New English Translation
Numbers 15:32
32When the Israelites were in the wilderness they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day.
Numbers 15:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
- New International Version (NIV)While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.
- English Standard Version (ESV)While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.
Context of Numbers 15:32
30“‘But the person who acts defiantly, whether native-born or a resident foreigner, insults the Lord. That person must be cut off from among his people. 31Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person must be completely cut off. His iniquity will be on him.’” When the Israelites were in the wilderness they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day. 33Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to the whole community. 34They put him in custody, because there was no clear instruction about what should be done to him.
Read all of Numbers 15Numbers 15:32 word by word
וַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּמְצְא֗וּ אִ֛ישׁ מְקֹשֵׁ֥שׁ עֵצִ֖ים בְּי֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And while the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- were in the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
- they foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
- a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- that gatheredקָשַׁשׁqâshash · to gatherH7197
- sticksעֵץ‛êts · tree: stickH6086
- upon the sabbathשַׁבָּתshabbâth · SabbathH7676
- dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
Cross-references for Numbers 15:32
- Exodus 16:23He said to them, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a time of cessation from work, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Whatever you want to bake, bake today; whatever you want to boil, boil today; whatever is left put aside for yourselves to be kept until morning.’”
- Exodus 20:8“Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy.
- Exodus 35:2In six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there must be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of complete rest to the Lord. Anyone who does work on it will be put to death.
Commentaries on Numbers 15:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32They found a man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath - This was in all likelihood a case of that kind supposed above: the man despised the word of the Lord, and therefore broke his commandment; see Numbers 15:31. On this ground he was punished with the utmost rigor of the law.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 32Moses mentions here, as is his wont (compare Leviticus 24:10-16), the first open transgression and its punishment in order to exemplify the laws which he is laying down. The offence of Sabbath-breaking was one for which there could be no excuse. This law at least might be observed even in the wilderness. Transgression of it was therefore a presumptuous sin, and was punished accordingly.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-36Verses 30-36 Those are to be reckoned presumptuous sinners, who sin designedly against God's will and glory. Sins thus committed are exceedingly sinful. He that thus breaks the commandment reproaches the Lord. He also despises the word of the Lord. Presumptuous sinners despise it, thinking themselves too great, too good, and too wise, to be ruled by it. A particular instance of presumption in the sin of sabbath-breaking is related. The offence was…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32-36This story gives an example of what Numbers 15:30–31 teaches. The Sabbath was the Lord’s holy day. The people were not allowed to ignore it or treat it as unimportant (Exodus 20:8–11; 31:14–15; 35:1–3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 32-3432-34. a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day--This incident is evidently narrated as an instance of presumptuous sin. The mere gathering of sticks was not a sinful act and might be necessary for fuel to warm him or to make ready his food. But its being done on the Sabbath altered the entire character of the action. The law of the Sabbath being a plain and positive commandment, this transgression of it was a known and wilful sin, and it was…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 15:32
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 15
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries