The Meaning of Numbers 31:18 Explained

Numbers 31:18

KJV: But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

YLT: and all the infants among the women, who have not known the lying of a male, ye have kept alive for yourselves.

Darby: but all the children among the women that have not known lying with a man, keep alive for yourselves.

ASV: But all the women-children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

Discover Numbers 31:18

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Numbers 31:18?

MEANING: What does Numbers 31:18 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Numbers 31:18 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Numbers 31:18?

What is the context of Numbers 31:18?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.

What does Numbers 31:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 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: Numbers 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 31:18 mean?

But all the young women who not have known intimately a man keep alive for yourselves

וְכֹל֙ הַטַּ֣ף בַּנָּשִׁ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־ יָדְע֖וּ מִשְׁכַּ֣ב זָכָ֑ר הַחֲי֖וּ לָכֶֽם

וְכֹל֙	But all
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct Root: כֹּל Sense: all, the whole.
הַטַּ֣ף	the young
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: טַף Sense: children, little children, little ones.
בַּנָּשִׁ֔ים	women
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine plural Root: אִשָּׁה Sense: woman, wife, female.
יָדְע֖וּ	have known
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural Root: דָּעָה Sense: to know.
מִשְׁכַּ֣ב	intimately
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: מִשְׁכָּב Sense: a lying down, couch, bier, act of lying.
זָכָ֑ר	a man
Parse: Noun, masculine singular Root: זָכָר Sense: male (of humans and animals) adj.
הַחֲי֖וּ	keep alive
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural Root: חָיָה Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
לָכֶֽם	for yourselves
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 31:18?

Loading Information...

Similar Scriptures for Numbers 31:18

		Deuteronomy 21:10-14 [3]
		Isaiah 14:2 [2]
		Leviticus 25:44 [2]
		2 Chronicles 28:8-10 [2]
		Deuteronomy 20:14 [2]