New Living Translation
Numbers 21:4
4Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey,
Numbers 21:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
- New International Version (NIV)They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;
- English Standard Version (ESV)From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way.
Context of Numbers 21:4
2Then the people of Israel made this vow to the Lord: “If you will hand these people over to us, we will completely destroy all their towns.” 3The Lord heard the Israelites’ request and gave them victory over the Canaanites. The Israelites completely destroyed them and their towns, and the place has been called Hormah ever since. Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, 5and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” 6So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.
Read all of Numbers 21Numbers 21:4 word by word
וַיִּסְע֞וּ מֵהֹ֤ר הָהָר֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יַם־ס֔וּף לִסְבֹ֖ב אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֑וֹם וַתִּקְצַ֥ר נֶֽפֶשׁ־הָעָ֖ם בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And they journeyedנָסַעnâsa‛ · to set outH5265
- from mountהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
- Horהֹרhôr · (Mount) HorH2023
- by the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: roadH1870
- of the Redסוּףsûph · Red (Sea)H5488
- seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
- to compassסָבַבsâbab · to turn: surroundH5437
- the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of Edomאֱדוֹם'ĕdôm 'ĕdôm · EdomH123
- and the soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
- of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- was much discouragedקָצֵרqâtsar · be shortH7114
Cross-references for Numbers 21:4
- Numbers 20:22The whole community of Israel left Kadesh and arrived at Mount Hor.
- Numbers 33:41Meanwhile, the Israelites left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
- Numbers 14:25Now turn around, and don’t go on toward the land where the Amalekites and Canaanites live. Tomorrow you must set out for the wilderness in the direction of the Red Sea.”
- Deuteronomy 1:40As for you, turn around now and go on back through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.’
- Numbers 20:18But the king of Edom said, “Stay out of my land, or I will meet you with an army!”
- Deuteronomy 2:5Do not bother them, for I have given them all the hill country around Mount Seir as their property, and I will not give you even one square foot of their land.
- Judges 11:18“Finally, they went around Edom and Moab through the wilderness. They traveled along Moab’s eastern border and camped on the other side of the Arnon River. But they never once crossed the Arnon River into Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
- Numbers 32:7“Why do you want to discourage the rest of the people of Israel from going across to the land the Lord has given them?
- Exodus 6:9So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.
- Acts 14:22where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles.
Commentaries on Numbers 21:4
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The direct route to Moab through the valleys of Edom being closed against them Numbers 20:20-21, they were compelled to turn southward. Their course lay down the Arabah; until, a few hours north of Akaba (Ezion-Geber) the Wady Ithm opened to them a gap in the hostile mountains, allowed them to turn to their left, and to march northward toward Moab Deuteronomy 2:3. They were thus for some days (see Numbers 22:1 note) in the Arabah, a mountain plain of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-9Verses 4-9 The children of Israel were wearied by a long march round the land of Edom. They speak discontentedly of what God had done for them, and distrustfully of what he would do. What will they be pleased with, whom manna will not please? Let not the contempt which some cast on the word of God, make us value it less. It is the bread of life, substantial bread, and will nourish those who by faith feed upon it, to eternal life, whoever may call it light…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-9The "vow to the LORD" (21:2–3) and the resulting victory did not stop Israel from criticizing God and Moses. The long journey was a punishment for similar complaints (14:26–35).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. they journeyed from mount Hor--On being refused the passage requested, they returned through the Arabah, "the way of the Red Sea," to Elath, at the head of the eastern gulf of the Red Sea, and thence passed up through the mountains to the eastern desert, so as to make the circuit of the land of Edom (Nu 33:41, 42). the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way--Disappointment on finding themselves so near the confines of the promised…Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 21:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 21
- 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
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