New International Versionand 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.
New Living Translationand 32,000 virgin girls.
English Standard Versionand 32,000 persons in all, women who had not known man by lying with him.
Berean Standard Bibleand 32,000 women who had not slept with a man.
King James BibleAnd thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.
New King James Versionand thirty-two thousand persons in all, of women who had not known a man intimately.
New American Standard Bibleand of captive people, of the women who had not known a man intimately, in all were thirty-two thousand people.
NASB 1995and of human beings, of the women who had not known man intimately, all the persons were 32,000.
NASB 1977and of human beings, of the women who had not known man intimately, all the persons were 32,000.
Legacy Standard Bibleand of human beings, of the women who had not known man intimately, all the persons were 32,000.
Amplified Bibleand 32,000 persons in all, of the [Midianite] women who were virgins.
Christian Standard Bibleand 32,000 people, all the females who had not gone to bed with a man.
Holman Christian Standard Bibleand 32,000 people, all the females who had not had sexual relations with a man.
American Standard Versionand thirty and two thousand persons in all, of the women that had not known man by lying with him.
English Revised Versionand thirty and two thousand persons in all, of the women that had not known man by lying with him.
GOD'S WORD® Translation32,000 women who had never gone to bed with a man.
International Standard Version32,000 women who had not had sexual relations with a man.
NET Bibleand 32,000 young women who had never had sexual intercourse with a man.
New Heart English Bibleand thirty-two thousand persons in all, of the women who had not known man by lying with him.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand 32,000 women who had not slept with a man.
World English Bibleand thirty-two thousand persons in all, of the women who had not known man by lying with him. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand of mankind—of the women who have not known the lying of a male—all the persons [are] thirty-two thousand.
Young's Literal Translation and of human beings -- of the women who have not known the lying of a male -- all the persons are two and thirty thousand.
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd the souls of man, from the women which knew not the bed of a male all the souls, two and thirty thousand. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd thirty-two thousand persons of the female sex, that had not known men.
Catholic Public Domain Versionand thirty-two thousand human lives, of the female sex, who had not known men.
New American Bibleand thirty-two thousand women who had not had sexual relations.
New Revised Standard Versionand thirty-two thousand persons in all, women who had not known a man by sleeping with him. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd thirty-two thousand persons in all, of women who had not known man by lying with him.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd souls of people of the women who did not know sexual relations of males, all the souls, thirty and two thousand. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917and thirty and two thousand persons in all, of the women that had not known man by lying with him.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd persons of women who had not known lying with man, all the souls, thirty-two thousand.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Division of the Spoils… 3461,000 donkeys, 35and32,000womenwhohad notslept witha man.36This was the half portion for those who had gone to war: 337,500 sheep,…
Cross References Deuteronomy 20:14But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.
Joshua 6:21With the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.
1 Samuel 15:3Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
Judges 21:10-12So the congregation sent 12,000 of their most valiant men and commanded them: “Go and put to the sword those living in Jabesh-gilead, including women and children. / This is what you are to do: Devote to destruction every male, as well as every female who has had relations with a man.” / So they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young women who had not had relations with a man, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.
Deuteronomy 21:10-14When you go to war against your enemies and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand and you take them captive, / if you see a beautiful woman among them, and you desire her and want to take her as your wife, / then you shall bring her into your house. She must shave her head, trim her nails, ...
1 Chronicles 5:21They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took 100,000 captives,
2 Chronicles 14:13-15Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder / and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there. / They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.
Genesis 14:16He retrieved all the goods, as well as his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the rest of the people.
2 Kings 6:22-23“Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.” / So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.
2 Kings 19:35And that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!
Isaiah 13:16Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished.
Ezekiel 39:10They will not gather wood from the countryside or cut it from the forests, for they will use the weapons for fuel. They will loot those who looted them and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord GOD.
Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Luke 6:27-28But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Romans 12:20-21On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Treasury of Scripture And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him. Jump to Previous BeingsHumanIntimatelyLyingMalePersonsRelationsSexSleptThirtyThirty-TwoThousandWomenJump to Next BeingsHumanIntimatelyLyingMalePersonsRelationsSexSleptThirtyThirty-TwoThousandWomenNumbers 31 1.The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain13.Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive19.How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified25.The proportion in which the prey is to be divided48.The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the Lordand 32,000 womenThis phrase refers to the number of women taken captive by the Israelites after their victory over the Midianites. The large number indicates the scale of the conflict and the significant impact on the Midianite population. In the ancient Near Eastern context, capturing women and children was a common practice in warfare, often for servitude or integration into the victors' society. The number 32,000 also reflects the thoroughness of the Israelite campaign, as commanded by God, to eliminate the influence of Midian, which had led Israel into idolatry and immorality (Numbers 25). who had not slept with a man
This specification highlights the focus on preserving the purity of the captives. In the cultural and religious context of ancient Israel, virginity was highly valued, and these women were considered ritually pure. This distinction was important for maintaining the holiness of the Israelite camp, as sexual immorality had previously led to a plague among the Israelites (Numbers 25:1-9). The preservation of virgins also ensured that the captives could be integrated into Israelite society without the complications of previous marital ties or allegiances. This practice can be seen as a foreshadowing of the New Testament emphasis on spiritual purity and the Church as the bride of Christ, unblemished and set apart (Ephesians 5:25-27). Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, who was commanded by God to take vengeance on the Midianites. 2. MidianitesA nomadic tribe that opposed Israel and led them into idolatry and immorality. 3. IsraelitesThe people of God, who were instructed to carry out God's judgment against the Midianites. 4. 32,000 WomenThe number of young women who were spared during the conquest, as they had not been involved in the immorality that led to the judgment. 5. Plains of MoabThe location where the Israelites were encamped and from where they launched their campaign against the Midianites. Teaching Points God's Justice and MercyGod's command to spare the young women highlights His justice in punishing sin while also showing mercy to the innocent. Believers are called to uphold justice and extend mercy in their own lives. The Consequences of SinThe judgment on the Midianites serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of leading others into sin. Christians should be vigilant against influences that lead them away from God. Purity and HolinessThe sparing of the young women who had not been involved in immorality underscores the importance of purity. Believers are encouraged to pursue holiness in their relationships and interactions. Obedience to God's CommandsThe Israelites' obedience in carrying out God's command against the Midianites demonstrates the importance of following God's directives, even when they are difficult. Christians are called to trust and obey God's Word. Redemption and RestorationThe sparing of the young women can be seen as an opportunity for redemption and a new beginning. Believers are reminded of the redemptive power of God in their own lives and the lives of others. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Numbers 31:35?
