King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
Complete Jewish Bible:
that our ancestors went down into Egypt, we lived in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly.
Berean Standard Bible:
how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers,
American Standard Version:
how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
How our fathers{H1} went down{H3381} into Egypt{H4714}, and we have dwelt{H3427} in Egypt{H4714} a long{H7227} time{H3117}; and the Egyptians{H4714} vexed{H7489} us, and our fathers{H1}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 26:6
- And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:
Exodus 12:40
- Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, [was] four hundred and thirty years.
Genesis 46:6
- And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:
Genesis 15:13
- And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
Acts 7:15
- So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
Exodus 5:14
- And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, [and] demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?
Exodus 1:16
- And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see [them] upon the stools; if it [be] a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it [be] a daughter, then she shall live.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 20:15
1. **Themes:**
- **Struggle and Oppression:** The verse reflects the theme of the Israelites' suffering under Egyptian rule, highlighting the hardships they endured over a long period.
- **Historical Memory:** The Israelites recount their ancestors' journey to Egypt, emphasizing the collective memory of their people and the importance of remembering past experiences.
- **Divine Deliverance:** This verse is part of the larger narrative where the Israelites are on the brink of being delivered from oppression, looking back at their history as a prelude to God's intervention.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Sojourn in Egypt:** According to the biblical narrative, the Israelites, descendants of Jacob, moved to Egypt during a famine to seek food and refuge. Initially, they were welcomed by the Pharaoh because Joseph, one of Jacob's sons, had risen to a position of power in Egypt.
- **Changing Dynamics:** Over time, a new Pharaoh came to power "who did not know Joseph" (Exodus 1:8), leading to a shift in the Egyptians' treatment of the Israelites. The Israelites were eventually enslaved and oppressed.
- **The Exodus:** Numbers 20:15 is part of the Exodus story, which occurred after the Israelites had been enslaved for generations. This verse is spoken during the Israelites' wilderness journey, after their deliverance from Egypt but before their entry into the Promised Land.
- **The Wilderness:** At this point in the narrative, the Israelites are complaining about their circumstances in the wilderness, longing for the familiarity of Egypt despite their previous oppression.
In summary, Numbers 20:15 encapsulates the Israelites' reflection on their history of migration, enslavement, and suffering in Egypt, as well as their current state of wandering in the wilderness, as they await God's fulfillment of His promise to lead them to a land of their own.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H3381
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַד
Transliteration: yârad
Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down. - Strong's Number: H4714
There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
Transliteration: Mitsrayim
Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. - Strong's Number: H3427
There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁב
Transliteration: yâshab
Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. - 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). - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H7489
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָעַע
Transliteration: râʻaʻ
Pronunciation: raw-ah'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good fornothing, i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally); afflict, associate selves (by mistake for רָעָה), break (down, in pieces), [phrase] displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly (by mistake for רָעָה), do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, [idiom] indeed, do mischief, punish, still, vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse.