English Standard Version
Numbers 11:5
5We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.
Numbers 11:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
- New International Version (NIV)We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.
- New King James Version (NKJV)We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;
- New Living Translation (NLT)“We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted.
Context of Numbers 11:5
3So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them. 4Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at." 7Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium.
Read all of Numbers 11Numbers 11:5 word by word
זָכַ֙רְנוּ֙ אֶת־הַדָּגָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נֹאכַ֥ל בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם חִנָּ֑ם אֵ֣ת הַקִּשֻּׁאִ֗ים וְאֵת֙ הָֽאֲבַטִּחִ֔ים וְאֶת־הֶחָצִ֥יר וְאֶת־הַבְּצָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַשּׁוּמִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- We rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
- the fishדָּגָהdâgâh · fishH1710
- which we did eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- in Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- freelyחִנָּםchinnâm · for nothingH2600
- the cucumbersקִשֻּׁאָהqishshû' · cucumberH7180
- and the melonsאֲבַטִּחִים'ăbaţţîyach · melonH20
- and the leeksחָצִירchâtsîyr · leekH2682
- and the onionsבָּצָלbetsel · onionH1211
- and the garlickשׁוּםshûm · garlicH7762
Cross-references for Numbers 11:5
- Exodus 16:3and the people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger."
- Psalms 17:14from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.
- Philippians 3:19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Commentaries on Numbers 11:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5We remember, etc. - The choice aliments which those murmurers complained of having lost by their leaving Egypt, were the following: fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. A European may smile at such delicacies; but delicacies they were in that country. Their fish is excellent; their cucumbers and water melons highly salubrious and refreshing; and their onions, garlic, etc., exquisitely flavoured, differing as much from vegetables of the same…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4-35Verses 4-35 Occurrences at Kibroth-hattavah. Numbers 11:4 The mixt multitude - The word in the original resembles our “riff-raff,” and denotes a mob of people scraped together. It refers here to the multitude of strangers (see Exodus 12:38) who had followed the Israelites from Egypt. Numbers 11:5 The natural dainties of Egypt are set forth in this passage with the fullness and relish which bespeak personal experience. Numbers 11:6-7 There is nothing at…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-9Verses 4-9 Man, having forsaken his proper rest, feels uneasy and wretched, though prosperous. They were weary of the provision God had made for them, although wholesome food and nourishing. It cost no money or care, and the labour of gathering it was very little indeed; yet they talked of Egypt's cheapness, and the fish they ate there freely; as if that cost them nothing, when they paid dearly for it with hard service! While they lived on manna, they…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6Who will feed us meat?: The Israelites had flocks and herds (for example, 32:1; Exodus 12:32, 38; 17:3; 34:3). But the animals were more valuable for their dairy products and other benefits while alive. They only butchered them for meat occasionally. The Hebrews did not have enough meat to regularly feed such a large population (compare Numbers 11:21–22).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely--(See on Ex 7:17). The people of Egypt are accustomed to an almost exclusive diet of fish, either fresh or sun-dried, during the hot season in April and May--the very season when the Israelites were travelling in this desert. Lower Egypt, where were the brick-kilns in which they were employed, afforded great facilities for obtaining fish in the Mediterranean, the lakes, and the canals of the Nile…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 11:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 11
- 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
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