And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
Parallel translations
- WEB Israel joined himself to Baal Peor. Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel.
- BSB So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.
- ESV So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
- NKJV So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.
- NASB So Israel became followers of Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry with Israel.
- NLT In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the Lord’s anger to blaze against his people.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel joins itself to Baal of Peor, and the LORD's anger burns against them. Their idolatry triggers divine judgment.
Overview
To 'join' to Baal of Peor signals a binding covenant loyalty given to a false god, a direct betrayal of the LORD. God's burning anger reflects His holy jealousy for the exclusive devotion of His people. This grievous apostasy at the threshold of the Promised Land sets the stage for the plague and the decisive act of Phinehas.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Hos 9:10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.
- Josh 22:17Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,
- Ps 106:28–29They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
- Judg 2:20And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;
- Jer 17:4And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
- Num 25:5And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.
- Judg 2:14And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
- Ps 90:11Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.
- Deut 4:3–4Your 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.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 25:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.