English Standard Version
Numbers 32:16
16Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
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.
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)But they approached Moses and said, “We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children.
Context of Numbers 32:16
14And behold, you have risen in your fathers' place, a brood of sinful men, to increase still more the fierce anger of the Lord against Israel! 15For if you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will destroy all this people." Then they came near to him and said, "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, 17but we will take up arms, ready to go before the people of Israel, until we have brought them to their place. And our little ones shall live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance.
Read all of Numbers 32Numbers 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 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho.
- Genesis 34:22Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people—when every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised.
- Genesis 33:17But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of 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
In the dictionaries
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
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Commentaries