King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it [is] no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither [is] there any water to drink.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Why did you make us leave Egypt? To bring us to this terrible place without seed, figs, grapevines, pomegranates or even water to drink?"
Berean Standard Bible:
Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”
American Standard Version:
And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And wherefore have ye made us to come up{H5927} out of Egypt{H4714}, to bring{H935} us in unto this evil{H7451} place{H4725}? it is no place{H4725} of seed{H2233}, or of figs{H8384}, or of vines{H1612}, or of pomegranates{H7416}; neither is there any water{H4325} to drink{H8354}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Numbers 16:14
- Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
Jeremiah 2:6
- Neither said they, Where [is] the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
Ezekiel 20:36
- Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
Deuteronomy 8:15
- Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, [wherein were] fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where [there was] no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;
Nehemiah 9:21
- Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, [so that] they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.
Jeremiah 2:2
- Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land [that was] not sown.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 20:5
1. **Themes:**
- **Complaint and Lack of Faith:** The verse reflects the Israelites' lack of trust in God and Moses, as they complain about their circumstances despite God's previous deliverance from Egypt and provision in the wilderness.
- **Ingratitude:** It highlights the theme of ingratitude, as the Israelites focus on the current hardships rather than the miraculous acts they have witnessed.
- **Testing of Leadership:** This moment serves as another test for Moses and Aaron, challenging their leadership and their ability to manage the people's doubts and fears.
- **Provision vs. Self-Reliance:** The Israelites' desire for the comforts of Egypt contrasts with their need to rely on God's provision in the wilderness, emphasizing the tension between human desires and spiritual dependence.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Exodus Journey:** The Israelites are in the wilderness as part of their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. This event occurs towards the end of the 40-year wilderness period.
- **Wandering and Rebellion:** This period is characterized by repeated instances of the Israelites' complaining and rebellion against God and Moses, despite God's consistent care and miraculous interventions.
- **Leadership Challenges:** Moses faces the difficult task of leading a people prone to grumbling and dissatisfaction, which often results in divine judgment and mercy.
- **Water Scarcity:** Specifically, in Numbers 20, the Israelites are in the Desert of Zin, and the lack of water leads to another crisis of faith and leadership.
In summary, Numbers 20:5 captures a recurring theme in the Israelites' journey: their struggle to trust God and Moses amidst hardship, and the leadership challenges that arise from guiding a faithless and often complaining people through the wilderness towards the fulfillment of God's promises.
*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: H5927
There are 817 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָלָה
Transliteration: ʻâlâh
Pronunciation: aw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative; arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. - 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: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H7451
There are 623 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רַע
Transliteration: raʻ
Pronunciation: rah
Description: from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.). - Strong's Number: H4725
There are 379 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָקוֹם
Transliteration: mâqôwm
Pronunciation: maw-kome'
Description: or מָקֹם; also (feminine) מְקוֹמָה; or מְקֹמָה; from קוּם; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind); country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). - Strong's Number: H2233
There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זֶרַע
Transliteration: zeraʻ
Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time. - Strong's Number: H8384
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תְּאֵן
Transliteration: tᵉʼên
Pronunciation: teh-ane'
Description: or (in the singular, feminine) תְּאֵנָה; perhaps of foreign derivation; the fig (tree or fruit); fig (tree). - Strong's Number: H1612
There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גֶּפֶן
Transliteration: gephen
Pronunciation: gheh'-fen
Description: from an unused root meaning to bend; a vine (as twining), especially the grape; vine, tree. - Strong's Number: H7416
There are 25 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רִמּוֹן
Transliteration: rimmôwn
Pronunciation: rim-mone'
Description: or רִמֹּן; from רָמַם; a pomegranate, the tree (from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial ornament); pomegranate. - 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)). - 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.)