Cozbi כָּזְבִי

Female H3579 1 book

Midianite woman killed for immorality with an Israelite

Biography

Cozbi was a Midianite woman, the daughter of Zur, a tribal head in Midian. During Israel's stay in Shittim, Cozbi engaged in sexual immorality with Zimri, an Israelite man from the tribe of Simeon. This act of defiance against God's commands occurred in the sight of Moses and the entire congregation of Israel, who were weeping at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting due to a plague that had broken out as a result of the people's immorality and idolatry.

Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron the priest, took a spear and followed Zimri into his tent, where he found him with Cozbi. Phinehas drove the spear through both of them, killing them and halting the plague that had claimed the lives of 24,000 Israelites. God commended Phinehas for his zeal and granted him a covenant of perpetual priesthood.

Cozbi's name is mentioned again in Num.25.18, where God instructs Moses to treat the Midianites as enemies and attack them because of their treachery and the incident involving Cozbi, which led Israel into sin.

Family

In Scripture

1 biblical book
Numbers 2 verses
  • Numbers 25:15

    "The name of the Midianite woman who was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur. He was head of the people of a fathers’ house in Midian."

  • Numbers 25:18

    "for they harassed you with their wiles, wherein they have deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the incident regarding Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.”"

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script Strong's
Named Hebrew כָּזְבִי H3579
Encyclopedia Article

Cozbi

ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)

prince of a fathers' house among the Simeonites" (Nu 25:6-18).

ko-ze'-ba (1Ch 4:22).

See ACHZIB.

krak'nel: Occurs in 1Ki 14:3</ref