Numbers 27:17
in Numbers 27who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Jehovah be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
KJV
Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
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This verse in Numbers 27
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThat the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd - This is a beautiful expression, and shows us in what light Moses viewed himself among his people. He was their shepherd; he sought no higher place; he fed and guided the flock of God under the direction of the Divine Spirit, and was faithful in all his Master’s house. To this saying of Moses our Lord alludes, Mat 9:36.
This site's exposition
will go out and come in before them
Going out and coming in before them names a leader's whole public conduct, in war and out of it. Moses asks that the congregation not be "like sheep without a shepherd", as Micaiah says of Israel at 1 Kings 22:17.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Go out before them - That is, who may wisely conduct them in all their affairs, both when they go forth to war, or upon other occasions, and when they return home and live in peace.
Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in,....
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יֵצֵ֣א | yetze' | he will go out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם | lifneihem | <to> before them | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר | vaasher | and who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יָבֹא֙ | yavo' | he will come | H935 → | 2568 times |
| לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם | lifneihem | <to> before them | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר | vaasher | and who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יוֹצִיאֵ֖ם | yotziem | he will lead out them | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר | vaasher | and who | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יְבִיאֵ֑ם | yeviem | he will bring them | H935 → | 2568 times |
| וְלֹ֤א | velo' | and not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תִהְיֶה֙ | tihyeh | it will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| עֲדַ֣ת | ʾadat | [the] congregation of | H5712 → | 149 times |
| יְהוָ֔ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| כַּצֹּ֕אן | katzon | like <the> sheep | H6629 → | 274 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אֵין־ | ʾein- | not | H369 → | 789 times |
| לָהֶ֖ם | lahem | [belongs] to <the> them | ||
| רֹעֶֽה׃ | roeh | a shepherd | H7462 → |
אֲשֶׁר־who
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
יֵצֵ֣אhe will go out
yetze'H3318 →1067 times
לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם<to> before them
lifneihemH6440 →2123 times
וַאֲשֶׁ֤רand who
vaasherH834 →5497 times
יָבֹא֙he will come
yavo'H935 →2568 times
לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם<to> before them
lifneihemH6440 →2123 times
וַאֲשֶׁ֥רand who
vaasherH834 →5497 times
יוֹצִיאֵ֖םhe will lead out them
yotziemH3318 →1067 times
וַאֲשֶׁ֣רand who
vaasherH834 →5497 times
יְבִיאֵ֑םhe will bring them
yeviemH935 →2568 times
וְלֹ֤אand not
velo'H3808 →5168 times
תִהְיֶה֙it will be
tihyehH1961 →3559 times
עֲדַ֣ת[the] congregation of
ʾadatH5712 →149 times
יְהוָ֔הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
כַּצֹּ֕אןlike <the> sheep
katzonH6629 →274 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
אֵין־not
ʾein-H369 →789 times
לָהֶ֖ם[belongs] to <the> them
lahem
רֹעֶֽה׃a shepherd
roehH7462 →
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
Mark 6:34When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
it leads to
- Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 2 Chronicles 18:16
So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 9:11
But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.
- Matthew 9:36
Through
Matthew 9:36When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
it leads to
- Mark 6:34
When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.
- Jeremiah 50:6
My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.
- Ezekiel 34:3–6
You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock.
- Matthew 14:14
When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
- Zechariah 10:2
For idols speak deceit and diviners see illusions; they tell false dreams and offer empty comfort. Therefore the people wander like sheep, oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
- Mark 6:34
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
About Numbers

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; 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.
