New International Version But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ New Living Translation But Moses responded to the LORD, “There are 600,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you say, ‘I will give them meat for a whole month!’ English Standard Version But Moses said, “The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!’ Berean Standard Bible But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ Berean Literal Bible And Moses said, “Are six hundred thousand men on foot, the people whom I am among, and You have said, ‘Flesh I will give them, that they may eat for a month of days.’ King James Bible And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. New King James Version And Moses said, “The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.’ New American Standard Bible But Moses said, “The people, among whom I am included, are six hundred thousand on foot! Yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.’ NASB 1995 But Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.’ NASB 1977 But Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 on foot; yet Thou hast said, ‘I will give them meat in order that they may eat for a whole month.’ Legacy Standard Bible But Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.’ Amplified Bible But Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 [fighting men] on foot [besides all the women and children]; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, so that they may eat it for a whole month!’ Berean Annotated Bible But Moses (drawn out) replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month. Christian Standard Bible But Moses replied, “I’m in the middle of a people with six hundred thousand foot soldiers, yet you say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ Holman Christian Standard Bible But Moses replied, “I’m in the middle of a people with 600,000 foot soldiers, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ American Standard Version And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Contemporary English Version Moses replied, "At least 600,000 grown men are here with me. How can you say there will be enough meat to feed them and their families for a whole month? English Revised Version And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. GOD'S WORD® Translation But Moses said, "Here I am with 600,000 foot soldiers around me. Yet, you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!' Good News Translation Moses said to the LORD, "Here I am leading 600,000 people, and you say that you will give them enough meat for a month? International Standard Version Moses responded, "I'm with 600,000 people on foot and you're saying I am to give them enough meat to eat for a whole month? NET Bible Moses said, "The people around me are 600,000 on foot; but you say, 'I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.' New Heart English Bible Moses said, "The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and you have said, 'I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.' Webster's Bible Translation And Moses said, The people among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ World English Bible Moses said, “The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and you have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month.’ Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Moses says, “Six hundred thousand footmen [are] the people in whose midst I [dwell]; and You, You have said, I give flesh to them, and they have eaten [for] a month of days! Berean Literal Bible And Moses said, “Are six hundred thousand men on foot, the people whom I am among, and You have said, ‘Flesh I will give them, that they may eat for a month of days.’ Young's Literal Translation And Moses saith, 'Six hundred thousand footmen are the people in whose midst I am; and Thou, Thou hast said, Flesh I give to them, and they have eaten, a month of days! Smith's Literal Translation And Moses will say, Six hundred thousand of foot the people which I am in the midst of them: and thou saidst, I will give flesh to them, and they shall eat a month of days. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Moses said: There are six hundred thousand footmen of this people, and sayest thou: I will give them flesh to eat a whole month? Catholic Public Domain Version And Moses said: “There are six hundred thousand footmen of this people, and yet you say, ‘I will give them flesh to eat for a whole month.’ New American Bible But Moses said, “The people around me include six hundred thousand soldiers; yet you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month.’ New Revised Standard Version But Moses said, “The people I am with number six hundred thousand on foot; and you say, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month’! Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen Moses said before the LORD, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen, and thou hast said, I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Moshe said before LORD JEHOVAH: “The people among whom I am are six hundred thousand footmen, and you have said: ‘I shall give flesh to them and they shall eat a month of days.’ OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Moses said: 'The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and yet Thou hast said: I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month! Brenton Septuagint Translation And Moses said, The people among whom I am are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou saidst, I will give them flesh to eat, and they shall eat a whole month. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Seventy Elders Anointed…20but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and makes you nauseous—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have cried out before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’ ” 21But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’ 22If all our flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?”… Cross References But Moses replied, Exodus 4:10-13 “Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.” / And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD? / Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.” … Exodus 6:12 But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?” Exodus 6:30 But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, Exodus 12:37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. Numbers 1:46 And all those counted totaled 603,550. Exodus 38:26 a beka per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men. yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, Exodus 16:8 And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.” Exodus 16:12-13 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” / That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. Psalm 78:27 He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea. and they will eat for a month.’ 1 Kings 17:14-16 for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain upon the face of the earth.’” / So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and there was food every day for Elijah and the woman and her household. / The jar of flour was not exhausted and the jug of oil did not run dry, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Elijah. Psalm 78:29-31 So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved. / Yet before they had filled their desire, with the food still in their mouths, / God’s anger flared against them, and He put to death their strongest and subdued the young men of Israel. 