God’s Word Translation
Numbers 11:12
12Am I their mother? Did I give birth to them? Are you really asking me to carry them in my arms—as a nurse carries a baby—all the way to the land you promised their ancestors with an oath?
Numbers 11:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?
- New International Version (NIV)Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,' to the land that you swore to give their fathers?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers?
Context of Numbers 11:12
10Moses heard people from every family crying at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became very angry, and Moses didn’t like it either. 11So he asked, “Lord, why have you brought me this trouble? How have I displeased you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Am I their mother? Did I give birth to them? Are you really asking me to carry them in my arms—as a nurse carries a baby—all the way to the land you promised their ancestors with an oath? 13Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep crying for me to give them meat to eat. 14I can’t take care of all these people by myself. This is too much work for me!
Read all of Numbers 11Numbers 11:12 word by word
הֶאָנֹכִ֣י הָרִ֗יתִי אֵ֚ת כָּל־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה אִם־אָנֹכִ֖י יְלִדְתִּ֑יהוּ כִּֽי־תֹאמַ֨ר אֵלַ֜י שָׂאֵ֣הוּ בְחֵיקֶ֗ךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשָּׂ֤א הָאֹמֵן֙ אֶת־הַיֹּנֵ֔ק עַ֚ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתָּ לַאֲבֹתָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Have I conceivedהָרָהhârâh · to conceiveH2029
- all this peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- have I begottenיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
- them, that thou shouldest sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto me, Carryנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
- them in thy bosomחֵיקchêyq chêq chôq · bosom: embraceH2436
- as a nursing fatherאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
- the sucking childיָנַקyânaq · to suckleH3243
- unto the landאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
- which thou swarestשָׁבַעshâba‛ · to swearH7650
- unto their fathersאָב'âb · fatherH1
Cross-references for Numbers 11:12
- Isaiah 40:11Like a shepherd he takes care of his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them in his arms. He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.
- Ezekiel 34:23Then I will place one shepherd over them, my servant David, and he will take care of them. He will take care of them and be their shepherd.
- John 10:11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.
- Isaiah 49:15Can a woman forget her nursing child? Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb? Although mothers may forget, I will not forget you.
- Galatians 4:19My children, I am suffering birth pains for you again until Christ is formed in you.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7although as apostles of Christ we had the right to do this. Instead, we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children.
- Genesis 13:15I will give all the land you see to you and to your descendants for an indefinite period of time.
- Genesis 22:16and said, “I am taking an oath on my own name, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not refused to give me your son, your only son,
- Genesis 26:3Live here in this land for a while, and I will be with you and bless you. I will give all these lands to you and your descendants. I will keep the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.
- Genesis 50:24At last Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m about to die. God will definitely take care of you and take you out of this land to the land he swore with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
- Exodus 13:5The Lord swore to your ancestors that he would give you the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites. When he brings you into that land flowing with milk and honey, you must observe this ceremony in this month.
Commentaries on Numbers 11:12
- 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. 10-15Verses 10-15 The provocation was very great; yet Moses expressed himself otherwise than became him. He undervalued the honour God had put upon him. He magnified his own performances, while he had the Divine wisdom to direct him, and Almighty power to dispense rewards and punishments. He speaks distrustfully of the Divine grace. Had the work been much less he could not have gone through it in his own strength; but had it been much greater, through God…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-15The Israelites' constant complaining frustrated Moses, leading him to express his own complaints to God. With extreme sarcasm, Moses reminded God that he had not wanted this responsibility (compare Exodus 4:10). Israel became such a burden that Moses wished God would do him the favor of ending his life (compare Job 6:9). Moses' complaint was acceptable, unlike the people's complaints, because he sought the Lord instead of longing for Egypt's pleasures.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 10-1510-15. Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant, &c.--It is impossible not to sympathize with his feelings although the tone and language of his remonstrances to God cannot be justified. He was in a most distressing situation--having a mighty multitude under his care, with no means of satisfying their clamorous demands. Their conduct shows how deeply they had been debased and demoralized by long oppression: while his reveals a…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 11:12
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries