Numbers 11:4

Numbers 11:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat!
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat?
• New Living Translation (NLT)Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed.

Context of Numbers 11:4

2When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down. 3So that place was called Taberah, because fire from the Lord had burned among them. The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

Numbers 11:4 word by word

וְהָֽאסַפְסֻף֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ הִתְאַוּ֖וּ תַּאֲוָ֑ה וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ וַיִּבְכּ֗וּ גַּ֚ם בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מִ֥י יַאֲכִלֵ֖נוּ בָּשָֽׂר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the mixt multitudeאֲסַפְסֻף'aspesûph · rabbleH628
• amongקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
• them fell a lustingתַּאֲוָהta'ăvâh · desireH8378
• them fell a lustingאָוָה'âvâh · to desireH183
• and the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• also weptבָּכָהbâkâh · to weepH1058
• againשׁוּבshûb · to return: againH7725
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Who shall give us fleshבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320
• to eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398

Cross-references for Numbers 11:4

• Exodus 12:38Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.
• Leviticus 24:10Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite.
• Nehemiah 13:3When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent.
• 1 Corinthians 15:33Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
• Psalms 78:18They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.
• Psalms 106:14In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test.
• Romans 13:14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
• 1 Corinthians 10:6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

Commentaries on Numbers 11:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The mixed multitude - האספסף hasaphsuph, the collected or gathered people. Such as came out of Egypt with the Israelites; and are mentioned Exodus 12:38. This mongrel people, who had comparatively little of the knowledge of God, feeling the difficulties and fatigues of the journey, were the first to complain; and then we find the children of Israel joined them in their complainings, and made a common cause with these demi-infidels.Read the comment
• 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. 4-9Verses 4-9 Man, having forsaken his proper rest, feels uneasy and wretched, though prosperous. They were weary of the provision God had made for them, although wholesome food and nourishing. It cost no money or care, and the labour of gathering it was very little indeed; yet they talked of Egypt's cheapness, and the fish they ate there freely; as if that cost them nothing, when they paid dearly for it with hard service! While they lived on manna, they…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-6Who will feed us meat?: The Israelites had flocks and herds (for example, 32:1; Exodus 12:32, 38; 17:3; 34:3). But the animals were more valuable for their dairy products and other benefits while alive. They only butchered them for meat occasionally. The Hebrews did not have enough meat to regularly feed such a large population (compare Numbers 11:21–22).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting--These consisted of Egyptians. [See on Ex 12:38.] To dream of banquets and plenty of animal food in the desert becomes a disease of the imagination; and to this excitement of the appetite no people are more liable than the natives of Egypt. But the Israelites participated in the same feelings and expressed dissatisfaction with the manna on which they had hitherto been supported, in comparison with…Read the comment

Topics related to Numbers 11:4

• Gluttony
• Murmuring
• Trouble

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Children of Israel
• Complain
• Cry
• Exodus
• Fall
• Sinai
• Talk

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