2 Kings 4:42-44 Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha. / But his servant asked, “How am I to set twenty loaves before a hundred men?” “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha, “for this is what the LORD says: ‘They will eat and have some left over.’” / So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD. Exodus 16:13-15 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. / When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground. / When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. Psalm 78:19-20 They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? / When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?” Psalm 78:26-29 He stirred the east wind from the heavens and drove the south wind by His might. / He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea. / He felled them in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings. … John 6:5-13 When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” / But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do. / Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.” … Treasury of Scripture And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and you have said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Numbers 1:46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. Numbers 2:32 These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: Jump to Previous Eat Eaten Hundred Six Thou Thousand WholeJump to Next Eat Eaten Hundred Six Thou Thousand WholeNumbers 11 1. The burning at Taberah quenched by Moses' prayer4. The people crave meat, and loathe manna 10. Moses complains of his charge 16. God promises to divide his burden unto seventy elders, 18. and to give the people meat for a month 21. Moses' faith is staggered 31. Quails are given in wrath at Kibroth Hattaavah But Moses replied, Moses answered as Israel’s appointed leader, bringing his concern directly before the Lord while bearing responsibility for the people in the wilderness. Exo 4:10-13 “Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent”… “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, This count refers to the adult men of Israel, with their families forming a far larger camp. Their size made food, movement, and order in the wilderness humanly overwhelming. Exo 12:37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth… yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, Moses struggled to see how such a multitude could receive meat in the desert, even though God had already sustained them with manna. Exo 16:8 And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat… and they will eat for a month.’ The Lord’s promise was specific and sufficient: Israel would receive meat for an entire month, demonstrating that their provision depended on His power rather than Moses’ resources. 1Ki 17:14-16 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:… Persons / Places / Events 1. MosesThe leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. In this passage, Moses is expressing doubt about God's promise to provide meat for the Israelites. 2. The Israelites The people of God who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are now in the wilderness. They are complaining about the lack of meat, longing for the food they had in Egypt. 3. God The Almighty, who has promised to provide for His people. In this context, He is responding to the complaints of the Israelites by promising to provide meat for a month. 4. The Wilderness The setting of this event, where the Israelites are journeying towards the Promised Land. It is a place of testing and reliance on God. 5. Quail The meat that God eventually provides in abundance, demonstrating His power and provision. Teaching Points Trust in God's ProvisionDespite the seemingly impossible situation, God is able to provide abundantly. We are called to trust in His promises and provision, even when circumstances seem dire. The Danger of Complaining The Israelites' complaints reflect a lack of faith and gratitude. As believers, we should cultivate a heart of thankfulness and trust, avoiding the pitfalls of grumbling. God's Patience and Faithfulness God remains faithful and patient with His people, even when they doubt and complain. This encourages us to rely on His steadfast love and mercy. The Role of Leadership Moses' interaction with God shows the burden of leadership and the importance of bringing concerns to God in prayer. Leaders are called to trust God and guide others in faith. The Importance of Obedience God's provision often comes with instructions or conditions. Obedience to His word is crucial in experiencing His blessings fully. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 11:21?2. How does Moses' doubt in Numbers 11:21 challenge our faith in God's provision? 3. What does Moses' question reveal about human limitations versus divine power? 4. How can we apply Moses' experience to trust God in overwhelming situations today? 5. Compare Moses' doubt in Numbers 11:21 with Peter's doubt in Matthew 14:31. 6. How does God's response to Moses encourage us to rely on His promises? 7. How could Moses doubt God's ability to provide for 600,000 men in Numbers 11:21? 8. What does Numbers 11:21 reveal about human limitations in understanding divine power? 9. Why does Moses question God's promise despite witnessing miracles in Egypt? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 11? (21) Six hundred thousand footmen.--In Numbers 1:46 the number is stated to be 603,550; but here, as elsewhere, a round number is mentioned.Verse 21. - And Moses said. Moses had not recovered from the impatient and despairing temper into which the ill-behaviour of the people had betrayed him. He could not really have doubted the Divine power to do this, after what he had seen in the desert of Sin (Exodus 16:13), but he spoke petulantly, and indeed insolently, out of the misery which was yet in his heart. Numbers 11:21 captures a moment when Moses, overwhelmed by sheer numbers and practical concerns, voices doubt about God’s ability to feed Israel for an entire month. The verse spotlights the contrast between human limitation and divine sufficiency. God’s faithfulness in past provisions, His clear promise in the present, and His pattern throughout Scripture all converge to show that no logistical challenge can thwart His word. Moses’ honest question becomes a stage for God’s unforgettable answer: nothing is impossible with the LORD. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But Mosesמֹשֶׁה֒ (mō·šeh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver replied, וַיֹּאמֶר֮ (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Here I am אָנֹכִ֖י (’ā·nō·ḵî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 595: I among בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ (bə·qir·bōw) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7130: The nearest part, the center 600,000 שֵׁשׁ־ (šêš-) Number - feminine singular construct Strong's 8337: Six (a cardinal number) men הָעָ֕ם (hā·‘ām) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock on foot, רַגְלִ֔י (raḡ·lî) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7273: A footman yet You וְאַתָּ֣ה (wə·’at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you say, אָמַ֗רְתָּ (’ā·mar·tā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘I will give אֶתֵּ֣ן (’et·tên) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set them meat, בָּשָׂר֙ (bā·śār) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man and they will eat וְאָכְל֖וּ (wə·’ā·ḵə·lū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 398: To eat for a month.’ חֹ֥דֶשׁ (ḥō·ḏeš) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month Additonal Resources Numbers 11:21 Blue Letter BibleNumbers 11:21 Bible Gateway Numbers 11:21 Bible.com Numbers 11:21 NIV |
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