Numbers 15:17

“YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,”
Numbers 15:17 · direct translation from the Hebrew

With the Hebrew beneath

YHWHיְהוָהspokeוַיְדַבֵּרto Moses,אֶל מֹשֶׁהsaying,לֵּאמֹר

Allusion · Romans 11:16

Both texts join “firstfruits” and “lump”: Numbers 15:20-21 commands setting apart for YHWH a cake from the firstfruits of the dough.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

רֵאשִׁיתreshitH7225ἀπαρχὴaparchēG536“first thing, firstfruits”
עֲרִסֹתֵarisoteH6182φύραμαphyramaG5445“lump, dough”

Numbers 15:17, word by word

YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

spokeיְדַבֵּרyedaber

speak

To speak, say something; above all God to his people.

Where else “yedaber” appears

to Mosesמֹשֶׁהmoshe

Moses

Moses, the man God called to bring Israel out of Egypt and through whom he gave the Law. His name sounds like "draw out" (Exodus 2:10).

Where else “moshe” appears

sayingאמֹרmor

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “mor” appears

The context

16One instruction and one rule shall be for you and for the resident alien who resides with you.’”

17 · This verse (above)

18“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you come into the land where I am bringing you,

Read all of Numbers 15

How to use it