Numbers 9:17
in Numbers 9Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites would set out, and wherever the cloud settled, there the Israelites would camp.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel encamped.
KJV
And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
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This verse in Numbers 9
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThis site's exposition
And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle
on Numbers 9:17-19
The cloud governs the going and the staying alike, and verse 19 gives the harder half of it, the long halts that ran to many days together. What the text calls that waiting is keeping the charge of the Lord, so a camp sitting still under orders is doing the thing it was commanded. Henry makes the point that no time is lost while God's time is being waited for.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
7 ), went on their pace: God did by it, as it were, cover them with his feathers. We are not now to expect such sensible tokens of the divine presence and guidance as this was, but the promise is sure to all God's spiritual Israel that he will guide them by his counsel ( Ps. lxxiii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number
And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
when the cloud was taken up--that is, rose to a higher elevation, so as to be conspicuous at the remotest extremities of the camp. That was a signal for removal; and, accordingly, it is properly called (Nu 9:18) "the commandment of the Lord." It was a visible token of the presence of God; and from it, as a glorious throne, He gave the order.
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The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וּלְפִ֞י | ulefi | and to [the] mouth of | H6310 → | 498 times |
| הֵעָלֹ֤ת | healot | [the] taking up of | H5927 → | 890 times |
| הֶֽעָנָן֙ | heanan | the cloud | H6051 → | 87 times |
| מֵעַ֣ל | meal | from over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הָאֹ֔הֶל | haohel | the tent | H168 → | 345 times |
| וְאַ֣חֲרֵי־ | veacharei- | and after | H310 → | 715 times |
| כֵ֔ן | khen | thus | H3651 → | 771 times |
| יִסְע֖וּ | yisu | they set out | H5265 → | 146 times |
| בְּנֵ֣י | benei | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וּבִמְק֗וֹם | uvimkom | and in [the] place | H4725 → | 401 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֤ר | ʾasher | <of> where | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יִשְׁכָּן־ | yishkon- | it settled down | H7931 → | 129 times |
| שָׁם֙ | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| הֶֽעָנָ֔ן | heanan | the cloud | H6051 → | 87 times |
| שָׁ֥ם | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
| יַחֲנ֖וּ | yachanu | they encamped | H2583 → | 143 times |
| בְּנֵ֥י | benei | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
וּלְפִ֞יand to [the] mouth of
ulefiH6310 →498 times
הֵעָלֹ֤ת[the] taking up of
healotH5927 →890 times
הֶֽעָנָן֙the cloud
heananH6051 →87 times
מֵעַ֣לfrom over
mealH5921 →5755 times
הָאֹ֔הֶלthe tent
haohelH168 →345 times
וְאַ֣חֲרֵי־and after
veacharei-H310 →715 times
כֵ֔ןthus
khenH3651 →771 times
יִסְע֖וּthey set out
yisuH5265 →146 times
בְּנֵ֣י[the] people of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וּבִמְק֗וֹםand in [the] place
uvimkomH4725 →401 times
אֲשֶׁ֤ר<of> where
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
יִשְׁכָּן־it settled down
yishkon-H7931 →129 times
שָׁם֙there
shamH8033 →834 times
הֶֽעָנָ֔ןthe cloud
heananH6051 →87 times
שָׁ֥םthere
shamH8033 →834 times
יַחֲנ֖וּthey encamped
yachanuH2583 →143 times
בְּנֵ֥י[the] people of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 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
Psalms 32:8I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 33:18
Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion
- Psalms 25:8–10
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way.
- Matthew 11:29
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- Proverbs 8:10–11
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
- Proverbs 3:5–6
Through
Psalms 73:24You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory.
it leads to
- Psalms 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
- Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
- Psalms 48:14
For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even till death.
- Psalms 32:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Numbers

This page draws on Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: The Pentateuch and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
