English Standard Version
Numbers 12:3
3Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
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.)
- New King James Version (NKJV)(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
- New Living Translation (NLT)(Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)
Context of Numbers 12:3
1Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2And they said, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." And the three of them came out. 5And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.
Read all of Numbers 12Numbers 12:3 word by word
וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֖ה עָנָ֣יו מְאֹ֑ד מִכֹּל֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Numbers 12:3
- Psalms 147:6The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.
- Psalms 149:4For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.
- Matthew 5:5"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Matthew 11:29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- Matthew 21:5"Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'"
- 2 Corinthians 10:1I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
- James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
- 1 Peter 3:4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
- Numbers 11:10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the Lord blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased.
- Numbers 20:10Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?"
- Psalms 106:32They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account,
- 2 Corinthians 11:5Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
- James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle 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
In the dictionaries
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
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