Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?” New Living Translation and said, “We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But why should we be prevented from presenting the LORD’s offering at the proper time with the rest of the Israelites?” English Standard Version And those men said to him, “We are unclean through touching a dead body. Why are we kept from bringing the LORD’s offering at its appointed time among the people of Israel?” Berean Standard Bible and said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?” Berean Literal Bible And those men said to him, “We are defiled by the body of a man; why are we restrained from presenting the offering of YHWH at its appointed time in the midst of the sons of Israel?” King James Bible And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel? New King James Version And those men said to him, “We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the LORD at its appointed time among the children of Israel?” New American Standard Bible Those men said to him, “Though we are unclean because of a dead person, why are we kept from presenting the offering of the LORD at its appointed time among the sons of Israel?” NASB 1995 Those men said to him, “Though we are unclean because of the dead person, why are we restrained from presenting the offering of the LORD at its appointed time among the sons of Israel?” NASB 1977 And those men said to him, “Though we are unclean because of the dead person, why are we restrained from presenting the offering of the LORD at its appointed time among the sons of Israel?” Legacy Standard Bible And those men said to him, “We are unclean because of a dead person. But why are we restrained from bringing near the offering of Yahweh at its appointed time among the sons of Israel?” Amplified Bible Those men said to Moses, “We are [ceremonially] unclean because of [touching] a dead body. Why are we being restrained from presenting the LORD’S offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?” Berean Annotated Bible and said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s {YHWH} offering with the other Israelites (God prevails) at the appointed time? Christian Standard Bible and said to him, “We are unclean because of a human corpse. Why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering at its appointed time with the other Israelites? ” Holman Christian Standard Bible and said to him, “We are unclean because of a human corpse. Why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering at its appointed time with the other Israelites?” American Standard Version and those men said unto him, We are unclean by reason of the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer the oblation of Jehovah in its appointed season among the children of Israel? Contemporary English Version "Even though we have touched a dead body, why can't we celebrate Passover and offer sacrifices to the LORD at the same time as everyone else?" English Revised Version and those men said unto him, We are unclean by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer the oblation of the LORD in its appointed season among the children of Israel? GOD'S WORD® Translation and said, "We are unclean because we touched a dead body. Why won't you let us bring our offerings to the LORD at the same time the rest of the Israelites bring their offerings?" Good News Translation and said, "We are unclean because we have touched a corpse, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD's offering with the rest of the Israelites?" International Standard Version and asked, "Why can't we bring an offering to the LORD at the appointed time among the Israelis, even though we are unclean because we came in contact with a corpse?" NET Bible And those men said to him, "We are ceremonially defiled by the dead body of a man; why are we kept back from offering the LORD's offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?" New Heart English Bible Those men said to him, "We are unclean because of the dead body of a man. Why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of the LORD in its appointed season among the children of Israel?" Webster's Bible Translation And those men said to him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: why are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in its appointed season among the children of Israel? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bibleand said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?” World English Bible Those men said to him, “We are unclean because of the dead body of a man. Why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of Yahweh in its appointed season among the children of Israel?” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand those men say to him, “We are defiled by the body of a man; why are we withheld so as not to bring the offering of YHWH near in its appointed time, in the midst of the sons of Israel?” Berean Literal Bible And those men said to him, “We are defiled by the body of a man; why are we restrained from presenting the offering of YHWH at its appointed time in the midst of the sons of Israel?” Young's Literal Translation and those men say unto him, 'We are defiled by the body of a man; why are we withheld so as not to bring near the offering of Jehovah in its appointed season, in the midst of the sons of Israel?' Smith's Literal Translation And these men will say to him, We are unclean by the soul of man: wherefore shall we be withheld so as not to bring near an offering of Jehovah at his appointment, in the midst of the sons of Israel? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSaid to them: We are unclean by occasion of the soul of a man. Why are we kept back that we may not offer in its season the offering to the Lord among the children of Israel? Catholic Public Domain Version said to them: “We are unclean because of the life of a man. Why have we been cheated, in that we are not permitted to offer, at its proper time, the oblation to the Lord among the sons of Israel?” New American Bible and they said to them, “Although we are unclean because of a human corpse, why should we be deprived of presenting the LORD’s offering at its prescribed time along with other Israelites?” New Revised Standard Version and said to him, “Although we are unclean through touching a corpse, why must we be kept from presenting the LORD’s offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd those men said unto them, We are defiled by touching the dead body of a man; why are we kept back from offering the offering of the LORD at the appointed time among the children of Israel? