"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."
Biblical Name · Hebrew/Egyptian Origin
Phinehas Meaning in the Bible
Phinehas
boy
Phinehas means "Oracle; Mouth of brass", a boy's name of Hebrew/Egyptian origin. Phinehas appears in the King James Bible, and Numbers 25:11-13 is the passage most often tied to it. Phinehas demonstrates that holy zeal — passion for God's honor — brings peace, not chaos. God rewards those who stand when others sit.
Is Phinehas in the Bible?
Yes — Phinehas appears in the King James Bible, including Numbers 25:11-13.
Pronunciation:/FIN-ee-us/
OriginHebrew/Egyptian
MeaningOracle; Mouth of brass
What does Phinehas mean?
Phinehas is a boy name of Hebrew/Egyptian origin meaning "Oracle; Mouth of brass". Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron whose zealous action stopped a plague in Israel. God rewarded his passion for holiness with a 'covenant of peace' — an eternal priesthood. His zeal was not anger but love for God's honor.
Which Bible Character Are You?
Take this free Bible personality quiz to discover which Bible character you are most like. 10 questions, instant result with a King James verse.
One of 36 free KJV quizzes — see them all.
Editor’s reflection
An Egyptian name in a priestly family — 'the Nubian' — carried by three very different men.
Phineas (KJV Phinehas, Hebrew פִּינְחָס) is almost certainly Egyptian rather than Hebrew: pa-nehsi, 'the Nubian' or 'the dark-skinned one.' That is not a curiosity. The family of Aaron carries several Egyptian names — Moses, Hophni, Merari — a quiet trace of Israel's long residence in Egypt preserved in the priestly line.
The first Phinehas is Aaron's grandson, remembered for stopping a plague at Peor and receiving 'the covenant of an everlasting priesthood' (Numbers 25:13). It is one of the harder narratives in the Torah, and it is honest to say so: the act commended is a violent one, taken within the specific covenant-breaking crisis of Numbers 25, and the text presents its outcome as the halting of a plague, not a licence.
The second Phinehas is a very different man — a corrupt son of Eli who treated the offerings with contempt and died the day the ark was captured (1 Samuel 4). A third appears among the returning exiles in Ezra 8:33. Modern usage favours the spelling Phineas, familiar from literature and cartoon, with the short form Finn making it unexpectedly wearable.
“Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away.”
What does Phinehas mean in the Bible?
Phinehas means "Oracle; Mouth of brass" and is a name of Hebrew/Egyptian origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron whose zealous action stopped a plague in Israel. God rewarded his passion for holiness with a 'covenant of peace' — an eternal priesthood. His zeal was not anger but love for God's honor.
Where does Phinehas appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Phinehas is connected to 2 key passages in the King James Bible, beginning with Numbers 25:11-13. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed."
Take the KJV Bible with You
Download the complete King James Bible as a free PDF — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
What are the variants and nicknames of Phinehas?
Phinehas has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Which books of the Bible mention Phinehas?
Phinehas is mentioned across 5 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Phinehas?
Phinehas demonstrates that holy zeal — passion for God's honor — brings peace, not chaos. God rewards those who stand when others sit.
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
Miracle
The Plague Stopped by Phinehas
Phinehas' zealous act ends a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites at Peor.
Bible Quiz
Phinehas Bible Quiz
The priest whose zeal turned away wrath from Israel.
Devotional
Hebrews 11:1 — Meaning & Devotional
Faith
Devotional
Hebrews 13:5 — Meaning & Devotional
Contentment
Commentary
Hebrews 4:12 Commentary
In-depth study • Scripture's Power
Commentary
Hebrews 10:24-25 Commentary
In-depth study • Christian Community
What names are related to Phinehas?
Names like Phinehas
Other Hebrew/Egyptian biblical names that share the spirit of "Oracle; Mouth of brass" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Phinehas
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Share the meaning of Phinehas
Download a printable name card with the KJV verse and meaning — perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, or a baptism keepsake.
Phinehas name meaning: frequently asked questions
In the King James Bible the priestly figure is spelled Phinehas, with an h before the final s. Phineas is the modern English spelling used for the given name today. They are the same name; only the transliteration differs.
Yes — Phinehas appears in the King James Bible, including Numbers 25:11-13.
Phinehas means "Oracle; Mouth of brass." It is a Hebrew/Egyptian name. The King James Bible uses it in Numbers 25:11-13, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Phinehas
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Phinehas?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Phinehas?
You can read every verse where Phinehas appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.