Numbers 31:18

18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Numbers 31:18 in Other Translations

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

18 But all the young girls who have not known man by lying with him keep alive for yourselves.

18 Only the young girls who are virgins may live; you may keep them for yourselves.

18 The younger women who are virgins you can keep alive for yourselves.

18 but keep alive for yourselves all the young females who have not had sexual relations.

Numbers 31:18 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 31:18

But all the women children
The females among the little ones:

that have not known a man by lying with him;
which might be pretty clear, and easily concluded, from their age:

keep for yourselves;
either to be handmaids to them, or to be married among them when grown up, and become proselytes, and initiated into their religion.

Numbers 31:18 In-Context

16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the LORD in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the LORD’s people.

17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man,

18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

19 “Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives.

20 Purify every garment as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood.”