In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the Lord’s anger to blaze against his people.
Parallel translations
- WEB Israel joined himself to Baal Peor. Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel.
- KJV And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
- BSB So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.
- 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.
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 first ripe in the fig tree at its first season; but they came to Baal Peor, and consecrated themselves to the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.
- Josh 22:17Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although there came a plague on the congregation of Yahweh,
- Ps 106:28–29They joined themselves also to Baal Peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
- Judg 2:20Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel; and he said, “Because this nation transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not listened to my voice,
- Jer 17:4You, even of yourself, shall discontinue from your heritage that I gave you. I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you don’t know, for you have kindled a fire in my anger which shall burn forever.”
- Num 25:5Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Everyone kill his men who have joined themselves to Baal Peor.”
- Judg 2:14Yahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.
- Ps 90:11Who knows the power of your anger, your wrath according to the fear that is due to you?
- Deut 4:3–4Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did because of Baal Peor; for all the men who followed Baal Peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from among you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.