God’s Word Translation
Numbers 11:1
1The people began complaining out loud to the Lord about their troubles. When the Lord heard them, he became angry, and fire from the Lord began to burn among them. It destroyed some people on the outskirts of the camp.
Numbers 11:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
- New International Version (NIV)Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.
Context of Numbers 11:1
The people began complaining out loud to the Lord about their troubles. When the Lord heard them, he became angry, and fire from the Lord began to burn among them. It destroyed some people on the outskirts of the camp. 2The people cried out to Moses, Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down. 3That place was called Taberah [Fire] because fire from the Lord burned among them there.
Read all of Numbers 11Numbers 11:1 word by word
וַיְהִ֤י הָעָם֙ כְּמִתְאֹ֣נְנִ֔ים רַ֖ע בְּאָזְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע יְהוָה֙ וַיִּ֣חַר אַפּ֔וֹ וַתִּבְעַר־בָּם֙ אֵ֣שׁ יְהוָ֔ה וַתֹּ֖אכַל בִּקְצֵ֥ה הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- complainedאָנַן'ânan · to complainH596
- it displeasedאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · ear: hearingH241
- it displeasedרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- and his angerאַף'aph · face: angerH639
- was kindledחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
- and the fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- burntבָּעַרbâ‛ar · to burn: burnH1197
- among them, and consumedאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- in the uttermost partsקָצֶהqâtseh qêtseh · endH7097
- of the campמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
Cross-references for Numbers 11:1
- Numbers 10:33So they left the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the Lord’s promise went ahead of them a distance of three days’ journey to find them a place to rest.
- Numbers 20:2Since the community was without water, they came together to confront Moses and Aaron.
- Numbers 21:5and criticized God and Moses. They said, “Why did you make us leave Egypt—just to let us die in the desert? There’s no bread or water, and we can’t stand this awful food!”
- Exodus 15:23When they came to Marah, they couldn’t drink the water because it tasted bitter. That’s why the place was called Marah [Bitter Place].
- Exodus 16:2In the desert the whole community complained about Moses and Aaron.
- Exodus 17:2So they complained to Moses by saying, “Give us water to drink!” Moses said to them, “Why are you complaining to me? Why are you testing the Lord?”
- Deuteronomy 9:22You also made the Lord angry at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth Hattaavah.
- Lamentations 3:39“Why should any living mortal (any person) complain about being punished for sin?
- 1 Corinthians 10:10Don’t complain as some of them did. The angel of death destroyed them.
- Jude 1:16These people complain, find fault, follow their own desires, say arrogant things, and flatter people in order to take advantage of them.
- Genesis 38:10What Onan did angered the Lord so much that the Lord took away Onan’s life too.
- 2 Samuel 11:27When her mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to his home, and she became his wife. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord considered David’s actions evil.
- James 5:4The wages you refused to pay the people who harvested your fields shout ⌞to God⌟ against you. The Lord of Armies has heard the cries of those who gather the crops.
- Numbers 16:35Fire came from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering incense.
- Leviticus 10:2A fire flashed from the Lord and burned them, and they died in the presence of the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 32:22My anger has started a fire that will burn to the depths of hell. It will consume the earth and its crops and set the foundations of the mountains on fire.
Commentaries on Numbers 11:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1And when the people complained - What the cause of this complaining was, we know not. The conjecture of St. Jerome is probable; they complained because of the length of the way. But surely no people had ever less cause for murmuring; they had God among them, and miracles of goodness were continually wrought in their behalf. It displeased the Lord - For his extraordinary kindness was lost on such an ungrateful and rebellious people. And his anger was…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1See the marginal rendering. They murmured against the privations of the march. The fire of the Lord - Probably lightning; compare Psalm 78:21. In the uttermost parts - Rather, in the end. The fire did not reach far into the camp. It was quickly quenched at the intercession of Moses.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The burning at Taberah. (1-3) The people lust for flesh, and loathe the manna. (4-9) Moses complains of his charge. (10-15) Elders appointed to divide the charge. Flesh meat promised. (16-23) The Spirit rests on the elders. (24-30) Quails are given. (31-35) Verses 1-3 Here is the people's sin; they complained. See the sinfulness of sin, which takes occasion from the commandment to be provoking. The weakness of the law discovered sin, but could not destroy…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Soon the people began to complain … fire from the LORD blazed: The link between Israel’s complaints and God’s punishment is a major theme in Numbers and throughout the Old Testament (for example, Deuteronomy 9:22; Psalm 78). God is holy and just, and he demands obedience from his people. Complaints are the same as rejecting him (compare Numbers 11:20). their hardship: Mount Sinai had been a stable home for a year. The journey to Paran brought heat…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-351. When the people complained it displeased the Lord, &c.--Unaccustomed to the fatigues of travel and wandering into the depths of a desert, less mountainous but far more gloomy and desolate than that of Sinai, without any near prospect of the rich country that had been promised, they fell into a state of vehement discontent, which was vented at these irksome and fruitless journeyings. The displeasure of God was manifested against the ungrateful…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 11:1
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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