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they were saying to those men, “We are defiled by the person of a man; why are we forbidden and we do not bring the offering of LORD JEHOVAH in its time among the children of Israel?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And those men said unto him: 'We are unclean by the dead body of a man; wherefore are we to be kept back, so as not to bring the offering of the LORD in its appointed season among the children of Israel?' Brenton Septuagint Translation And those men said to Moses, We are unclean by reason of the dead body of a man: shall we therefore fail to offer the gift to the Lord in its season in the midst of the children of Israel? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Second Passover…6But there were some men who were unclean due to a dead body, so they could not observe the Passover on that day. And they came before Moses and Aaron that same day 7and said to Moses, “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?” 8“Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you,” Moses replied.… Cross References said to Moses, Numbers 27:2 the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and the whole congregation, and said, Leviticus 24:12 They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them. Exodus 18:15 “Because the people come to me to inquire of God,” Moses replied. “We are unclean because of a dead body, Numbers 19:11 Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days. Numbers 5:2 “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone with a skin disease, anyone who has a bodily discharge, and anyone who is defiled by a dead body. Leviticus 21:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them that a priest is not to defile himself for a dead person among his people, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering Leviticus 22:3 Tell them that for the generations to come, if any of their descendants in a state of uncleanness approaches the sacred offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the LORD, that person must be cut off from My presence. I am the LORD. Exodus 12:48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. 2 Chronicles 30:17 Since there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves, the Levites were in charge of slaughtering the Passover lambs for every unclean person to consecrate the lambs to the LORD. with the other Israelites Exodus 12:49 The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.” Numbers 15:15-16 The assembly is to have the same statute both for you and for the foreign resident; it is a permanent statute for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD. / The same law and the same ordinance will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing with you.” Leviticus 24:22 You are to have the same standard of law for the foreign resident and the native; for I am the LORD your God.’” at the appointed time?” Exodus 13:10 Therefore you shall keep this statute at the appointed time year after year. Leviticus 23:4-5 These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times. / The Passover to the LORD begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. Numbers 28:2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: See that you present to Me at its appointed time the food for My food offerings, as a pleasing aroma to Me. Leviticus 7:20-21 But if anyone who is unclean eats meat from the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people. / If one touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, an unclean animal, or any unclean, detestable thing, and then eats any of the meat of the peace offering that belongs to the LORD, that person must be cut off from his people.” Treasury of Scripture And those men said to him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: why are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel? we may not offer Numbers 9:2 Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season. Exodus 12:27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. Deuteronomy 16:2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there. Jump to Previous Appointed Body Children Dead Defiled Israel Kept Offer Offering Presenting Restrained Season Time Unclean WhereforeJump to Next Appointed Body Children Dead Defiled Israel Kept Offer Offering Presenting Restrained Season Time Unclean WhereforeNumbers 9 1. The Passover is again commanded6. A second Passover for the unclean or absent 15. The cloud directs the removals and encampments of the Israelites and said to Moses, This phrase highlights the role of Moses as the leader and mediator between God and the Israelites. Moses is often approached by the people for guidance and clarification on the laws given by God. This reflects the hierarchical structure of leadership established by God, where Moses acts as the intermediary. “We are unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be excluded from presenting the LORD’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?” Persons / Places / Events 1. The Men Who Were UncleanThese individuals had become ceremonially unclean due to contact with a dead body, which was a common occurrence in the Israelite community, especially during their wilderness journey. 2. Moses The leader of the Israelites, who was approached by the unclean men for guidance on how to participate in the Passover despite their impurity. 3. The LORD’s Offering Refers to the Passover sacrifice, a critical observance for the Israelites, symbolizing their deliverance from Egypt. 4. The Israelite Community The collective group of God's chosen people, who were commanded to observe the Passover at its appointed time. 5. The Wilderness Journey The context in which these events occur, highlighting the challenges of maintaining ceremonial purity while traveling. Teaching Points The Importance of Obedience and PurityThe men’s concern about missing the Passover highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands and the desire to maintain purity. God’s Provision for All The subsequent verses (Numbers 9:8-14) show God’s provision for those who are unclean or on a journey, allowing them to celebrate the Passover at a later time. This demonstrates God's understanding and accommodation for human circumstances. The Role of Community in Worship The men’s desire to participate with the community underscores the importance of communal worship and fellowship in the faith journey. Seeking Guidance from Godly Leaders The men approached Moses for guidance, illustrating the importance of seeking wisdom from godly leaders when faced with spiritual dilemmas. The Symbolism of the Passover The Passover is a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice, reminding believers of the importance of remembering and celebrating our deliverance through Jesus. