New King James Version
Numbers 12:3
3(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
Numbers 12:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
- New International Version (NIV)(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
- New Living Translation (NLT)(Now Moses was very humble—more humble than any other person on earth.)
Context of Numbers 12:3
1Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.) 4Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. 5Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward.
Read all of Numbers 12Numbers 12:3 word by word
וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֖ה עָנָ֣יו מְאֹ֑ד מִכֹּל֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Numbers 12:3
- Psalms 147:6The Lord lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground.
- Psalms 149:4For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.
- Matthew 5:5Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
- Matthew 11:29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- Matthew 21:5“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
- 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
- James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
- 1 Peter 3:4rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
- Numbers 11:10Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased.
- Numbers 20:10And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?”
- Psalms 106:32They angered Him also at the waters of strife, So that it went ill with Moses on account of them;
- 2 Corinthians 11:5For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles.
- 2 Corinthians 12:11I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
- James 3:2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
Commentaries on Numbers 12:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Now the man Moses was very meek - How could Moses, who certainly was as humble and modest as he was meek, write this encomium upon himself? I think the word is not rightly understood; ענו anav, which we translate meek, comes from ענה anah, to act upon, to humble, depress, afflict, and is translated so in many places in the Old Testament; and in this sense it should be understood here: "Now this man Moses was depressed or afflicted more than any man האדמה…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-15Verses 1-15 Miriam, as a prophetess (compare Exodus 15:20-21) no less than as the sister of Moses and Aaron, took the first rank among the women of Israel; and Aaron may be regarded as the ecclesiastical head of the whole nation. But instead of being grateful for these high dignities they challenged the special vocation of Moses and the exclusive authority which God had assigned to him. Miriam was the instigator, from the fact that her name stands…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The humility of Moses stands in sharp contrast to the jealousy of Miriam and Aaron. The text says that Moses was very humble. His character reflected a godly spirit (see also Proverbs 3:34; Matthew 5:5). The statement about the humility of Moses appears as a parenthetical comment (a brief note inserted into the story). It presents the truth from God’s point of view. Some think these words may have been written by Moses. Others believe they may have been…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. the man Moses was very meek--(Ex 14:13; 32:12, 13; Nu 14:13; 21:7; De 9:18). This observation might have been made to account for Moses taking no notice of their angry reproaches and for God's interposing so speedily for the vindication of His servant's cause. The circumstance of Moses recording an eulogium on a distinguishing excellence of his own character is not without a parallel among the sacred writers, when forced to it by the insolence and…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 12:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 12
- 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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries