Numbers 27:17

“who will go out before them and who will come in before them, and who will lead them out and who will bring them in, so that the community of YHWH may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.””
Numbers 27:17 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

whoאֲשֶׁרwill go outיֵצֵאbefore themלִפְנֵיהֶםand whoוַאֲשֶׁרwill come inיָבֹאbefore them,לִפְנֵיהֶםand whoוַאֲשֶׁרwill lead them outיוֹצִיאֵםand whoוַאֲשֶׁרwill bring them in,יְבִיאֵםso that the communityוְ עֲדַתof YHWHיְהוָהmay notלֹאbeתִהְיֶהlike sheepכַּצֹּאןthatאֲשֶׁרhave noאֵין לָהֶםshepherd.”רֹעֶה

Allusion · Matthew 9:36

Go to Matthew 9:36

Both texts say “like sheep that do not have a shepherd”: Moses, when asking YHWH for a leader for the people; Matthew, of the crowds that Jesus sees.

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

צֹּאןtsonH6629πρόβαταprobataG4263“sheep, flock”
רֹעֶהroeH7462ποιμέναpoimenaG4166“shepherd, tend”

Allusion · Mark 6:34

Go to Mark 6:34

Both texts say “like sheep that have no shepherd”: Moses, when asking YHWH for a leader for the people; Mark, of the crowd that Jesus sees.

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

צֹּאןtsonH6629πρόβαταprobataG4263“sheep, flock”
רֹעֶהroeH7462ποιμέναpoimenaG4166“shepherd, tend”

Numbers 27:17, word by word

will go outיֵצֵאyetse

go out

To go out of a place.

Where else “yetse” appears

before themפְנֵיfene

before

Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.

Where else “fene” appears

will come inיָבֹאyavo

enter

To go into a place.

Where else “yavo” appears

so that the communityעֲדַתadat

community

Israel gathered as one people; or a band of people.

Where else “adat” appears

of 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

beתִהְיֶהtihye

To be: "I will be their Elohim".

Where else “tihye” appears

like sheepצֹּאןtson

flock

A flock of sheep and goats.

Where else “tson” appears

shepherdרֹעֶהroe

shepherd

One who looks after sheep; or one who leads a people, like YHWH.

Where else “roe” appears

Translation note

Jesus used this same image when he saw the crowds: “like sheep that have no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

The context

16“May YHWH, the Elohim of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community,

17 · This verse (above)

18YHWH said to Moses, “Take for yourself Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom there is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.

Read all of Numbers 27

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