Numbers 32:16

Numbers 32:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
• New International Version (NIV)Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then they came near to him and said: “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,

Context of Numbers 32:16

14Moses continued to say, ‘Now you are turning against God, as your fathers did. You are as bad as them! You will cause the Lord to be even more angry with the Israelites. 15If you turn against him, he will leave them here in the desert. If all the Israelite people die, it will be because of you!’ The men of Reuben and Gad said to Moses, ‘Let us build strong houses here for our women and our children. We will also build places to keep our animals safe. 17Then we will be ready to join the other tribes and we will lead them to the battle. While we are fighting, our families will be safe here. The people who live in this land will not be able to hurt them. 18We will not return to our homes here until all the Israelite tribes receive their own part of the land.

Numbers 32:16 word by word

וַיִּגְּשׁ֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ וַ֣יֹּאמְר֔וּ גִּדְרֹ֥ת צֹ֛אן נִבְנֶ֥ה לְמִקְנֵ֖נוּ פֹּ֑ה וְעָרִ֖ים לְטַפֵּֽנוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they came nearנָגַשׁnâgash · to approach: approachH5066
• unto him, and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• We will buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• sheepfoldsצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
• sheepfoldsגְּדֵרָהgedêrâh · wallH1448
• here for our cattleמִקְנֶהmiqneh · livestockH4735
• and citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• for our little onesטַףţaph · childH2945

Cross-references for Numbers 32:16

• Joshua 4:13About 40,000 men who had weapons crossed to the flat land near Jericho. They marched past the Lord's Covenant Box.
• Genesis 34:22But we must do the one thing that they have asked us to do. We must circumcise all our males in the same way that they do. If we do that, they will agree to live among us.
• Genesis 33:17But Jacob went to Succoth instead. He built a house for himself, and he made huts for his animals. That is why the place is called Succoth.

Commentaries on Numbers 32:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16We will build - cities for our little ones - It was impossible for these, numerous as they might be, to build cities and fortify them for the defense of their families in their absence. Calmet supposes they meant no more than repairing the cities of the Amorites which they had lately taken; which work might have been very easily accomplished in the time which they spent on this side of Jordan, before they went over with their brethren, to put them in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-27Verses 16-27 Here is the good effect of plain dealing. Moses, by showing their sin, and the danger of it, brought them to their duty, without murmuring or disputing. All men ought to consider the interests of others as well as their own; the law of love requires us to labour, venture, or suffer for each other as there may be occasion. They propose that their men of war should go ready armed before the children of Israel into the land of Canaan, and that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-19The Reubenites and Gadites assured Moses that they would not discourage their fellow Israelites and would support the war to its very end. There were still dangers east of the Jordan River, so they wanted to keep their livestock and families safe.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-196-19. Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here--Their language was ambiguous; and Moses, suspicious that this proposal was an act of unbelief, a scheme of self-policy and indolence to escape the perils of warfare and live in ease and safety, addressed to them a reproachful and passionate remonstrance. Whether they had really meditated such a withdrawal from all share in the war…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 32:16

• Gad
• Gilead
• Haste
• Misjudgment
• Motive
• Shepherd
• Uncharitableness

In the dictionaries

• Destroy
• Discourage
• Fold
• Herdsman
• Ready
• Sit
• Gad (1)
• Moses
• Numbers, Book of
• Reuben

Commentaries on Numbers 32

• 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