Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” New Living Translation and 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!” English Standard Version And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Berean Standard Bible and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” King James Bible And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. New King James Version And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” New American Standard Bible So the people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we are disgusted with this miserable food.” NASB 1995 The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” NASB 1977 And the people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” Legacy Standard Bible And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.” Amplified Bible So the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, nor is there any water, and we loathe this miserable food.” Christian Standard Bible The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food! ” Holman Christian Standard Bible The people spoke against God and Moses: “Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” American Standard Version And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. Contemporary English Version that they complained against God and said to Moses, "Did you bring us out of Egypt, just to let us die in the desert? There's no water out here, and we can't stand this awful food!" English Revised Version And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. GOD'S WORD® Translation and criticized God and Moses. They said, "Why did you make us leave Egypt-just to let us die in the desert? There's no bread or water, and we can't stand this awful food!" Good News Translation and spoke against God and Moses. They complained, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We can't stand any more of this miserable food!" International Standard Version the people complained against the LORD and Moses. "Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?" they asked. "There's no food and water, and we're tired of this worthless bread." NET Bible And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we detest this worthless food." New Heart English Bible The people spoke against God, and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loathes this light bread." Webster's Bible Translation And the people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have ye brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul lotheth this light bread. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” World English Bible The people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, there is no water, and our soul loathes this disgusting food!” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand the people speak against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in a wilderness? For there is no bread, and there is no water, and our soul has been weary of this light bread.” Young's Literal Translation and the people speak against God, and against Moses, 'Why hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to die in a wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water, and our soul hath been weary of this light bread.' Smith's Literal Translation And the people will speak against God, and against Moses, For what brought ye us up from Egypt to die in the desert? for no bread, and no water; and our soul loathed upon this light bread. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd speaking against God end Moses, they said: Why didst thou bring us out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, nor have we any waters: our soul now loatheth this very light food. Catholic Public Domain Version And speaking against God and Moses, they said: “Why did you lead us away from Egypt, so as to die in the wilderness? Bread is lacking; there are no waters. Our soul is now nauseous over this very light food.” New American Bible so the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” New Revised Standard Version The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the people murmured against God and against Moses, saying, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For neither is there bread, nor water; and our soul is wearied with this inferior bread (manna). Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the people complained against God and against Moshe and they said, “Why did you bring us out from Egypt that we should die in the wilderness, because there is no bread and no water and our soul is weary of the small bread?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the people spoke against God, and against Moses: 'Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And the people spoke against God and against Moses, saying, Why is this? Hast thou brought us ought of Egypt to slay us in the wilderness? for there is not bread nor water; and our soul loathes this light bread. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Bronze Serpent4Then they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey 5 and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” 6So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died.… Cross References Exodus 16:2-3 And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. / “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!” Exodus 17:3 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?” Numbers 11:4-6 Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat? / We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. / But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to see but this manna!” Numbers 14:2-4 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! / Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” / So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.” Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Psalm 78:18-20 They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved. / 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 106:13-15 Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel. / They craved intensely in the wilderness and tested God in the desert. / So He granted their request, but sent a wasting disease upon them. 1 Corinthians 10:9-10 We should not test Christ, as some of them did, and were killed by snakes. / And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. John 6:41-43 At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” / They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’” / “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. John 6:49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. Deuteronomy 9:22 You continued to provoke the LORD at Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah. Psalm 78:56-57 But they tested and disobeyed God Most High, for they did not keep His decrees. / They turned back and were faithless like their fathers, twisted like a faulty bow. Psalm 95:8-9 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. Hebrews 3:8-9 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 3:16-18 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? Treasury of Scripture And the people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loathes this light bread. spake Numbers 11:1-6 And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp… Numbers 14:1-4 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night… Numbers 16:13,14,41 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us? … and our soul Numbers 11:6-9 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes… Exodus 16:15,31 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat… Psalm 78:24,25 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven… Jump to Previous Bread Crying Desert Detest Die Egypt Loathe Loathes Miserable Moses Soul Water Wherefore Wilderness WorthlessJump to Next Bread Crying Desert Detest Die Egypt Loathe Loathes Miserable Moses Soul Water Wherefore Wilderness WorthlessNumbers 21 1. Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah4. The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents 7. They repenting are healed by a bronze serpent 10. Various journeys of the Israelites 21. Sihon is overcome 33. And Og and spoke against God and against Moses: This phrase highlights the Israelites' recurring pattern of rebellion and complaint during their wilderness journey. Speaking against God and Moses signifies a lack of faith and trust in divine leadership. This behavior is reminiscent of earlier instances in Exodus 16:2-3 and Numbers 14:2, where the Israelites grumbled against their leaders. It reflects a deeper spiritual issue of ingratitude and forgetfulness of God's past deliverance and provision. “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?: There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!” Persons / Places / Events 1. The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God, who were delivered from slavery in Egypt and are now journeying through the wilderness toward the Promised Land. 2. God The Almighty, who delivered the Israelites from Egypt and provided for them in the wilderness. 3. Moses The leader appointed by God to guide the Israelites out of Egypt and through the wilderness. 4. The Wilderness The desert area where the Israelites wandered for 40 years due to their disobedience and lack of faith. 5. Egypt The land of slavery from which the Israelites were delivered by God's mighty hand. Teaching Points Gratitude vs. IngratitudeThe Israelites' complaint highlights a lack of gratitude for God's provision. Reflect on the importance of maintaining a thankful heart, even in difficult circumstances. Trust in God's Provision Despite the Israelites' complaints, God continued to provide for them. Trust in God's faithfulness and provision, even when it seems insufficient or undesirable. The Danger of Complaining Complaining against God and His appointed leaders can lead to spiritual consequences. Cultivate a spirit of contentment and trust in God's plan. Spiritual Nourishment Just as the Israelites needed physical sustenance, we need spiritual nourishment. Seek Jesus, the "bread of life," for true satisfaction. Leadership Challenges Moses faced constant challenges from the people he led. Recognize the burdens of leadership and support those in spiritual authority with prayer and encouragement. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 21:5?2. Why did the Israelites speak against God and Moses in Numbers 21:5? 3. How does Numbers 21:5 reflect a lack of faith and gratitude? 4. What parallels exist between Numbers 21:5 and Exodus 16:3 regarding complaints? 5. How can we avoid complaining like the Israelites in Numbers 21:5? 6. What steps can we take to trust God in difficult situations today? 7. Why did the Israelites speak against God and Moses in Numbers 21:5? 8. What does Numbers 21:5 reveal about human nature and ingratitude? 9. How does Numbers 21:5 challenge our understanding of divine provision? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 21? 11. What similarities exist between Moses and Jesus? 12. What does the Bible say about being ungrateful? 13. Why does 1 Corinthians 10:6–10 describe repeated miraculous punishments and judgments without corroborating records beyond the Bible? 