Numbers 31:53
New International Version
Each soldier had taken plunder for himself.

New Living Translation
All the fighting men had taken some of the plunder for themselves.

English Standard Version
(The men in the army had each taken plunder for himself.)

Berean Standard Bible
Each of the soldiers had taken plunder for himself.

King James Bible
(For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

New King James Version
(The men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

New American Standard Bible
The men of war had taken plunder, every man for himself.

NASB 1995
The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.

NASB 1977
The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.

Legacy Standard Bible
The men of war had taken plunder, every man for himself.

Amplified Bible
For the men of war had taken plunder, every man for himself.

Christian Standard Bible
Each of the soldiers had taken plunder for himself.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Each of the soldiers had taken plunder for himself.

American Standard Version
( For the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)

Contemporary English Version
This did not include the things that the soldiers had kept for themselves.

English Revised Version
(For the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Each soldier kept his own loot.

Good News Translation
Those who were not officers kept the loot they had taken.

International Standard Version
because every soldier had confiscated war booty for his own use.

Majority Standard Bible
Each of the soldiers had taken plunder for himself.

NET Bible
Each soldier had taken plunder for himself.

New Heart English Bible
(The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)

Webster's Bible Translation
(For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

World English Bible
The men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
(the men of the host have each taken spoil for himself);

Young's Literal Translation
(the men of the host have spoiled each for himself);

Smith's Literal Translation
The men of war plundered each for himself.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For that which every one had taken in the booty was his own.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For whatever each one had taken away in the spoils was his own.

New American Bible
What the common soldiers had looted each one kept for himself.

New Revised Standard Version
(The troops had all taken plunder for themselves.)
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
(For the men of war had plundered every man for himself.)

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But the men of the army plundered them, each man for himself.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For the men of war took plunder every one for himself.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Voluntary Offering
52All the gold that the commanders of thousands and of hundreds presented as an offering to the LORD weighed 16,750 shekels. 53Each of the soldiers had taken plunder for himself. 54And Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds and brought it into the Tent of Meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD.…

Cross References
Joshua 22:8
saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”

1 Samuel 30:24-25
Who will listen to your proposal? The share of the one who went to battle will match the share of the one who stayed with the supplies. They will share alike.” / And so it has been from that day forward. David established this statute and ordinance for Israel to this very day.

Deuteronomy 20:14
But the women, children, livestock, and whatever else is in the city—all its spoil—you may take as plunder, and you shall use the spoil of your enemies that the LORD your God gives you.

2 Chronicles 20:25
Then Jehoshaphat and his people went to carry off the plunder, and they found on the bodies an abundance of goods and valuables—more than they could carry away. They were gathering the plunder for three days because there was so much.

Genesis 14:23
that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

1 Kings 7:51
So all the work that King Solomon had performed for the house of the LORD was completed. Then Solomon brought in the items his father David had dedicated—the silver, the gold, and the furnishings—and he placed them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 7:8-9
When the lepers reached the edge of the camp, they went into a tent to eat and drink. Then they carried off the silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them. On returning, they entered another tent, carried off some items from there, and hid them. / Finally, they said to one another, “We are not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will overtake us. Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

1 Chronicles 26:27
They had dedicated some of the plunder from their battles to the repair of the house of the LORD.

Isaiah 33:23
Your ropes are slack; they cannot secure the mast or spread the sail. Then an abundance of spoils will be divided, and even the lame will carry off plunder.

Ezekiel 39:10
They will not gather wood from the countryside or cut it from the forests, for they will use the weapons for fuel. They will loot those who looted them and plunder those who plundered them, declares the Lord GOD.

Matthew 12:29
Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

Luke 11:22
But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 Corinthians 9:7
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. / We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

(For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)

Deuteronomy 20:14
But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

Jump to Previous
Army Booty Host Plunder Soldier Spoil Spoiled War
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Army Booty Host Plunder Soldier Spoil Spoiled War
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














Each of the soldiers
This phrase highlights the individual participation and responsibility of every soldier in the campaign against the Midianites. In the Hebrew context, the word for "soldiers" (אִישׁ, 'ish) can also mean "man," emphasizing the personal involvement of each man in the battle. Historically, this reflects the communal nature of Israelite warfare, where each man was expected to contribute to the collective effort. It underscores the idea that in God's army, every individual has a role and responsibility, mirroring the New Testament teaching that each believer is a part of the body of Christ, with unique gifts and duties (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

had taken plunder
The act of taking plunder was common in ancient warfare and was often seen as a reward for the victors. The Hebrew word for "plunder" (שָׁלָל, shalal) indicates spoils or booty taken in battle. This practice was not only a means of enriching the victors but also served as a tangible sign of God's favor and provision. In the context of Numbers 31, the plunder was a direct result of God's command to execute judgment on the Midianites, who had led Israel into sin (Numbers 25). This reminds us that God's justice and provision often go hand in hand, and His people are called to act in obedience to His commands.

for himself
This phrase emphasizes the personal benefit each soldier received from the victory. The individual appropriation of plunder signifies the personal blessings that come from obedience to God's commands. In a broader theological sense, it reflects the principle that while salvation and blessings are communal, they are also deeply personal. Each believer receives personal grace and gifts from God, tailored to their unique journey and calling. This personal aspect of divine blessing is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, reminding us that while we are part of a larger community of faith, God's relationship with each of us is intimate and personal.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Each
אַנְשֵׁי֙ (’an·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of the soldiers
אִ֥ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

had taken plunder for himself.
בָּזְז֖וּ (bā·zə·zū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 962: To spoil, plunder


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OT Law: Numbers 31:53 For the men of war had taken (Nu Num.)
Numbers 31:52
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