Phinehas
Pronounced FIN-ee-us
- Meaning
- "Mouth of brass; The Nubian"
- Origin
- Egyptian / Hebrew
Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron and son of Eleazar. He is celebrated for his zealous action at Shittim, where he stopped a plague by executing an Israelite man and a Midianite woman who were openly defying God during a time of sexual idolatry with the Moabites. God rewarded Phinehas' zeal with "my covenant of peace" — an everlasting priestly covenant for his descendants. Psalm 106 says his action "was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore" — language paralleling the commendation of Abraham's faith. Phinehas represents holy zeal — a passion for God's honor that leads to decisive action. While his story is violent, the principle it illustrates — unwavering commitment to God's holiness — resonates throughout Scripture as a defining quality of faithful leaders.
Spiritual meaning
Phinehas' zeal for God's holiness earned him an everlasting covenant of peace. His story teaches that passionate devotion to God's honor — even at personal cost — brings lasting blessing.
Related verses (KJV)
"Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them."
Numbers 25:11 (KJV) →"Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore."
Psalm 106:30-31 (KJV) →