Numbers 25:17
WEB
“Harass the Midianites, and strike them;
BSB
“Attack the Midianites and strike them dead.
KJV
Vex the Midianites, and smite them:
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H6887
v — cramp
Derivation: a primitive root;
to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive
KJV: adversary, (be in) afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in, bring) distress, enemy, narrower, oppress, pangs, shut up, be in a strait (trouble), vex.
vb — confine
צוּר vb. confine, bind, besiege
vb. denom — suffer distress
[צָרַר] vb. denom. Hiph. suffer distress
vb — bind
צָרַר vb. bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, cramped
A. trans.
Qal bind or tie up
Pu. tied up (mended by tying)
B. intrans.
Qal be scant, cramped, in straits
Hiph. make narrow for, press hard upon, cause distress to
vb — shew hostility toward
צָרַר vb. shew hostility toward, vex
H853
prt — self, even, namely
Derivation: apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity;
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
KJV: [as such unrepresented in English].
mark of the accusative
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
H4084
a — Midjanite
Derivation: patronymical or patrial from 4080;
a Midjanite or descendant (native) of Midjan
KJV: Midianite. Compare 4092.
adj.gent — Midianite
מִדְיָנִי adj.gent. Midianite
H5221
v — strike
Derivation: a primitive root;
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
KJV: beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), × go forward, × indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, × surely, wound.
vb — smite
[נָכָה] 501 vb. smite (not in Qal)
Niph. and he shall be smitten [struck by weapon in battle] and die
Pu. both be smitten down by the hail
Hiph.
1.
a. lit., smite (with a single, non-fatal, blow), strike
b. smite repeatedly, beat a man
c. and they clapped hands (in applause)
d. give a thrust (with fork) into pot; strike roots
e. rarely smite (in battle) so as (merely) to wound
f. smite, of sun
2. Smite fatally
3. Smite = attack, attack and destroy a company
4. Of God
a. smite with a plague, disease, etc.
b. smite = chastise, or send judgment upon
c. of God’s destroying palaces
Hoph. be smitten
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Verses 16–18
Numbers 25:16–18
God had punished the Israelites for their sin with a plague; as a Father he corrected his own children with a rod. But we read not that any of the Midianites died of the plague; God took another course with them, and punished them with the sword of an enemy, not with the rod of a father. 1. Moses, though the meekest man, and far from a spirit of revenge, is ordered to vex the Midianites and smite them, Num 25:17. Note, We must set ourselves against that, whatever it is, which is an occasion of sin to us, though it be a right eye or a right hand that thus offends us, Mat 5:29, Mat 5:30. This is that holy indignation and revenge which godly sorrow worketh, Co2 7:11. 2. The reason given for the meditating of this revenge is because they vex you with their wiles, Num 25:18. Note, Whatever draws us to sin should be a vexation to us, as a thorn in the flesh. The mischief which the Midianites did to Israel by enticing them to whoredom must be remembered and punished with as much severity as that which the Amalekites did in fighting with them when they came out of Egypt, Exo 17:14. God will certainly reckon with those that do the devil's work in tempting men to sin. See further orders given in this matter, Num 31:2.
Cross-references: Num 25:17 · Matt 5:29 · Matt 5:30 · 2Cor 7:11 · Num 25:18 · Exod 17:14 · Num 31:2