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Numbers 14:16

in Numbers 14

‘Because the LORD was unable to bring this people into the land He swore to give them, He has slaughtered them in the wilderness.’

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Because Jehovah was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.

KJV

Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.

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This verse in Numbers 14

Commentary

5 notes on this verse

This site's exposition

The Egyptians will hear of it

on Numbers 14:13-16

Moses answers the offer by arguing about what Egypt and Canaan will conclude, and he never once argues that Israel deserves better. His case is that the nations will say the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land. It is the same argument he made at Exodus 32:12, and both times he puts God's reputation where a man would have put his own advantage.

This site's exposition

Because the LORD was unable to bring this people into the land

Moses puts words in the mouths of the nations. Deuteronomy 9:28 records him using the same plea after the calf, and Joshua prays on the same ground at Joshua 7:9, asking what God will do for His great name. Barnes hears a man crowding in every plea he can name.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Now, Lord, let not one attribute be glorified at the expense of another; rather let mercy rejoice against judgment than that almighty power should be impeached." Note, The best pleas in prayer are those that are taken from God's honour; for they agree with the first petition of the Lord's Prayer, Hallowed be thy name.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes

Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

A mitigation of the sentence in answer to the prayer of Moses; they shall not all be cut off, but the decree goes forth ratified with an oath, published to the people, again and again repeated, that this whole congregation should perish in the wilderness, and none of them enter Canaan but Caleb and Joshua only,

The words behind it

14 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • מִבִּלְתִּ֞י<from> because not

    mibiltiH1115 →112 times

  • יְכֹ֣לֶתwas able

    yekholetH3201 →194 times

  • יְהוָ֗הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • לְהָבִיא֙to bring

    lehavi'H935 →2568 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • הָעָ֣םthe people

    haamH5971 →1873 times

  • הַזֶּ֔ה<the> this

    hazehH2088 →1180 times

  • אֶל־into

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • הָאָ֖רֶץthe land

    haaretzH776 →2504 times

  • אֲשֶׁר־which

    ʾasher-H834 →5497 times

  • נִשְׁבַּ֣עhe swore

    nishba'H7650 →186 times

  • לָהֶ֑םto <the> them

    lahem

  • וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֖םand he has slaughtered them

    vaiyishchatemH7819 →81 times

  • בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃in the wilderness

    bamidbarH4057 →270 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

8 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Deuteronomy 9:28Otherwise, those in the land from which You brought us out will say, ‘Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land He had promised them, and because He hated them, He has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.’6 worksJoshua 7:9When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”5 worksJoshua 7:7“O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!5 worksDeuteronomy 32:26–27I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind,4 worksGenesis 24:7The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me from my father’s house and my native land, who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’—He will send His angel before you so that you can take a wife for my son from there.3 worksExodus 13:5And when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites—the land He swore to your fathers that He would give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you shall keep this service in this month.2 works
The other 2 cross-references, with their words ▾
Ezekiel 47:14You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance.2 worksJeremiah 32:22You gave them this land that You had sworn to give their fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Joshua 7:9

    When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?”

    it leads to

    • Exodus 32:12

      Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Ezekiel 36:22–23

      Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which…

    • Psalms 83:4

      saying, “Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more.”

    • John 12:28

      Father, glorify Your name!” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

  • Through

    Joshua 7:7

    “O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to…

    it leads to

    • Hebrews 12:5

      And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.

    • 2 Kings 3:10

      “Alas,” said the king of Israel, “for the LORD has summoned these three kings to deliver them into the hand of Moab!”

    • Exodus 17:3

      But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

    • Exodus 5:22–23

      So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?

Where this verse is studied

About Numbers

The Brazen Serpent, Anthony van Dyck, 1618 to 1620. Public domain.
The Brazen Serpent, Anthony van Dyck, 1618 to 1620. Public domain.
Numbers: the study guide →Read Numbers 14 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Calvin, Commentary on the Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Form of a Harmony; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Numbers 14 →