New King James Version
Numbers 27:17
17who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
Numbers 27:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
- New International Version (NIV)to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd."
- New Living Translation (NLT)Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
Context of Numbers 27:17
15Then Moses spoke to the Lord, saying: 16“Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” 18And the Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight.
Read all of Numbers 27Numbers 27:17 word by word
אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵ֣א לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם וַאֲשֶׁ֤ר יָבֹא֙ לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר יוֹצִיאֵ֖ם וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר יְבִיאֵ֑ם וְלֹ֤א תִהְיֶה֙ עֲדַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה כַּצֹּ֕אן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵין־לָהֶ֖ם רֹעֶֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Which may go outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- them, and which may go inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- them, and which may lead them outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: sendH3318
- and which may bring them inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- that the congregationעֵדָה‛êdâh · congregationH5712
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- be not as sheepצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
- which have no shepherdרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
Cross-references for Numbers 27:17
- Numbers 11:28So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!”
- Numbers 13:8from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun;
- Exodus 17:9And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”
- Deuteronomy 3:28But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.’
- Deuteronomy 31:7Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.
- Deuteronomy 34:9Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
- Numbers 11:17Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone.
- Genesis 41:38And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
- Judges 3:10The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the Lord delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim.
- Judges 11:29Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced toward the people of Ammon.
- 1 Samuel 16:13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
- Daniel 5:14I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
- John 3:34For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
- Acts 6:3Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
- 1 Corinthians 12:4There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
- Numbers 27:23And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.
Commentaries on Numbers 27:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17That the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd - This is a beautiful expression, and shows us in what light Moses viewed himself among his people. He was their shepherd; he sought no higher place; he fed and guided the flock of God under the direction of the Divine Spirit, and was faithful in all his Master's house. To this saying of Moses our Lord alludes, Matthew 9:36.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 Envious spirits do not love their successors; but Moses was not one of these. We should concern ourselves, both in our prayers and in our endeavours, for the rising generation, that religion may be maintained and advanced, when we are in our graves. God appoints a successor, even Joshua; who had signalized himself by his courage in fighting Amalek, his humility in ministering to Moses, and his faith and sincerity in witnessing against the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17Israel was about to begin a long battle for Canaan. Moses did not want them to struggle without a leader or become lost like sheep without a shepherd (compare 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5; Matthew 9:36).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-1712. The Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land--Although the Israelites were now on the confines of the promised land, Moses was not privileged to cross the Jordan, but died on one of the Moabitic range of mountains, to which the general name of Abarim was given (Nu 33:47). The privation of this great honor was owing to the unhappy conduct he had manifested in the striking of the rock at Meribah [Nu 20:12]; and while…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 27:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 27
- 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