Numbers 31:53

Numbers 31:53 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)
• New International Version (NIV)Each soldier had taken plunder for himself.
• English Standard Version (ESV)(The men in the army had each taken plunder for himself.)
• New King James Version (NKJV)(The men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

Context of Numbers 31:53

51Moses and Eleazar took all the gold things that the soldiers' officers and leaders brought to them. 52They weighed all the gold that was offered to the Lord. The weight was 16,750 shekels. The soldiers had also taken gold things from the enemy for themselves. 54Moses and Eleazar took the gold gifts from the soldiers' officers and leaders into the Tent of Meeting. It would help the Israelites to remember how the Lord had helped them.

Numbers 31:53 word by word

אַנְשֵׁי֙ הַצָּבָ֔א בָּזְז֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• of warצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · armyH6635
• had taken spoilבָּזַזbâzaz · to plunderH962
• every manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376

Cross-references for Numbers 31:53

• Deuteronomy 20:14But you can take for yourselves the women, the children, the animals and other valuable things in the city. You can take all these things from your enemies that God gives to you.

Commentaries on Numbers 31:53

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 53This verse seems to imply that the soldiers, as distinct from the officers (compare Numbers 31:49), did not make any offering from their plunder. Of course besides the gold there would be much spoil of less precious materials; see Numbers 31:20, Numbers 31:22.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 48-54Verses 48-54 The success of the Israelites had been very remarkable, so small a company overcoming such multitudes, but it was still more wonderful that not one was slain or missing. They presented the gold they found among the spoils, as an offering to the Lord. Thus they confessed, that instead of claiming a reward for their service, they needed forgiveness of much that had been amiss, and desired to be thankful for the preservation of their lives…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 50-54The commanders happily offered gold objects to show gratitude for a great victory with no loss of life (see Exodus 30:12). Ancient art and literature show that the Midianites and other desert peoples, both men and women, wore gold jewelry. They used it as decoration, and as a form of wealth they could take with them (for example, Judges 8:24–26). Moses and Eleazar brought this large collection to the Tent of Meeting as a memorial of this special event…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 48-5448-54. officers ... said ... there lacketh not one man of us--A victory so signal, and the glory of which was untarnished by the loss of a single Israelitish soldier, was an astonishing miracle. So clearly betokening the direct interposition of Heaven, it might well awaken the liveliest feelings of grateful acknowledgment to God (Psa 44:2, 3). The oblation they brought for the Lord "was partly an atonement" or reparation for their error (Nu 31:14-16), for…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 31:53

• Liberality
• Spoils
• Thankfulness

In the dictionaries

• Jericho
• Prey
• Purify
• Abel-Shittim
• Balaam
• Moses
• Numbers, Book of
• Zimri (1)
• Metals

Commentaries on Numbers 31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings