Christian Standard Bible
Numbers 14:2
2All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!
Numbers 14:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
- New International Version (NIV)All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!
- English Standard Version (ESV)And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!
- New King James Version (NKJV)And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!
Context of Numbers 14:2
1Then the whole community broke into loud cries, and the people wept that night. All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3Why is the Lord bringing us into this land to die by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Read all of Numbers 14Numbers 14:2 word by word
וַיִּלֹּ֙נוּ֙ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן כֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֲלֵהֶ֜ם כָּל־הָעֵדָ֗ה לוּ־מַ֙תְנוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם א֛וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לוּ־מָֽתְנוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And all the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- murmuredלוּןlûn lîyn · to grumbleH3885
- against Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
- and against Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- and the whole congregationעֵדָה‛êdâh · congregationH5712
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto them, Would Godלוּlû' lû' lû · ifH3863
- that we had diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- in the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- in this wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
Cross-references for Numbers 14:2
- Numbers 16:41The next day the entire Israelite community complained about Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the Lord’s people!”
- Exodus 15:24The people grumbled to Moses, “What are we going to drink?”
- Exodus 16:2The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.
- Exodus 17:3But the people thirsted there for water and grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you ever bring us up from Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
- Deuteronomy 1:27You grumbled in your tents and said, ‘The Lord brought us out of the land of Egypt to hand us over to the Amorites in order to destroy us, because he hates us.
- Psalms 106:24They despised the pleasant land and did not believe his promise.
- 1 Corinthians 10:10And don’t grumble as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.
- Philippians 2:14Do everything without grumbling and arguing,
- Jude 1:16These people are discontented grumblers, living according to their desires; their mouths utter arrogant words, flattering people for their own advantage.
- Numbers 14:28Tell them: As I live — this is the Lord’s declaration — I will do to you exactly as I heard you say.
- Numbers 11:15If you are going to treat me like this, please kill me right now if I have found favor with you, and don’t let me see my misery anymore.”
- 1 Kings 19:4but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my ancestors.”
- Job 3:11Why was I not stillborn; why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?
- Job 7:15so that I prefer strangling — death rather than life in this body.
- Jonah 4:3And now, Lord, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
Commentaries on Numbers 14:2
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-38Twelve spies explored the fertile land of Canaan and found strong enemies defending it. Earlier chapters show Israel's disobedience, hinting at future failures. The Israelites did not have the obedience, courage, or faith to capture the land. So, the Lord made them spend 40 years in the Wilderness of Sinai. That generation did not receive their inheritance in the promised land.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-42-4. Would God that we had died in Egypt--Such insolence to their generous leaders, and such base ingratitude to God, show the deep degradation of the Israelites, and the absolute necessity of the decree that debarred that generation from entering the promised land [Nu 14:29-35]. They were punished by their wishes being granted to die in that wilderness [He 3:17; Jude 5]. A leader to reconduct them to Egypt is spoken of (Ne 9:17) as actually nominated…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 14:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 14
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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