Numbers 20:11

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also].

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then Moshe raised his hand and hit the rock twice with his staff. Water flowed out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank.

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.

American Standard Version:

And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Moses^{H4872} lifted up^{H7311} his hand^{H3027}, and with his rod^{H4294} he smote^{H5221} the rock^{H5553} twice^{H6471}: and the water^{H4325} came out^{H3318} abundantly^{H7227}, and the congregation^{H5712} drank^{H8354}, and their beasts^{H1165} also.

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Commentary for Numbers 20:11

Numbers 20:11 is set within the context of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, after their exodus from Egypt. The verse captures a significant moment where the people, lacking water, quarrel with Moses and Aaron. In response to the people's desperation and God's command, Moses is instructed to speak to a rock to bring forth water. However, in a departure from God's instructions, Moses strikes the rock twice with his rod.

The themes present in this verse include the testing of faith, the consequences of disobedience, and the provision of God despite human error. Moses' act of striking the rock, rather than speaking to it as God commanded, reflects a moment of human weakness or frustration. This incident is often interpreted as a failure on Moses' part to uphold the sanctity of God's command and to demonstrate His power and holiness to the people.

Despite Moses' disobedience, God still allows water to gush forth abundantly, quenching the thirst of the Israelites and their livestock. This miraculous provision highlights God's mercy and patience, as well as His commitment to sustaining His people even when they fall short. However, Moses' actions have consequences, as later in the narrative, this event is cited as one of the reasons Moses is not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12, Deuteronomy 32:51-52).

Historically, this verse is part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible traditionally attributed to Moses. It reflects the ancient Israelite understanding of their history, their covenant relationship with God, and the importance of obeying divine commands. The rock itself has been the subject of much theological discussion, with some interpreting it as a type of Christ, prefiguring the living water that would come from Christ's sacrifice (1 Corinthians 10:4).

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4872
   There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
   Transliteration: Môsheh
   Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
   Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7311
   There are 185 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רוּם
   Transliteration: rûwm
   Pronunciation: room
   Description: a primitive root; to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively); bring up, exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be, lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up, levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, ([idiom] a-) loud, mount up, offer (up), [phrase] presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up, tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4294
   There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַטֶּה
   Transliteration: maṭṭeh
   Pronunciation: mat-teh'
   Description: or (feminine) מַטָּה; from נָטָה; a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance), or walking (a staff; figuratively, a support of life, e.g. bread); rod, staff, tribe.
   
5. Strong's Number: H5221
   There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָכָה
   Transliteration: nâkâh
   Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5553
   There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סֶלַע
   Transliteration: çelaʻ
   Pronunciation: seh'-lah
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be lofty; a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress); (ragged) rock, stone(-ny), strong hold.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6471
   There are 108 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פַּעַם
   Transliteration: paʻam
   Pronunciation: pah'-am
   Description: or (feminine) פַּעֲמָה; from פָּעַם; a stroke, literally or figuratively (in various applications, as follow); anvil, corner, foot(-step), going, (hundred-) fold, [idiom] now, (this) [phrase] once, order, rank, step, [phrase] thrice, (often-), second, this, two) time(-s), twice, wheel.
   
8. Strong's Number: H4325
   There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַיִם
   Transliteration: mayim
   Pronunciation: mah'-yim
   Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
   
9. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7227
    There are 439 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רַב
    Transliteration: rab
    Pronunciation: rab
    Description: by contracted from רָבַב; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality); (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
    
11. Strong's Number: H5712
    There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵדָה
    Transliteration: ʻêdâh
    Pronunciation: ay-daw'
    Description: feminine of עֵד in the original sense of fixture; a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd); assembly, company, congregation, multitude, people, swarm. Compare עֵדָה.
    
12. Strong's Number: H8354
    There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁתָה
    Transliteration: shâthâh
    Pronunciation: shaw-thaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively); [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk ([idiom] -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of שָׁקָה.)
    
13. Strong's Number: H1165
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בְּעִיר
    Transliteration: bᵉʻîyr
    Pronunciation: beh-ere'
    Description: from בָּעַר (in the sense of eating); cattle; beast, cattle.