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Numbers 9:7?2. How does Numbers 9:7 illustrate God's provision for those ceremonially unclean? 3. What does Numbers 9:7 teach about God's inclusivity in worship practices? 4. How can we apply the principle of seeking God's guidance in Numbers 9:7? 5. How does Numbers 9:7 connect with New Testament teachings on purity and worship? 6. In what ways can we ensure everyone participates in worship, as in Numbers 9:7? 7. Why were the men unable to celebrate Passover in Numbers 9:7 due to corpse contact? 8. How does Numbers 9:7 address ritual purity and its importance in worship? 9. What does Numbers 9:7 reveal about God's expectations for obedience and holiness? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Numbers 9? 11. Numbers 9:6-7: Is there any archaeological record or external source that confirms the strict ritual handling of those who had touched a dead body? 12. Why would a single burnt offering (1 Samuel 7:9) miraculously grant the Israelites victory if similar rituals elsewhere did not? 13. Why does 2 Corinthians 9:7 emphasize cheerful giving if Old Testament laws (e.g., tithing in Malachi 3:10) demand mandatory giving? 14. Why did Aaron offer a sin offering for his sons? What Does Numbers 9:7 Mean And said to Moses– The men approach God’s appointed mediator rather than acting on their own, honoring the structure the Lord established (Exodus 18:15; Numbers 12:8). – They expect Moses to seek the Lord for an answer, reflecting confidence that “the word of the LORD” will clarify every dilemma (Deuteronomy 17:8-11). We are unclean because of a dead body – Contact with a corpse brought a seven-day defilement (Numbers 19:11-13). – Their statement shows humble acknowledgment; they do not deny their condition (Leviticus 5:2). – By confessing impurity, they uphold God’s holiness, agreeing that “nothing unclean shall enter” His presence (cf. Revelation 21:27). But why should we be excluded – Their question springs from a longing to worship, not rebellion (Psalm 42:2). – They recognize that exclusion from corporate worship is serious (Genesis 17:14; Deuteronomy 23:1). – The appeal highlights God’s mercy: if He provided a way for lepers and childbirth impurities, surely He can provide here (Leviticus 12:6-8; 14:19-20). From presenting the LORD’s offering – The phrase points to the Passover sacrifice (Numbers 9:2-5), the foundational remembrance of redemption (Exodus 12:24-27). – They fear missing the privilege of obedience (“presenting”) and fellowship (“the LORD’s offering,” Leviticus 3:11). – Their concern underscores that worship involves giving to God, not merely receiving from Him (Psalm 96:8). With the other Israelites – Corporate unity mattered; God ordained that “all the congregation of Israel shall keep it” (Exodus 12:47). – Isolation would symbolize disconnection from covenant blessings (Numbers 15:30-31). – Their desire anticipates the New-Covenant truth that we are “one body” around one sacrifice (1 Corinthians 10:17). At the appointed time? – Passover had a fixed date, the fourteenth day of the first month (Exodus 12:6; Leviticus 23:5). – Timeliness is part of obedience; delays dishonor God’s schedule (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). – Their question presses for a righteous solution before the deadline, showing reverence for God’s order. summary Numbers 9:7 reveals sincere Israelites caught between ceremonial impurity and a passionate desire to honor God. Acknowledging their defilement, they appeal through God’s ordained leader, confident that the Lord who set the standard of holiness can also provide a gracious accommodation. Their plea affirms three enduring truths: God’s holiness must be respected, God’s people long for corporate worship, and God in mercy will make a way—later confirmed when He grants the “second Passover” (Numbers 9:9-13). (7) An offering.--Better, the offering, or oblation.Verse 7. - Wherefore are we kept back. The direction to remove from the camp all that were defiled by the dead (Numbers 5:2) had not apparently been given at this time, nor was there any express command that such should not partake of the passover, for Leviticus 7:20 may probably refer only to such uncleannesses as are mentioned in Leviticus 15:3; but that men were in fact considered as defiled by contact with the dead is clear from Leviticus 21:1. The men, therefore, had reason for asking why they were excommunicated, and Moses for referring the matter to the Divine decision.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew and saidוַ֠יֹּאמְרוּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say to [Moses], אֵלָ֔יו (’ê·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to “We אֲנַ֥חְנוּ (’ă·naḥ·nū) Pronoun - first person common plural Strong's 587: We are unclean טְמֵאִ֖ים (ṭə·mê·’îm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2931: Unclean because of a dead body, אָדָ֑ם (’ā·ḏām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being but why לָ֣מָּה (lām·māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what should we be excluded נִגָּרַ֗ע (nig·gā·ra‘) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 1639: To scrape off, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold from לְבִלְתִּ֨י (lə·ḇil·tî) Preposition-l Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until presenting הַקְרִ֜ב (haq·riḇ) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 7126: To come near, approach the LORD’s יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel offering קָרְבַּ֤ן (qā·rə·ban) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7133: Something brought near the altar, a sacrificial present with בְּת֖וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre the other Israelites בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son at the appointed time?” בְּמֹ֣עֲד֔וֹ (bə·mō·‘ă·ḏōw) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4150: Appointed time, place, or meeting Links Numbers 9:7 NIVNumbers 9:7 NLT Numbers 9:7 ESV Numbers 9:7 NASB Numbers 9:7 KJV Numbers 9:7 BibleApps.com Numbers 9:7 Biblia Paralela Numbers 9:7 Chinese Bible Numbers 9:7 French Bible Numbers 9:7 Catholic Bible OT Law: Numbers 9:7 Those men said to him We (Nu Num.) |
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