Numbers 31:14Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.
The setting
Plains of Moab, Jordan River valley, ~1406 BC. Moses confronts military officers who spared Midianite women and children despite clear orders, in modern-day Jordan.
The emotion here: soberly recording justified anger at disobedience
The original word
qatsaph (קָצַף) — to be furious, violently angry, especially over disobedience
Why it matters
These same Midianite women had seduced Israelite men into idolatry at Baal Peor, causing a plague
Read with care
What most readers miss in Numbers 31:14
Moses' anger wasn't cruelty - these women had already caused 24,000 Israelites to die in a plague
Common misconceptionModern readers see Moses as harsh, but he was preventing another plague - these same women had already caused 24,000 deaths through seduction into idolatry.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Numbers 31:14
Bible Genome reading
Numbers 31:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Numbers 31:14 comes from the book of Numbers, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include anger, leadership, accountability. Notable phrases: Moses was angry; officers of the army.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Numbers 31:14 mean to you, today?
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