Numbers 12:15
New International Version
So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on till she was brought back.

New Living Translation
So Miriam was kept outside the camp for seven days, and the people waited until she was brought back before they traveled again.

English Standard Version
So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again.

Berean Standard Bible
So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought in again.

King James Bible
And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

New King James Version
So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey till Miriam was brought in again.

New American Standard Bible
So Miriam was shut outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again.

NASB 1995
So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again.

NASB 1977
So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was received again.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not set out until Miriam was received again.

Amplified Bible
So Miriam was shut up outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought in again [and declared ceremonially clean from her leprosy].

Christian Standard Bible
So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in.

American Standard Version
And Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

Contemporary English Version
The people of Israel did not move their camp until Miriam returned seven days later.

English Revised Version
And Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So Miriam was put in isolation outside the camp for seven days. The people didn't break camp until she was brought back.

Good News Translation
Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought back in.

International Standard Version
So Miriam was isolated outside the camp for seven days and the people didn't travel until Miriam was brought in.

Majority Standard Bible
So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought in again.

NET Bible
So Miriam was shut outside of the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey on until Miriam was brought back in.

New Heart English Bible
Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people did not travel until Miriam was brought in again.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

World English Bible
Miriam was shut up outside of the camp seven days, and the people didn’t travel until Miriam was brought in again.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Miriam is shut out at the outside of the camp [for] seven days, and the people have not journeyed until Miriam is gathered;

Young's Literal Translation
And Miriam is shut out at the outside of the camp seven days, and the people hath not journeyed till Miriam is gathered;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Miriam shall be shut without the camp seven days, and the people removed not till Miriam was taken back.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Mary therefore was put out of the camp seven days : and the people moved not from that place until Mary was called again.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so Miriam was excluded from the camp for seven days. And the people did not move from that place, until Miriam was called back.

New American Bible
So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not start out again until she was brought back.

New Revised Standard Version
So Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days; and the people did not set out on the march until Miriam had been brought in again.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days; and the people did not journey till Miriam came in again.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Maryam dwelt outside of the camp seven days, and the people did not pick up until Maryam entered.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days; and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Mariam was separated without the camp seven days; and the people moved not forward till Mariam was cleansed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Murmuring of Miriam and Aaron
14But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.” 15So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought in again. 16After that, the people set out from Hazeroth and camped in the Wilderness of Paran.…

Cross References
Leviticus 13:45-46
A diseased person must wear torn clothes and let his hair hang loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ / As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.

Deuteronomy 24:8-9
In cases of infectious skin diseases, be careful to diligently follow everything the Levitical priests instruct you. Be careful to do as I have commanded them. / Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on the journey after you came out of Egypt.

2 Kings 5:1-14
Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. / At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. / She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.” ...

2 Chronicles 26:19-21
Uzziah, with a censer in his hand to offer incense, was enraged. But while he raged against the priests in their presence in the house of the LORD before the altar of incense, leprosy broke out on his forehead. / When Azariah the chief priest and all the priests turned to him and saw his leprous forehead, they rushed him out. Indeed, he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had afflicted him. / So King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolation, leprous and cut off from the house of the LORD, while his son Jotham had charge of the royal palace and governed the people of the land.

Luke 17:12-19
As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance / and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” / When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed. ...

Matthew 8:2-4
Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. / Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”

Mark 1:40-45
Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” / And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed. ...

Luke 5:12-16
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. / “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” ...

2 Kings 7:3-10
Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die? / If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.” / So they arose at twilight and went to the camp of the Arameans. But when they came to the outskirts of the camp, there was not a man to be found. ...

Leviticus 14:1-32
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “This is the law for the one afflicted with a skin disease on the day of his cleansing, when he is brought to the priest. / The priest is to go outside the camp to examine him, and if the skin disease of the afflicted person has healed, ...

Matthew 10:8
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Luke 4:27
And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

John 9:1-7
Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, / and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” / Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him. ...

Acts 10:9-16
The next day at about the sixth hour, as the men were approaching the city on their journey, Peter went up on the roof to pray. / He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. / He saw heaven open and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ...

Acts 13:11
Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.