2.How does Numbers 31:35 illustrate God's provision and justice for His people?
3.What lessons on obedience can we learn from the Israelites' actions in Numbers 31?
4.How does Numbers 31:35 connect to God's covenant promises in Genesis?
5.In what ways can we apply the principles of stewardship from Numbers 31:35 today?
6.How does Numbers 31:35 reflect God's sovereignty and authority over all creation?
7.Why does Numbers 31:35 include women as part of the spoils of war?
8.How does Numbers 31:35 align with the concept of a loving God?
9.What historical context explains the actions in Numbers 31:35?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 31?
11.What happened to the Midianite virgins in the Bible?
12.Numbers 31:32-35: Is there any historical or archaeological evidence supporting the capture of such a large number of Midianite captives?
13.Numbers 31:7-18: How can the command to kill non-virgin women and boys be reconciled with claims of a compassionate God?
14.Why does God allow genocides to happen, including those commanded in the Bible (Numbers 31:17-18)?What Does Numbers 31:35 Mean Context ofNumbers 31-Numbers 31 records Israel’s divinely ordered campaign against Midian, a nation that had enticed Israel into idolatry and immorality through Balaam’s counsel (Numbers 25:1-3; 31:16;Revelation 2:14). - After victory, “the Israelites took captive the women of Midian and their little ones” (31:9), but Moses rebuked the officers because the adult women had been the very instruments of Israel’s earlier moral collapse. - In response, all male prisoners and every woman who had lain with a man were executed; the remaining virgin girls were spared, becoming part of the spoils that the Lord distributed (31:17-18, 26-27).
Focus on Verse 35“and 32,000 girls who had never slept with a man.” (Numbers 31:35) - The verse appears in a catalog of plunder: 675,000 sheep, 72,000 cattle, 61,000 donkeys, and 32,000 virgins. - The list underscores the completeness of Israel’s triumph and the Lord’s meticulous accounting of the spoils (compareJoshua 11:14 and2 Chronicles 20:25, where similar inventories follow God-given victories). - Each item was divided: half to the warriors, half to the rest of Israel, with a tithe-like tribute given to the Lord through the priests and Levites (Numbers 31:28-30, 41-47). The virgins were no exception; their lives and futures were now under Israelite protection and covenant influence.
Why were the young women spared?- Moral cause: These girls had not participated in Midian’s seduction of Israel, so they bore no guilt in that sin (Numbers 25:6, 14-15). - Legal cause: God’s warfare statutes permitted the sparing of certain captives, especially women and children, when the nations lay outside Canaan proper (Deuteronomy 20:13-14). - Covenant cause: By entering Israelite households, the girls could come under the knowledge of Yahweh, much like Rahab later did inJoshua 6:25. The Lord often folds foreigners into His people through providential rescue (Ruth 1:16;Isaiah 56:3).
Implications for Israel’s holiness- The strict separation from sexual sin guarded the nation’s unique calling (Leviticus 20:26;1 Corinthians 6:18). - Handling captives required ritual purification: “You, your captives, and everything you seized must remain outside the camp seven days” (Numbers 31:19-24). This underscored that victory did not exempt Israel from purity laws. - The census-like listing illustrates that every life, even among the defeated, falls under God’s sovereign oversight (Psalm 24:1;Matthew 10:29-31).
Christ-centered reflections- The spared virgins hint at grace amid judgment: while sin receives its due wage (Romans 6:23a), God preserves a remnant for life and future blessing (Isaiah 10:20-22;Romans 11:5). - Just as these girls were transferred from Midian’s doomed society into Israel’s covenant community, believers are “delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). - The meticulous division of spoils anticipates the Lord Jesus distributing gifts to His people after His victory (Ephesians 4:8;Psalm 68:18), showing that conquest in Scripture often leads to generous provision for God’s household.
summaryNumbers 31:35 records the count of 32,000 Midianite girls who had never slept with a man, set apart from those executed because they bore no complicity in Midian’s earlier corruption of Israel. Their preservation fulfilled divine warfare statutes, protected Israel’s holiness, and opened a path for these captives to know the covenant God. The verse therefore showcases God’s just judgment, His precise stewardship over every life and possession, and His persistent thread of mercy woven even through scenes of warfare.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew and 32,000שְׁנַ֥יִם(šə·na·yim)Number - md
Strong's 8147:Two (a cardinal number)womenהַ֨נָּשִׁ֔ים(han·nā·šîm)Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 802:Woman, wife, femalewhoאֲשֶׁ֥ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thathad notלֹֽא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noslept withיָדְע֖וּ(yā·ḏə·‘ū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3045:To knowa man.זָכָ֑ר(zā·ḵār)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2145:Remembered, a male
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OT Law: Numbers 31:35 And thirty-two thousand persons in all (Nu Num.) |
