God’s Word Translation
Numbers 14:2
2They complained to Moses and Aaron, “If only we had died in Egypt or this desert!
Numbers 14:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!
- New International Version (NIV)All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!
- English Standard Version (ESV)And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!
- New King James Version (NKJV)And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!
Context of Numbers 14:2
1Then all the people in the Israelite community raised their voices and cried out loud all that night. They complained to Moses and Aaron, “If only we had died in Egypt or this desert! 3Why is the Lord bringing us to this land—just to have us die in battle? Our wives and children will be taken as prisoners of war! Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4They said to each other, “Let’s choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Read all of Numbers 14Numbers 14:2 word by word
וַיִּלֹּ֙נוּ֙ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן כֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַֽיֹּאמְר֨וּ אֲלֵהֶ֜ם כָּל־הָעֵדָ֗ה לוּ־מַ֙תְנוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם א֛וֹ בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה לוּ־מָֽתְנוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And all the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- murmuredלוּןlûn lîyn · to grumbleH3885
- against Mosesמֹשֶׁהmôsheh · MosesH4872
- and against Aaronאַהֲרֹן'ahărôn · AaronH175
- and the whole congregationעֵדָה‛êdâh · congregationH5712
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- unto them, Would Godלוּlû' lû' lû · ifH3863
- that we had diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- in the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- in this wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
Cross-references for Numbers 14:2
- Numbers 16:41The next day the whole community of Israel complained to Moses and Aaron. They said, “You have killed the Lord’s people.”
- Exodus 15:24The people complained about Moses by asking, “What are we supposed to drink?”
- Exodus 16:2In the desert the whole community complained about Moses and Aaron.
- Exodus 17:3But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses and asked, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? Was it to make us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?”
- Deuteronomy 1:27You complained in your tents and said, “The Lord hates us! That’s why he brought us out of Egypt. He wanted to hand us over to the Amorites so that they could destroy us!
- Psalms 106:24They refused ⌞to enter⌟ the pleasant land. They did not believe what he said.
- 1 Corinthians 10:10Don’t complain as some of them did. The angel of death destroyed them.
- Philippians 2:14Do everything without complaining or arguing.
- Jude 1:16These people complain, find fault, follow their own desires, say arrogant things, and flatter people in order to take advantage of them.
- Numbers 14:28So tell them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, I solemnly swear I will do everything to you that you said I would do.
- Numbers 11:15If this is how you’re going to treat me, why don’t you just kill me? I can’t face this trouble anymore.”
- 1 Kings 19:4Then he traveled through the wilderness for a day. He sat down under a broom plant and wanted to die. “I’ve had enough now, Lord,” he said. “Take my life! I’m no better than my ancestors.”
- Job 3:11“Why didn’t I die as soon as I was born and breathe my last breath when I came out of the womb?
- Job 7:15My throat would rather be choked. My body would prefer death ⌞to these dreams⌟.
- Jonah 4:3So now, Lord, take my life. I’d rather be dead than alive.”
Commentaries on Numbers 14:2
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-38Twelve spies explored the fertile land of Canaan and found strong enemies defending it. Earlier chapters show Israel's disobedience, hinting at future failures. The Israelites did not have the obedience, courage, or faith to capture the land. So, the Lord made them spend 40 years in the Wilderness of Sinai. That generation did not receive their inheritance in the promised land.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2-42-4. Would God that we had died in Egypt--Such insolence to their generous leaders, and such base ingratitude to God, show the deep degradation of the Israelites, and the absolute necessity of the decree that debarred that generation from entering the promised land [Nu 14:29-35]. They were punished by their wishes being granted to die in that wilderness [He 3:17; Jude 5]. A leader to reconduct them to Egypt is spoken of (Ne 9:17) as actually nominated…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 14:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 14
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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