Numbers 11:20

KJV

[But] even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which [is] among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

KJV (with Strong's)

But even a whole month {H2320}{H3117}, until it come out {H3318} at your nostrils {H639}, and it be loathsome {H2214} unto you: because {H3282} that ye have despised {H3988} the LORD {H3068} which is among {H7130} you, and have wept {H1058} before {H6440} him, saying {H559}, Why came we forth {H3318} out of Egypt {H4714}?

Complete Jewish Bible

but a whole month! -until it comes out of your nose and you hate it! -because you have rejected ADONAI, who is here with you, and distressed him with your crying and asking, "Why did we ever leave Egypt?"'"

Berean Standard Bible

but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and makes you nauseous—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have cried out before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’”

American Standard Version

but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you; because that ye have rejected Jehovah who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 11:20 delivers a severe divine judgment against the Israelites, who, despite miraculous deliverance and daily provision of manna, expressed profound discontent and longing for the "fleshpots of Egypt." This verse climaxes God's furious response, promising to sate their craving for meat to the point of utter revulsion and sickness, precisely because their grumbling was perceived not merely as a complaint about food but as a deep-seated despising of the Lord Himself, who was faithfully present and providing among them.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 11:20 concludes God's direct and fiery response to the Israelites' intense craving for meat, a desire that escalated into weeping and open lament against their liberation from Egypt. The immediate preceding verses (Numbers 11:4-10) detail how a "mixed multitude" among them, and subsequently the Israelites themselves, began to "lust exceedingly," expressing profound dissatisfaction with the manna and recalling the seemingly better food of Egyptian bondage. Moses himself became overwhelmed by their incessant complaints, leading him to express his own burden to the Lord (Numbers 11:11-15). God's promise in Numbers 11:18-20 is a direct, ironic fulfillment of their sinful desire, turning their craving into a source of punishment, culminating in the graphic imagery of the meat becoming "loathsome" due to their rejection of His presence and provision. This episode sets the stage for the subsequent provision of quail and the devastating plague (Numbers 11:31-34), underscoring the severe consequences of their rebellion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were in the wilderness, a harsh and barren environment, having been miraculously delivered from centuries of slavery in [Egypt](/exodus/12-51 "Exodus 12:51 - The Exodus"). Their journey was not merely a physical trek but a period of spiritual formation under God's direct leadership, symbolized by the pillar of cloud and fire and the Tabernacle in their midst. In this context, their longing for the "fleshpots" and "fish" of Egypt (Numbers 11:5) was not just a desire for a varied diet but a nostalgic idealization of their past bondage, completely overlooking the oppression and suffering they endured. Their "weeping" was a culturally significant expression of deep lament and protest, indicating a profound rejection of their current circumstances and, by extension, the divine hand that led them. This act was particularly egregious given God's consistent provision of [manna](/exodus/16-35 "Exodus 16:35 - God Provides Manna") and water, demonstrating a profound lack of trust and an ungrateful spirit towards their covenant Lord.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it highlights the **danger of discontentment and grumbling** against divine provision and leadership, portraying it not as a minor annoyance but as a direct affront to God's character and authority. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **divine judgment as a consequence of rebellion**. God's response is not arbitrary but a direct, ironic fulfillment of their sinful desire, demonstrating that sometimes the severest judgment is to give people exactly what their rebellious hearts crave, allowing it to become their undoing. This is echoed in passages like [Psalm 78:30-31](/psalm/78-30 "Psalm 78:30-31 - The Israelites' Craving and God's Wrath"). Thirdly, the phrase "ye have despised the LORD which is among you" articulates the central theme of **despising God's presence and covenant faithfulness**. Their complaint about food was a symptom of a deeper spiritual ailment: a profound lack of faith and an ungrateful rejection of the God who had redeemed them, was present with them, and was leading them to the Promised Land. This rejection of God's immediate presence is a recurring motif, also seen in their refusal to enter the land in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Israel's Rebellion at Kadesh Barnea").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Loathsome (Hebrew, _zara'_):** This word (זָרָא) conveys a strong sense of disgust, abhorrence, or nausea. It implies a visceral, sickening revulsion. The imagery of the meat "coming out at your nostrils" combined with this word paints a vivid picture of extreme physical and emotional aversion, emphasizing the severity of the consequence. It's not just that they will be tired of the meat, but they will be utterly repulsed by it, to the point of vomiting or expelling it from their bodies.
* **Despised (Hebrew, _na'ats'_):** The Hebrew verb (נָאַץ) is a powerful term meaning to scorn, contemn, spurn, or blaspheme. It signifies a severe affront to God's honor, authority, and character. It's not merely a casual disregard but an active, deliberate act of treating God with contempt. This word reveals the true nature of the Israelites' complaint: it was not just about dietary preferences but a profound spiritual rebellion and a rejection of the very God who was present among them, providing for their every need.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"[But] even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you":** This clause describes the duration and intensity of God's judgment. The meat will be provided in such abundance and for such a prolonged period ("a whole month") that it will become utterly repulsive. The graphic imagery of it "coming out at your nostrils" is a hyperbolic expression of extreme nausea and disgust, suggesting that they will be so overwhelmed by the meat that they will expel it from every orifice, unable to stomach it any longer. This is a direct, ironic fulfillment of their insatiable craving.
* **"because that ye have despised the LORD which [is] among you":** This is the core accusation and the theological rationale for the judgment. Their incessant grumbling and longing for Egypt are interpreted by God as a direct act of contempt and scorn against Him. The phrase "which is among you" highlights the profound ingratitude and rebellion: they despised the very God who had miraculously delivered them, was faithfully present in their midst (via the Tabernacle and His guiding presence), and was sustaining them daily with manna. Their dissatisfaction with His provision was a rejection of His wisdom, power, and love.
* **"and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?":** This clause specifies the nature of their despising. Their "weeping" was not a lament of repentance but a lament of regret and accusation, expressing a desire to return to their former bondage. This question, "Why came we forth out of Egypt?", encapsulates their spiritual amnesia and ungratefulness, dismissing God's mighty acts of liberation and implicitly accusing Him of leading them into a worse situation. It signifies a complete lack of trust and a preference for perceived earthly comforts over divine freedom and provision.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 11:20 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Hyperbole** is evident in the vivid imagery of the meat "coming out at your nostrils," which is an exaggeration designed to emphasize the extreme degree of revulsion and disgust the Israelites would experience. This dramatic overstatement underscores the severity of God's judgment and the intensity of their future suffering. There is also a strong element of **Irony**, as God grants the Israelites the very thing they craved—meat—but in such a way that it becomes a source of punishment and misery rather than satisfaction. Their desire for flesh leads to an overwhelming surfeit that turns into a curse. Furthermore, the passage contains **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like emotions and actions to God, as He is described as being "despised" and having the Israelites "wept before Him." This helps humanize the divine interaction and makes God's righteous indignation more relatable and impactful to the audience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 11:20 profoundly illustrates the truth that God sometimes grants sinful desires as a form of judgment, allowing the very object of illicit craving to become a source of misery. This principle reveals God's justice in allowing individuals to experience the logical, often bitter, consequences of their rebellion and ungratefulness. The Israelites' despising of the Lord, who was present among them and faithfully providing, highlights the spiritual blindness that often accompanies discontentment. Their focus on perceived lack rather than abundant provision exposed a deeper distrust in God's goodness and sovereignty, demonstrating that true faith involves trusting God's wisdom even when His ways differ from our immediate desires. This episode serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of preferring the fleeting comforts of the world (symbolized by the "fleshpots of Egypt") over the liberating and sustaining presence of God.

