impure rites (cf. Hosea 9:10 and the argument of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 10). There can be little doubt that Peor (פְּעור, from פָעַר, to open) has the sense of aperiens, in usu obsceno, and that it was the distinguishing name of Baal or Chemosh when worshipped as the god of reproduction with the abominable rites proper to this cultus. For a notice of the same thing in the last days of Israel see Hosea 4:14, and for the practice of Babylonian and (to some degree) Egyptian women, see Herodotus, 1:199; 2:60). The Septuagint has here ἐτελέσθη τῷ Βεελφεγώρ, "was consecrated," or "initiated," unto Baal-Peor, which admirably expressed the sense.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

joined in worshiping
וַיִּצָּ֥מֶד (way·yiṣ·ṣā·meḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6775: To link, gird, to serve, contrive

Baal of Peor,
פְּע֑וֹר (pə·‘ō·wr)
Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1187: Baal of Peor', a Moabite god

and the LORD’s
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

anger
אַ֥ף (’ap̄)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

burned
וַיִּֽחַר־ (way·yi·ḥar-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2734: To glow, grow warm, to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

against [them].
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (bə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT Law: Numbers 25:3 Israel joined himself to Baal Peor: (Nu Num.)
Numbers 25:2
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