Numbers 12:10
in Numbers 12As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the cloud removed from over the Tent; and, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
KJV
And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
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This verse in Numbers 12
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Miriam became leprous--This malady in its most malignant form (Ex 4:6; 2Ki 5:27) as its color, combined with its sudden appearance, proved, was inflicted as a divine judgment; and she was made the victim, either because of her extreme violence or because the leprosy on Aaron would have interrupted or dishonored the holy service.
This site's exposition
the cloud departed from off the tabernacle
on Numbers 12:10-12
The cloud lifts and the leprosy is there in the same verse, which continues the sequence the book has been setting, complaining answered by fire at 11:1, craving answered by plague at 11:33, and speech against Moses answered here. Miriam alone is struck though Aaron spoke too, and the text gives no reason, so the commentators supply one, Gill and Henry pointing to the priesthood a leprous man could not have served. Aaron is the man Leviticus 13 appoints to look at a plague and pronounce on it, and here he looks at his sister and can only ask Moses to plead. His words in verse 12 describe a stillbirth, flesh half consumed, which is what the disease was taken to be doing to her.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
From the tabernacle - Not from the whole tabernacle, but from that part, whither it was come, to that part which was directly over the mercy-seat, where it constantly abode. Leprous - She, and not Aaron, either because she was chief in the transgression or because God would not have his worship interrupted or dishonoured, which it must have been if Aaron had been leprous.
And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle,....
He was struck through her side, and could not pronounce her leprous without blushing and trembling, knowing himself to be equally obnoxious. This judgment upon Miriam is improvable by us as a warning to take heed of putting any affront upon our Lord Jesus. If she was thus chastised for speaking against Moses, what will become of those that sin against Christ?
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Miriam became leprous - It is likely Miriam was chief in this mutiny; and it is probable that it was on this ground she is mentioned first, (see Num 12:1), and punished here, while Aaron is spared. Had he been smitten with the leprosy, his sacred character must have greatly suffered, and perhaps the priesthood itself have fallen into contempt. How many priests and preachers who deserved to be exposed to reproach and infamy, have been spared for the sake of the holy character they bore, that the ministry might not be blamed!
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהֶעָנָ֗ן | veheanan | and the cloud | H6051 → | 87 times |
| סָ֚ר | sar | it departed | H5493 → | 299 times |
| מֵעַ֣ל | meal | from over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הָאֹ֔הֶל | haohel | the tent | H168 → | 345 times |
| וְהִנֵּ֥ה | vehineh | and there! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| מִרְיָ֖ם | miryam | Miriam | H4813 → | 15 times |
| מְצֹרַ֣עַת | metzoraat | [was] leprous | H6879 → | 20 times |
| כַּשָּׁ֑לֶג | kashaleg | like <the> snow | H7950 → | |
| וַיִּ֧פֶן | vaiyifen | and he turned | H6437 → | 135 times |
| אַהֲרֹ֛ן | ʾaharon | Aaron | H175 → | 347 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| מִרְיָ֖ם | miryam | Miriam | H4813 → | 15 times |
| וְהִנֵּ֥ה | vehineh | and there! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| מְצֹרָֽעַת׃ | metzoraat | leprous | H6879 → | 20 times |
וְהֶעָנָ֗ןand the cloud
veheananH6051 →87 times
סָ֚רit departed
sarH5493 →299 times
מֵעַ֣לfrom over
mealH5921 →5755 times
הָאֹ֔הֶלthe tent
haohelH168 →345 times
וְהִנֵּ֥הand there!
vehinehH2009 →843 times
מִרְיָ֖םMiriam
miryamH4813 →15 times
מְצֹרַ֣עַת[was] leprous
metzoraatH6879 →20 times
כַּשָּׁ֑לֶגlike <the> snow
kashalegH7950 →
וַיִּ֧פֶןand he turned
vaiyifenH6437 →135 times
אַהֲרֹ֛ןAaron
ʾaharonH175 →347 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
מִרְיָ֖םMiriam
miryamH4813 →15 times
וְהִנֵּ֥הand there!
vehinehH2009 →843 times
מְצֹרָֽעַת׃leprous
metzoraatH6879 →20 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Exodus 4:6Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow.
it leads to
- 2 Kings 5:27
Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Kings 5:27
Through
Deuteronomy 24:9Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the journey after you came out of Egypt.
it leads to
- Numbers 12:10–15
As the cloud lifted from above the Tent, suddenly Miriam became leprous, white as snow. Aaron turned toward her, saw that she was leprous,
- 1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
- Numbers 12:10–15
Through
2 Kings 15:5And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people…
it leads to
- Leviticus 13:46
As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.
- 2 Kings 7:3
Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die?
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Numbers 12:14
But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days;…
- Leviticus 13:46
Through
2 Kings 5:27Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.
it leads to
- Exodus 4:6
Furthermore, the LORD said to Moses, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” So he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, white as snow.
- 2 Kings 15:5
And the LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, so that he lived in a separate house while his son Jotham had charge of the palace and governed the people…
- Exodus 4:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Numbers
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonExodus eraAaronBrother of Moses and Israel's first high priest; his rod budded, his garments were for glory and beauty, and his line carried the…
- PersonWildernessMiriamProphetess and sister of Moses and Aaron who led the women's song at the sea; struck with leprosy for challenging Moses' unique au…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.