The Meaning of Numbers 31:16 Explained

Numbers 31:16

KJV: Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

YLT: lo, they -- they have been to the sons of Israel, through the word of Balaam, to cause a trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and the plague is in the company of Jehovah.

Darby: Lo, these, through the counsel of Balaam, caused the children of Israel to commit sin against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague on the assembly of Jehovah.

ASV: Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, these  caused  the children  of Israel,  through the counsel  of Balaam,  to commit  trespass  against the LORD  in the matter  of Peor,  and there was a plague  among the congregation  of the LORD. 

What does Numbers 31:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Num 31:1-20 - The Destruction Of The Midianites
In reading such a chapter as this we must remember that the Bible is the history of the slow advance of a nation toward the knowledge of God, and its preparation to become one of the greatest of spiritual forces. That process could only be a prolonged one. Only by slow degrees could the grossness of the period be eliminated. Our Lord distinctly said that certain things were allowed for a time because of the hardness of their hearts. See Matthew 19:8. Many times He made the clear distinction between what "they of old" had said and what He said. See Matthew 5:21; Matthew 5:27; Matthew 5:33; Matthew 5:38; Matthew 5:43. The highest law for dealing with our enemies is found in his teachings.
The first steps of purification had to do with the women who might introduce heathen vices into Israelite homes, and the leisurely dealing with spoils and captives, so that passion might have time to cool. [source]

Chapter Summary: Num 31

1  The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain
13  Moses is angry with the officers, for saving the women alive
19  How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified
25  The proportion in which the prey is to be divided
48  The voluntary offering unto the treasure of the Lord

What do the individual words in Numbers 31:16 mean?

Look those [women] caused the sons of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to trespass against Yahweh in the incident of Peor and there was a plague among the congregation of Yahweh
הֵ֣ן הֵ֜נָּה הָי֨וּ לִבְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בִּדְבַ֣ר בִּלְעָ֔ם לִמְסָר־ מַ֥עַל בַּיהוָ֖ה עַל־ דְּבַר־ פְּע֑וֹר וַתְּהִ֥י הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה בַּעֲדַ֥ת יְהוָֽה

הֵ֣ן  Look 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
הֵ֜נָּה  those  [women] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person feminine plural
Root: הֵנָּה  
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
הָי֨וּ  caused 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לִבְנֵ֤י  the  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
בִּדְבַ֣ר  through  the  counsel 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
בִּלְעָ֔ם  of  Balaam 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּלְעָם 
Sense: the son of Beor, a man endowed with the gift of prophecy.
מַ֥עַל  trespass 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעַל  
Sense: unfaithful or treacherous act, trespass.
בַּיהוָ֖ה  against  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דְּבַר־  the  incident 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
פְּע֑וֹר  of  Peor 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: פְּעֹור  
Sense: a mountain peak in Moab belonging to the Abarim range and near Pisgah.
וַתְּהִ֥י  and  there  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה  a  plague 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַגֵּפָה  
Sense: blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence, strike, smite.
בַּעֲדַ֥ת  among  the  congregation 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.