Treasury of Scripture

And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

shut out

Deuteronomy 24:8,9
Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do…

and the

Genesis 9:21-23
And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent…

Exodus 20:12
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

till Miriam

Lamentations 3:32
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

Micah 6:4
For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

Micah 7:8,9
Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me…

Jump to Previous
Camp Confined Journey Journeyed Received Seven Shut Tent-Circle Travel
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Camp Confined Journey Journeyed Received Seven Shut Tent-Circle Travel
Numbers 12
1. God rebukes the sedition of Miriam and Aaron
11. Miriam's leprosy is healed at the prayer of Moses
14. God commands her to be shut out of the host
16. The people encamp in the desert of Paran














So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days
Miriam's confinement outside the camp was a direct result of her rebellion against Moses, as described earlier in Numbers 12. This punishment reflects the seriousness of her sin, as leprosy rendered her ceremonially unclean, necessitating separation from the community (Leviticus 13:46). The seven-day period aligns with the purification process outlined in Levitical law (Leviticus 14:8-9). This incident underscores the importance of respecting God's chosen leaders and the consequences of challenging divine authority. The number seven often symbolizes completeness or perfection in the Bible, indicating a complete period of purification and restoration.

and the people did not move on until she was brought in again
The Israelites' decision to wait for Miriam's restoration before continuing their journey highlights the communal nature of their society and the value placed on each member. This pause in their journey demonstrates the importance of unity and the collective responsibility of the community. It also reflects the respect and affection the people had for Miriam, who was a prophetess and a leader among them (Exodus 15:20). This waiting period can be seen as a test of patience and obedience for the Israelites, as they were learning to follow God's timing rather than their own. The restoration of Miriam to the camp signifies forgiveness and the reinstatement of her role within the community, paralleling the theme of redemption found throughout Scripture.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Miriam
The sister of Moses and Aaron, a prophetess who played a significant role in the Exodus. In this chapter, she is disciplined by God for speaking against Moses.

2. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. He is central to this account as the one whom Miriam and Aaron spoke against.

3. Aaron
The brother of Moses and Miriam, the first high priest of Israel. He also participated in the complaint against Moses but was not struck with leprosy.

4. The Camp of Israel
The encampment of the Israelites during their wilderness journey. Miriam's exclusion from the camp signifies her temporary separation from the community.

5. The Seven Days
The period Miriam was required to stay outside the camp, symbolizing a complete cycle of purification and restoration.
Teaching Points
The Consequences of Disobedience
Miriam's punishment serves as a reminder that speaking against God's appointed leaders can have serious consequences. It underscores the importance of respecting God's order and authority.

The Role of Community in Restoration
The fact that the entire camp waited for Miriam's restoration highlights the communal aspect of faith. The community plays a role in both discipline and restoration.

God's Mercy and Restoration
Despite her wrongdoing, Miriam was restored after seven days. This illustrates God's mercy and willingness to forgive and restore those who repent.

The Importance of Humility
Miriam's experience teaches the value of humility and the dangers of pride. It is a call to examine our own hearts and attitudes towards leadership and authority.

Patience in God's Timing
The waiting period for Miriam's return to the camp teaches patience and trust in God's timing for healing and restoration.(15) And the people journeyed not . . . --The law for the purification of the leper, as prescribed in Leviticus 14, had already been delivered.

Verse 15. - Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days. It does not say that Miriam was healed forthwith of her leprosy, but the presumption is to that effect. Not the punishment itself, but the shame of it, was to last according to the answer of God. Her ease, therefore, would not fall under the law of Numbers 5:2, or of Leviticus 13:46, but would be analogous to that treated of in Leviticus 14. No doubt size had to submit to all the rites there prescribed, humiliating as they must have been to the prophetess and the sister of the law-giver; and these rites involved exclusion from her tent for a period of seven days (Leviticus 14:8). By God's command exclusion from her tent was made exclusion from the camp.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Miriam
מִרְיָ֛ם (mir·yām)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4813: Miriam -- a sister of Aaron, also a man of Judah

was confined
וַתִּסָּגֵ֥ר (wat·tis·sā·ḡêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender

outside
מִח֥וּץ (mi·ḥūṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2351: Separate by a, wall, outside, outdoors

the camp
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה (lam·ma·ḥă·neh)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

for seven
שִׁבְעַ֣ת (šiḇ·‘aṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

days,
יָמִ֑ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

and the people
וְהָעָם֙ (wə·hā·‘ām)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

did not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

move on
נָסַ֔ע (nā·sa‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

[she]
מִרְיָֽם׃ (mir·yām)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4813: Miriam -- a sister of Aaron, also a man of Judah

was brought in again.
הֵאָסֵ֖ף (hê·’ā·sêp̄)
Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove


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OT Law: Numbers 12:15 Miriam was shut up outside (Nu Num.)
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