Who is Phinehas who is mentioned in Psalm 106:28-31?

Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron the high priest and the son of Eleazar. He served as a priest in Israel.

Psalm 106:28–31 is referring back to the event recorded in Numbers 25. At that time, many Israelites were being drawn into idolatry and sexual immorality with the women of Moab. God’s judgment came upon the camp because of this rebellion.

Phinehas acted decisively when an Israelite man openly brought a Midianite woman into the camp in defiance of God’s command. Numbers 25:7–8 says Phinehas intervened, and the plague that was striking Israel stopped.

God then commended Phinehas for his zeal and gave him “the covenant of an everlasting priesthood” because he was zealous for God’s honor and made atonement for Israel (Numbers 25:10–13).

That is why Psalm 106:30–31 says, “Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. And that was counted unto him for righteousness.”

The point is not that Phinehas was saved by violence or by earning righteousness through one act. Rather, his action showed that he was taking God’s holiness and Israel’s open rebellion seriously at a moment of national crisis.

So Phinehas was a priest from Aaron’s family who became known for his zeal for God during the incident at Baal-peor.