New International Version
Numbers 14:18
18‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’
Numbers 14:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
- English Standard Version (ESV)'The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.’
- New Living Translation (NLT)‘The Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion. But he does not excuse the guilty. He lays the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.’
Context of Numbers 14:18
16‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath, so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’ 17“Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ 19In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” 20The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked.
Read all of Numbers 14Numbers 14:18 word by word
יְהוָ֗ה אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֙יִם֙ וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֹ֖ן וָפָ֑שַׁע וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֞ד עֲוֹ֤ן אָבוֹת֙ עַל־בָּנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- longsufferingאַף'aph · face: angerH639
- longsufferingאָרֵךְ'ârêk · slowH750
- and of greatרַבrab · manyH7227
- mercyחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
- forgivingנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: forgiveH5375
- iniquityעָוֺן‛âvôn ‛âvôn · iniquity: crimeH5771
- and transgressionפֶּ֫שַׁעpesha‛ · transgressionH6588
- and by no meansנָקָהnâqâh · to clearH5352
- visitingפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: visitH6485
- of the fathersאָב'âb · fatherH1
- upon the childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- unto the thirdשִׁלֵּשׁshillêsh · thirdH8029
- and fourthרִבֵּעַribbêa‛ · fourthH7256
Cross-references for Numbers 14:18
- Exodus 34:6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
- Psalms 103:8The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
- Psalms 145:8The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
- Jonah 4:2He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.
- Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
- Nahum 1:2The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies.
- Romans 3:24and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
- Romans 5:21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Ephesians 1:7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
- Exodus 20:5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
- Exodus 34:7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
- Jeremiah 23:2Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord.
Commentaries on Numbers 14:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18The Lord is longsuffering - See the note on Exodus 34:6.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-19Verses 11-19 Moses made humble intercession for Israel. Herein he was a type of Christ, who prayed for those that despitefully used him. The pardon of a nation's sin, is the turning away the nation's punishment; and for that Moses is here so earnest. Moses argued that, consistently with God's character, in his abundant mercies, he could forgive them.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-18Moses had used this argument before when he asked for forgiveness for Israel's rebellion (Exodus 32:10–14). Moses knew God would still punish the Israelites (Deuteronomy 7:9–10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-451. all the congregation lifted up their voice and cried--Not literally all, for there were some exceptions.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 14:18
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
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