God’s Word Translation
Numbers 9:18
18At the Lord’s command the Israelites would break camp, and at his command they would set up camp. As long as the ⌞column of⌟ smoke stayed over the tent, they would stay in the same place.
Numbers 9:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)At the commandment of the Lord the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
- New International Version (NIV)At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.
- English Standard Version (ESV)At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp.
- New King James Version (NKJV)At the command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped.
Context of Numbers 9:18
16The smoke always glowed this way. At night the smoke covering the tent glowed like fire. 17Whenever the smoke moved from the tent, the Israelites would break camp, and wherever it stopped, the Israelites would set up camp. At the Lord’s command the Israelites would break camp, and at his command they would set up camp. As long as the ⌞column of⌟ smoke stayed over the tent, they would stay in the same place. 19When the smoke stayed over the tent for a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s command and wouldn’t break camp. 20The same thing happened when the smoke stayed only a few days over the tent: At the Lord’s command they would set up camp, and at his command they would break camp.
Read all of Numbers 9Numbers 9:18 word by word
עַל־פִּ֣י יְהוָ֗ה יִסְעוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְעַל־פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה יַחֲנ֑וּ כָּל־יְמֵ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכֹּ֧ן הֶעָנָ֛ן עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יַחֲנֽוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- At the commandmentפֶּהpeh · lip: wordH6310
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- journeyedנָסַעnâsa‛ · to set outH5265
- they pitchedחָנָהchânâh · to campH2583
- as long asיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- the cloudעָנָן‛ânân · cloudH6051
- abodeשָׁכַןshâkan · to dwellH7931
- upon the tabernacleמִשְׁכָּןmishkân · tabernacleH4908
Cross-references for Numbers 9:18
- Numbers 9:20The same thing happened when the smoke stayed only a few days over the tent: At the Lord’s command they would set up camp, and at his command they would break camp.
- Numbers 10:13This was the first time they moved, following the command that the Lord had given through Moses.
- Exodus 17:1The whole community of Israelites left the desert of Sin and traveled from place to place as the Lord commanded them. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
- 2 John 1:6Love means that we live by doing what he commands. We were commanded to live in love, and you have heard this from the beginning.
- 1 Corinthians 10:1I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that all our ancestors ⌞who left Egypt⌟ were under the cloud, and they all went through the sea.
Commentaries on Numbers 9:18
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 This cloud was appointed to be the visible sign and symbol of God's presence with Israel. Thus we are taught to see God always near us, both night and day. As long as the cloud rested on the tabernacle, so long they continued in the same place. There is no time lost, while we are waiting God's time. When the cloud was taken up, they removed, however comfortably they were encamped. We are kept at uncertainty concerning the time of our putting…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-23This passage is similar to Exodus 40:17, 34–38. It gives more details about how God used the pillar of cloud and fire to lead his people (see also Exodus 13:21–22). The Lord was faithful and clearly guided his people in the wilderness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-2315. the cloud covered the tabernacle--The inspired historian here enters on an entirely new subject, which might properly have formed a separate chapter, beginning at this verse and ending at Nu 10:29 [Calmet]. The cloud was a visible token of God's special presence and guardian care of the Israelites (Ex 14:20; Psa 105:39). It was easily distinguishable from all other clouds by its peculiar form and its fixed position; for from the day of the completion…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 9:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 9
- 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
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