14. What defines spiritual emptiness? What Does Numbers 21:5 Mean and spoke against God and against MosesIsrael’s complaint was first of all a direct challenge to the Lord Himself, and by extension to His appointed leader. Earlier murmuring episodes show the same pattern (Exodus 16:8; 17:2-3). Paul later warns believers not to imitate this rebellion (1 Corinthians 10:9). Grumbling was more than a bad attitude; it was unbelief in action, denying God’s faithful character and His covenant promises. • By attacking Moses, they rejected the authority God had established (Numbers 12:8; Romans 13:1). • By attacking God, they denied His past deliverance and present provision (Deuteronomy 1:30-32). • Persistent grumbling stored up judgment until the fiery serpents were sent (Numbers 21:6). why have you led us up out of Egypt The question implied that slavery under Pharaoh was preferable to freedom under God. This complaint echoes earlier moments of nostalgia for Egypt (Exodus 14:11-12; Numbers 11:4-6). Forgetting the harshness of bondage, the nation discounted the miracles that freed them (Exodus 12:41-42). The deliverance was real, historical, and gracious, yet they treated it as a mistake. • Redemption from Egypt is repeatedly cited in Scripture as proof of God’s love (Deuteronomy 7:8; Psalm 136:10-12). • Christ’s salvation is prefigured here: rejecting the One who rescues is a grave sin (Hebrews 2:3). • The objection exposed a heart that preferred the familiar chains of the past to walking by faith into the future (Galatians 5:1). to die in the wilderness God never intended Israel to perish en route; His sworn goal was Canaan (Exodus 6:8). Yet the people projected death onto God’s plan, revealing fear and distrust. Earlier, when the spies returned, the same accusation was voiced (Numbers 14:2-3). Unbelief distorted reality: • The wilderness became a place of discipline but also of miraculous sustenance (Deuteronomy 8:15-16). • Every complaint ignored the daily evidence that God preserved them—clothes did not wear out, feet did not swell (Deuteronomy 29:5). • Calling God’s path a death sentence contradicted His covenant promise to make them “a kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:5-6). there is no bread or water Objectively, the Lord had provided both. Manna fell six days a week (Exodus 16:4-5), and water had been supplied from the rock (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11). The claim of absence was therefore a willful distortion. • Complaints often exaggerate lack and minimize grace (Psalm 78:19-20). • God was teaching reliance on His word, not on visible resources (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). • Refusing to recognize provision insulted the Giver and invited discipline (Psalm 106:24-27). and we detest this wretched food “Manna” is called “the bread of heaven” (Psalm 78:24) and foreshadows Christ, the true bread (John 6:31-35). Calling it “wretched” despised both the gift and the Giver. • Contempt for manna mirrored contempt for God’s grace (Numbers 11:6; 11:18-20). • Grumbling over monotony revealed a craving for fleshly satisfaction over spiritual sustenance (Philippians 3:19). • The bronze serpent later lifted up (Numbers 21:8-9; John 3:14) highlighted that only repentance and faith could cure the deadly consequences of such disdain. summary Numbers 21:5 exposes a heart posture that belittles God’s past rescue, questions His present care, and spurns His daily provision. By grumbling against both God and Moses, Israel rejected divine authority and grace, choosing distorted nostalgia and unbelief. The verse stands as a sober reminder that complaining is not a trivial flaw but a rejection of God’s faithful character, and it calls believers to trust, gratitude, and humble submission to the Lord who never fails to keep His promises. (5) This light bread.--The word rendered light denotes something vile or worthless. It was thus that the Israelites regarded the manna which was given to them from heaven; even as the "spiritual meat" which is given to Christ's Church in His word and ordinances is too commonly regarded amongst ourselves.Verse 5. - There is no bread, neither is there any water. The one of these statements was no doubt as much and as little true as the other. There was no ordinary supply of either; but as they had bread given to them from heaven, so they had water from the rock, otherwise they could not possibly have existed. Our soul loatheth this light bread. קְלקֵל, a stronger form than קַל from קָלַל. Septuagint, διακένῳ. They meant to say, as their fathers had (chapter 11:6), that it was unsavory and unsubstantial in comparison with the heavy and succulent diet of Egypt (see note on chapter Numbers 20:3).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew and spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (way·ḏab·bêr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue against God בֵּֽאלֹהִים֮ (bê·lō·hîm) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative and against Moses: וּבְמֹשֶׁה֒ (ū·ḇə·mō·šeh) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver “Why לָמָ֤ה (lā·māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what have you led us up הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙ (he·‘ĕ·lî·ṯu·nū) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural | first person common plural Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively out of Egypt מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם (mim·miṣ·ra·yim) Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa to die לָמ֖וּת (lā·mūṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 4191: To die, to kill in the wilderness? בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר (bam·miḏ·bār) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech There is no אֵ֥ין (’ên) Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle bread לֶ֙חֶם֙ (le·ḥem) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain or water, מַ֔יִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen and we וְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּ (wə·nap̄·šê·nū) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common plural Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion detest קָ֔צָה (qā·ṣāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 6973: To feel a loathing, abhorrence, or sickening dread this wretched הַקְּלֹקֵֽל׃ (haq·qə·lō·qêl) Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7052: Contemptible, worthless food!” בַּלֶּ֖חֶם (bal·le·ḥem) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain Links Numbers 21:5 NIVNumbers 21:5 NLT Numbers 21:5 ESV Numbers 21:5 NASB Numbers 21:5 KJV Numbers 21:5 BibleApps.com Numbers 21:5 Biblia Paralela Numbers 21:5 Chinese Bible Numbers 21:5 French Bible Numbers 21:5 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 21:5 The people spoke against God and against (Nu Num.) |
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