Numbers 20:7
New International Version
The LORD said to Moses,

New Living Translation
and the LORD said to Moses,

English Standard Version
and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Berean Standard Bible
And the LORD said to Moses,

King James Bible
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

New King James Version
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

New American Standard Bible
then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

NASB 1995
and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

NASB 1977
and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
and Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Amplified Bible
and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses, “

American Standard Version
And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

English Revised Version
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said to Moses,

Good News Translation
The LORD said to Moses,

International Standard Version
The LORD told Moses,

NET Bible
Then the LORD spoke to Moses:

New Heart English Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
And the LORD said to Moses,

World English Bible
Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH speaks to Moses, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will speak to Moses, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

New American Bible
and the LORD said to Moses:

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH spoke with Moshe and said to him:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Water from the Rock
6Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. They fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. 7And the LORD said to Moses, 8“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”…

Cross References
Exodus 17:5-6
And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. / Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Psalm 106:32-33
At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them. / For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips.

Deuteronomy 32:51
For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence.

Exodus 4:17
But take this staff in your hand so you can perform signs with it.”

Exodus 7:19-20
And the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt—over their rivers and canals and ponds and all the reservoirs—that they may become blood.’ There will be blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in the vessels of wood and stone.” / Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD had commanded; in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials, Aaron raised the staff and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was turned to blood.

Exodus 14:16
And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

Exodus 16:4-5
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions. / Then on the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

Exodus 17:1-7
Then the whole congregation of Israel left the Desert of Sin, moving from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. / So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?” / But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” ...

Deuteronomy 1:37
The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land.

Deuteronomy 3:26
But the LORD was angry with me on account of you, and He would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said to me. “Do not speak to Me again about this matter.

Deuteronomy 9:23
And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.

1 Corinthians 10:4
and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Hebrews 3:7-11
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, / do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. ...

Hebrews 3:16-19
For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...

Hebrews 4:2
For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Jump to Previous
Moses Speaketh
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Moses Speaketh
Numbers 20
1. The children of Israel come to Zin, where Miriam dies.
2. They murmur for want of water
7. Moses smiting the rock, brings forth water at Meribah
14. Moses at Kadesh desires passage through Edom, which is denied him
22. At Mount Hor Aaron resigns his place to Eleazar, and dies














And the LORD said to Moses,
This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to Moses, a common occurrence in the Pentateuch where Moses serves as the primary mediator between God and the Israelites. The use of "LORD" in all caps signifies the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This communication underscores Moses' unique role as a prophet and leader, chosen to guide the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness. It reflects the intimate relationship Moses had with God, as seen in Exodus 33:11, where it is said that the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. This moment is set within the broader narrative of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, a period marked by testing, rebellion, and divine provision. The context of Numbers 20 is significant, as it occurs during the 40th year of the Israelites' wandering, highlighting themes of faith, obedience, and the consequences of disobedience. Moses' leadership is continually tested, and this passage sets the stage for a critical moment in his ministry.
Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who speaks directly to Moses, providing guidance and instruction.

2. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. He is the recipient of God's instructions in this passage.

3. The Israelites
The people of God, who are journeying through the wilderness towards the Promised Land. They are in need of water, which sets the context for God's instruction to Moses.

4. The Wilderness of Zin
The geographical setting where the Israelites are encamped, a place characterized by its arid conditions and lack of water.

5. The Rock
The object that God instructs Moses to speak to in order to bring forth water for the people, symbolizing God's provision and power.
Teaching Points
Obedience to God's Instructions
Moses is given specific instructions by God, highlighting the importance of following God's commands precisely. This teaches us the value of obedience in our walk with God.

God's Provision in Times of Need
The context of this passage is a dire need for water. It reminds us that God is aware of our needs and is able to provide in miraculous ways.

The Role of Leadership
Moses, as a leader, is responsible for mediating God's instructions to the people. This underscores the importance of godly leadership and the responsibility leaders have to follow God's guidance.

Faith in God's Power
The instruction to speak to the rock requires faith in God's power to bring forth water. It challenges us to trust in God's ability to work beyond natural means.

The Consequences of Disobedience
Although not detailed in this specific verse, the broader account shows the consequences of Moses' later actions, teaching us the seriousness of disobedience to God's commands.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Numbers 20:7?

2. How does God's command in Numbers 20:7 demonstrate His authority and guidance?

3. What can we learn about obedience from God's instructions to Moses in Numbers 20:7?

4. How does Numbers 20:7 connect to other instances of God's provision in Scripture?

5. How can we apply the principle of listening to God in our daily lives?

6. What does Numbers 20:7 teach us about the importance of following God's specific directions?

7. Why did God instruct Moses to speak to the rock in Numbers 20:7?

8. How does Numbers 20:7 reflect God's expectations of obedience?

9. What is the significance of God's command in Numbers 20:7 for Moses' leadership?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 20?

11. Numbers 27:12–14: Why is Moses barred from entering the Promised Land for striking the rock, which seems like a minor offense?

12. Numbers 20:12 – Why would a single act of disobedience prevent Moses and Aaron from entering the Promised Land, despite their lifelong dedication?

13. How did Moses die according to biblical accounts?

14. Numbers 9:17–20: How could an entire nation coordinate travel solely based on a cloud’s movement without creating significant logistical issues or leaving substantial archaeological traces?
What Does Numbers 20:7 Mean
And

• This single conjunction links verse 7 to the desperate scene in verse 6, where “Moses and Aaron fell facedown” before God after the people’s complaint (Numbers 20:6).

• It reminds us that God’s guidance is continuous; He does not leave His people in crisis without response—just as He stepped in at the earlier water crisis (Exodus 17:2-6) and at other turning points (Exodus 15:25).

• The flow of the narrative underscores His unfailing involvement, echoing Psalm 95:8-9, which recalls both Meribah moments and urges hearts not to harden when God moves “today.”

• “And” therefore signals hope: another act of divine intervention is about to unfold.


the LORD

• The speaker is the covenant God, the One who revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14-15) and who never changes (Malachi 3:6).

• His personal name assures Israel of His steadfast character—“abounding in loving devotion and truth” (Exodus 34:6).

• Because the LORD is the Rock who provides (Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Corinthians 10:4), His involvement guarantees a real, literal solution to Israel’s thirst, not a mere symbol.

• The verse affirms His sovereign right to direct events; every subsequent action (the command to speak to the rock, the miracle itself, the discipline of Moses) rests on this authority.


said

• God’s word is active: “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). When He speaks, things happen.

• Scripture repeatedly stresses that life depends on every word from His mouth (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). Here, His verbal instruction will literally bring water from stone.

• His speech is clear and sufficient; nothing needs adjustment or embellishment. Moses’ later decision to strike instead of speak (Numbers 20:11) shows the danger of altering divine directions—“the word of the LORD stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

• The verse also highlights the intimacy of a God who communicates, fulfilling Amos 3:7: “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants.”


to Moses

• God addresses the appointed leader, reaffirming the unique relationship described in Numbers 12:7-8, where He speaks with Moses “face to face, clearly and not in riddles.”

• Moses acts as mediator for the people, a role later paralleled and perfected in Christ (Hebrews 3:2-6).

• The personal call places weighty responsibility on Moses: accuracy in relaying and obeying God’s word. His failure in verse 11 leads to the consequence announced in verse 12—a sober reminder of James 3:1: “We who teach will be judged more strictly.”

• Yet the fact that God still speaks “to Moses” after decades in the wilderness displays persistent grace and guidance, just as He promised in Exodus 33:14, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest”.


summary

Numbers 20:7 shows the living God stepping into a crisis moment: continuously (“And”), personally and covenantally (“the LORD”), through His powerful, unerring word (“said”), delivered to His chosen mediator (“to Moses”). The verse assures believers that God remains present, authoritative, and communicative, providing precise guidance and expecting precise obedience, all for the good of His people and the glory of His name.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

said
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

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


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OT Law: Numbers 20:7 Yahweh spoke to Moses saying (Nu Num.)
Numbers 20:6
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