Numbers 14:41
New International Version
But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the LORD’s command? This will not succeed!

New Living Translation
But Moses said, “Why are you now disobeying the LORD’s orders to return to the wilderness? It won’t work.

English Standard Version
But Moses said, “Why now are you transgressing the command of the LORD, when that will not succeed?

Berean Standard Bible
But Moses said, “Why are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD? This will not succeed!

King James Bible
And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.

New King James Version
And Moses said, “Now why do you transgress the command of the LORD? For this will not succeed.

New American Standard Bible
But Moses said, “Why then are you violating the command of the LORD, when doing so will not succeed?

NASB 1995
But Moses said, “Why then are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD, when it will not succeed?

NASB 1977
But Moses said, “Why then are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD, when it will not succeed?

Legacy Standard Bible
But Moses said, “Why then do you trespass against the command of Yahweh, when it will not succeed?

Amplified Bible
But Moses said, “Why then are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD, when it will not succeed?

Christian Standard Bible
But Moses responded, “Why are you going against the LORD’s command? It won’t succeed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Moses responded, “Why are you going against the LORD’s command? It won’t succeed.

American Standard Version
And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of Jehovah, seeing it shall not prosper?

Contemporary English Version
But Moses replied, "You're disobeying the LORD! Your plan won't work,

English Revised Version
And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD, seeing it shall not prosper?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Moses asked, "Why are you disobeying the LORD's command? Your plan won't work!

Good News Translation
But Moses said, "Then why are you disobeying the LORD now? You will not succeed!

International Standard Version
But Moses asked them, "Why do you continue to sin against what the LORD said? Don't you know that you can never succeed?

Majority Standard Bible
But Moses said, ?Why are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD? This will not succeed!

NET Bible
But Moses said, "Why are you now transgressing the commandment of the LORD? It will not succeed!

New Heart English Bible
Moses said, "Why now do you disobey the commandment of the LORD, since it shall not prosper?

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said, Why now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.

World English Bible
Moses said, “Why now do you disobey the commandment of Yahweh, since it shall not prosper?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Moses says, “Why [is] this [that] you are transgressing the command of YHWH? For it does not prosper;

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith, 'Why is this? -- ye are transgressing the command of Jehovah, and it doth not prosper;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses will say, Wherefore this you are passing by the mouth of Jehovah? And it shall not prosper.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Moses said to them: Why transgress you the word of the Lord, which shall not succeed prosperously with you?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Moses said to them: “Why do you transgress the word of the Lord, merely because it will not result in prosperity for you?

New American Bible
But Moses said, “Why are you now transgressing the LORD’s order? This cannot succeed.

New Revised Standard Version
But Moses said, “Why do you continue to transgress the command of the LORD? That will not succeed.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Moses said to them, Why now do you transgress the commandment of the LORD? Therefore you shall not succeed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe said to them, “Why do you pass over the word of the mouth of LORD JEHOVAH?” Because of this, do not go up to the top.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses said: 'Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD, seeing it shall not prosper?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses said, Why do ye transgress the word of the Lord? ye shall not prosper.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Defeat by the Amalekites and Canaanites
40Early the next morning they got up and went up toward the ridge of the hill country. “We have indeed sinned,” they said, “but we will go to the place the LORD has promised.” 41But Moses said, “Why are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD? This will not succeed! 42Do not go up, lest you be struck down by your enemies, because the LORD is not among you.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 1:42
But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight, for I am not with you to keep you from defeat by your enemies.”

1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

Isaiah 30:1
“Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin.

Jeremiah 7:23-24
but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you. / Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

Jeremiah 42:19-22
The LORD has told you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Know for sure that I have warned you today! / For you have deceived yourselves by sending me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray to the LORD our God on our behalf, and as for all that the LORD our God says, tell it to us and we will do it.’ / For I have told you today, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in all He has sent me to tell you. ...

1 Chronicles 10:13-14
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, / and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

Isaiah 1:19-20
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Matthew 7:21-23
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. / Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’

Luke 6:46
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?

John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.

Acts 5:29
But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men.

Romans 8:7-8
because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. / Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.


Treasury of Scripture

And Moses said, Why now do you transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.

do ye

Numbers 14:25
(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

2 Chronicles 24:20
And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.

but it shall

Job 4:9
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

Jeremiah 2:37
Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.

Jeremiah 32:5
And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper?

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Acting Command Commandment Disobey Disobeying Prosper Succeed Transgress Transgressing Wherefore
Numbers 14
1. The people murmur at the news
6. Joshua and Caleb labor to still them
11. God threatens them
13. Moses intercedes with God, and obtains pardon
26. The Murmurers are debarred from entering into the land
36. The men who raised the evil report die by a plague
40. The people that would invade the land against the will of God are smitten














But Moses said
This phrase introduces Moses as the central figure of authority and leadership among the Israelites. Moses, chosen by God, serves as the mediator between God and His people. His role is not only to lead but to guide the Israelites in obedience to God's commandments. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) implies a declaration or proclamation, emphasizing the seriousness and authority of Moses' words. Historically, Moses' leadership is pivotal during the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, and his words often reflect God's will and direction.

Why are you transgressing
The term "transgressing" comes from the Hebrew root פָּשַׁע (pasha), meaning to rebel or to break away. This word choice indicates a deliberate act of disobedience against God's command. In the context of Numbers 14, the Israelites are acting against God's directive, showing a lack of faith and trust in His promises. This rebellion is not just a simple mistake but a conscious decision to go against divine instruction, highlighting the gravity of their actions.

the commandment of the LORD?
The "commandment of the LORD" refers to the specific instructions given by God to His people. In the Hebrew context, the word for commandment (מִצְוָה, mitzvah) signifies a divine law or ordinance. The Israelites were expected to follow God's commandments as a covenant people, and their failure to do so represents a breach of their relationship with Him. This phrase underscores the importance of obedience to God's will, which is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures.

This will not succeed!
Moses' declaration that "This will not succeed" serves as a prophetic warning. The Hebrew root for "succeed" (צָלַח, tsalach) means to prosper or to be successful. Moses is conveying that any effort made in defiance of God's command is doomed to fail. This statement reflects a fundamental biblical principle: true success is only found in alignment with God's will. Historically, the Israelites' subsequent defeat when they attempted to enter the Promised Land without God's blessing serves as a testament to the truth of Moses' warning.

Verse 41. - And Moses said, i.e., had said, before they left the camp (cf. verse 44, and Deuteronomy 1:42).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Moses
מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

said,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Why
לָ֥מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

are you
אַתֶּ֥ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

transgressing
עֹבְרִ֖ים (‘ō·ḇə·rîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

the commandment
פִּ֣י (pî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

of the LORD?
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

This
וְהִ֖וא (wə·hi·w)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

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

succeed!
תִצְלָֽח׃ (ṯiṣ·lāḥ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6743: To push forward


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OT Law: Numbers 14:41 Moses said Why now do you disobey (Nu Num.)
Numbers 14:40
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