Numbers 12:3

Numbers 12:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
• New International Version (NIV)(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
• New King James Version (NKJV)(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

Context of Numbers 12:3

1Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife. 2“Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this. Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth. 4And suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “You three, come out to the Tent of Meeting.” So the three went out, 5and the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the Tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them had stepped forward,

Numbers 12:3 word by word

וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֖ה עָנָ֣יו מְאֹ֑ד מִכֹּל֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear

• Now Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
• was a veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• humbleעָנָו‛ânâv ‛ânâyv · poorH6035
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• more so than anyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• ·אֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• onעַל‛al · uponH5921
• the faceפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
• of the earthאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: planetH127

Cross-references for Numbers 12:3

• Psalms 147:6The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
• Psalms 149:4For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation.
• Matthew 5:5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
• Matthew 11:29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
• Matthew 21:5“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
• 2 Corinthians 10:1Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:7On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
• James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
• 1 Peter 3:4but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
• Numbers 11:10Then Moses heard the people of family after family weeping at the entrances to their tents, and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly, and Moses was also displeased.
• Numbers 20:10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”
• Psalms 106:32At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them.
• 2 Corinthians 11:5I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
• 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
• James 3:2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

Commentaries on Numbers 12:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Now the man Moses was very meek - How could Moses, who certainly was as humble and modest as he was meek, write this encomium upon himself? I think the word is not rightly understood; ענו anav, which we translate meek, comes from ענה anah, to act upon, to humble, depress, afflict, and is translated so in many places in the Old Testament; and in this sense it should be understood here: "Now this man Moses was depressed or afflicted more than any man האדמה…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-15Verses 1-15 Miriam, as a prophetess (compare Exodus 15:20-21) no less than as the sister of Moses and Aaron, took the first rank among the women of Israel; and Aaron may be regarded as the ecclesiastical head of the whole nation. But instead of being grateful for these high dignities they challenged the special vocation of Moses and the exclusive authority which God had assigned to him. Miriam was the instigator, from the fact that her name stands…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The humility of Moses stands in sharp contrast to the jealousy of Miriam and Aaron. The text says that Moses was very humble. His character reflected a godly spirit (see also Proverbs 3:34; Matthew 5:5). The statement about the humility of Moses appears as a parenthetical comment (a brief note inserted into the story). It presents the truth from God’s point of view. Some think these words may have been written by Moses. Others believe they may have been…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. the man Moses was very meek--(Ex 14:13; 32:12, 13; Nu 14:13; 21:7; De 9:18). This observation might have been made to account for Moses taking no notice of their angry reproaches and for God's interposing so speedily for the vindication of His servant's cause. The circumstance of Moses recording an eulogium on a distinguishing excellence of his own character is not without a parallel among the sacred writers, when forced to it by the insolence and…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 12:3

• Ambition
• Citizens
• Envy
• Forgiveness
• Judgments
• Leprosy
• Meekness
• Minister, Christian
• Moses
• Treason

In the dictionaries

• Moses
• Aaron
• Dedicate
• Exodus
• Meek
• Meekness
• Agrapha
• Chronicles, Books of
• Dark Sayings
• Genealogy

Commentaries on Numbers 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings