Numbers 21:5

“And the people spoke against Elohim and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread and there is no water, and our soul loathes this worthless food.””

Numbers 21:5 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

5

Explicit type · 1 Corinthians 10:9

Go to 1 Corinthians 10:9

Paul gives as an example those who died from the serpents after speaking against God and against Moses (Numbers 21:5-6).

The biblical author himself makes the connection, in these words:

ταῦτα δὲ τυπικῶς συνέβαινεν ἐκείνοις “these things happened to them as examples” (1 Corinthians 10:11)

  • נְּחָשִׁיםnejashimH5175ὄφεωνopheōnG3789“serpent”

Numbers 21:5, word by word

And the peopleעָםam

crowd

The people gathered in a place: the crowd, or the troops that go out to war.

Where else “am” appears
spokeיְדַבֵּרyedaber

speak

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

Where else “yedaber” appears
against Elohimאלֹהִיםlohim

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “lohim” appears
against 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
have you brought us upהֶעֱלִיתֻheelitu

bring up

To make someone go up: "I led you up from Egypt".

Where else “heelitu” appears
from Egyptמִּצְרַיִםmitsrayim

Egypt, Mizraim

See it on the mapWhere else “mitsrayim” appears
to dieמוּתmut

die

To cease living; also, one who has ceased living.

Where else “mut” appears
in the wildernessמִּדְבָּרmidbar

wilderness

Dry, unfarmed land where flocks graze.

Where else “midbar” appears
breadלֶחֶםlechem

bread

Food made of kneaded, baked flour: the basis of each day's meal.

Where else “lechem” appears
waterמַיִםmayim

water

Water: for drinking, of rivers or seas.

Where else “mayim” appears
and our soulנַפְשֵׁnafshe

appetite

Hunger or craving; the throat.

Where else “nafshe” appears
loathesקָצָהkatsa

loathe

To feel such annoyance or revulsion that one can no longer bear it.

Where else “katsa” appears
worthlessקְּלֹקֵלkelokel

worthless

Worthless, without substance: something light, held in little regard.

Where else “kelokel” appears

Places in this verse

JerusalemEgypt
Approximate location. A “?” means it is not known for sure where it was.
  • Egypt

    Today: Egypt (Nile Valley)

    A country in northeast Africa along the Nile River, southwest of Israel.

    Joseph was sold into it, and his family went down to live there (Gen 37:28; 46:6). God brought Israel out of it with a mighty hand (Exod 12:41). The child Jesus fled there with his parents (Matt 2:14).

    Genesis 12:10Genesis 37:28Exodus 12:41Matthew 2:14

The context

4And they set out from Hor the mountain by the way of the Sea of Reeds, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people grew impatient on the way.

5 · This verse (above)

6Then YHWH sent among the people the fiery serpents, and they bit the people, and many people of Israel died.

Read all of Numbers 21

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