God’s Word Translation
Numbers 12:3
3(Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on 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.)
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were 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.)
Context of Numbers 12:3
1Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses because he was married to a woman from Sudan. 2They asked, “Did the Lord speak only through Moses? Didn’t he also speak through us?” The Lord heard their complaint. (Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on earth.) 4Suddenly, the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “All three of you come to the tent of meeting.” So all three of them came. 5Then the Lord came down in the column of smoke and stood at the entrance to the tent. He called to 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 gives relief to those who are oppressed. He brings wicked people down to the ground.
- Psalms 149:4because the Lord takes pleasure in his people. He crowns those who are oppressed with victory.
- Matthew 5:5Blessed are those who are gentle. They will inherit the earth.
- Matthew 11:29Place my yoke over your shoulders, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble. Then you will find rest for yourselves
- Matthew 21:5“Tell the people of Zion, ‘Your king is coming to you. He’s gentle, riding on a donkey, on a colt, a young pack animal.’ ”
- 2 Corinthians 10:1I, Paul, make my appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ. I’m the one who is humble when I’m with you but forceful toward you when I’m not with 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.
- James 3:13Do any of you have wisdom and insight? Show this by living the right way with the humility that comes from wisdom.
- 1 Peter 3:4Rather, beauty is something internal that can’t be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious.
- Numbers 11:10Moses heard people from every family crying at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became very angry, and Moses didn’t like it either.
- Numbers 20:10Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?”
- Psalms 106:32They made God angry by the water at Meribah. Things turned out badly for Moses because of what they did,
- 2 Corinthians 11:5I don’t think I’m inferior in any way to your super-apostles.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. You should have recommended me to others. Even if I’m nothing, I wasn’t inferior in any way to your super-apostles.
- James 3:2All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does.
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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