Numbers 31:17

Therefore, put to death all of them: whatever is of the male sex, even among the little ones, and cut the throats of those women who have known men by sexual relations.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

In Context

16Are not these the ones who deceived the sons of Israel at the suggestion of Balaam, and who caused you betray the Lord by the sin of Peor, because of which the people also were struck down?

18But the young girls, and all female virgins, reserve for yourselves.

Read all of Numbers 31

Cross References

Deuteronomy 20:13And when the Lord your God will have delivered it into your hands, you shall strike down anyone who is in it, of the male gender, with the edge of the sword,

Judges 21:11And this shall be what you ought to do: “Every one of the male gender, as well as all the women who have known men, shall be put to death. But the virgins you shall reserve.”

Matthew Henry on Numbers 31:14-25

13 And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. 14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle. 15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 16 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… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Numbers 31:17