English Standard Version
Numbers 27:16
16"Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
Numbers 27:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
- New International Version (NIV)“May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
- New Living Translation (NLT)“O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community.
Context of Numbers 27:16
14because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy at the waters before their eyes." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) 15Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, "Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation 17who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd." 18So the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.
Read all of Numbers 27Numbers 27:16 word by word
יִפְקֹ֣ד יְהוָ֔ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָרוּחֹ֖ת לְכָל־בָּשָׂ֑ר אִ֖ישׁ עַל־הָעֵדָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Numbers 27:16
- Deuteronomy 31:2And he said to them, "I am 120 years old today. I am no longer able to go out and come in. The Lord has said to me, 'You shall not go over this Jordan.'
- 1 Samuel 8:20that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."
- 1 Samuel 18:13So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people.
- 2 Samuel 5:2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, 'You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'"
- 1 Kings 3:7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.
- 2 Chronicles 1:10Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?"
- John 10:3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
- 1 Kings 22:17And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, 'These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.'"
- 2 Chronicles 18:16And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, 'These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.'"
- Ezekiel 34:5So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered;
- Zechariah 10:2For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd.
- Zechariah 13:7"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me," declares the Lord of hosts. "Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.
- Matthew 9:36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
- Matthew 10:6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
- Matthew 15:24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
- Mark 6:34When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
Commentaries on Numbers 27:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16The Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh - See the notes on Numbers 16:22.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16The God of the spirits of all flesh - An acknowledgment that man, who is but flesh (compare Genesis 6:3), is of himself helpless; and “lives and moves and has his being” in God Acts 17:28. The words are suitably employed here to introduce an entreaty that God would not leave the congregation without a guide and leader, and in Numbers 16:22 as a preface to an intercession that the whole people should not suffer for the sin of a, few.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 Envious spirits do not love their successors; but Moses was not one of these. We should concern ourselves, both in our prayers and in our endeavours, for the rising generation, that religion may be maintained and advanced, when we are in our graves. God appoints a successor, even Joshua; who had signalized himself by his courage in fighting Amalek, his humility in ministering to Moses, and his faith and sincerity in witnessing against the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17Israel was about to begin a long battle for Canaan. Moses did not want them to struggle without a leader or become lost like sheep without a shepherd (compare 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5; Matthew 9:36).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation--The request was most suitably made to God in this character, as the Author of all the intellectual gifts and moral graces with which men are endowed, and who can raise up qualified persons for the most arduous duties and the most difficult situations.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 27:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 27
- 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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