* [Psalm 78:30-31](/psalm/78-30 "Psalm 78:30-31 - God's Wrath on the Israelites for Their Craving")
* [1 Corinthians 10:6](/1_corinthians/10-6 "1 Corinthians 10:6 - Warnings from Israel's History")
* [Hebrews 3:17-19](/hebrews/3-17 "Hebrews 3:17-19 - The Consequences of Unbelief")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 11:20 stands as a stark warning for believers today, reminding us of the profound spiritual danger inherent in discontentment and ungratefulness. The Israelites' grumbling, though seemingly about food, was interpreted by God as a direct despising of His presence, provision, and leadership. This teaches us that our complaints, even about seemingly minor inconveniences, can quickly escalate from dissatisfaction with circumstances to a deeper rejection of God's perfect will and sovereign care for our lives. We are called to cultivate a spirit of gratitude, recognizing God's faithfulness in every season and trusting that His provision, even when it differs from our immediate desires, is always for our ultimate good. This verse challenges us to examine our hearts: are we truly content in Christ, or are we secretly longing for the "fleshpots" of a past life or worldly comforts that distract us from His abundant grace? The narrative underscores that sometimes, receiving exactly what we selfishly crave can lead to bitter consequences, far worse than the perceived lack we initially lamented.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific areas of my life am I prone to grumbling or discontentment, and how might this reflect a deeper distrust in God's provision?**
* **In what ways might I be "despising the Lord" by rejecting His current working in my life, even if it feels difficult or uncomfortable?**
* **Am I more focused on what I perceive to be lacking, or on the abundant grace and faithfulness God has already shown me?**
* **How can I cultivate a more profound spirit of gratitude and trust in God's sovereignty, even when my circumstances are not what I desire?**

### FAQ
**Why was God so angry over a complaint about food?**

Answer: God's anger was not merely about a complaint over food but about what that complaint revealed about the Israelites' hearts. As Numbers 11:20 explicitly states, their weeping and longing for Egypt demonstrated that they "have despised the LORD which is among you." Their dissatisfaction with manna, God's miraculous daily provision, was a profound rejection of His wisdom, power, and loving care. It showed a lack of faith in His ability to sustain them and an ungrateful spirit for their liberation from Egyptian bondage. Their desire to return to Egypt, even in their minds, was a spiritual rebellion against the covenant God who had redeemed them and was faithfully leading them. This was a pattern of unbelief that continued to manifest throughout their wilderness journey, ultimately preventing that generation from entering the Promised Land (see [Hebrews 3:17-19](/hebrews/3-17 "Hebrews 3:17-19 - The Consequences of Unbelief")).

**Did God truly give them what they wanted just to punish them?**

Answer: Yes, in a sense, God gave them what they wanted as a form of ironic judgment. The text indicates that God would provide them meat "even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you." This was not an act of benevolent provision but a severe consequence. God allowed their sinful craving to be fulfilled to an extreme degree, turning the very object of their desire into a source of disgust and, ultimately, a plague (Numbers 11:31-34). This illustrates a biblical principle where God sometimes gives people over to their desires, allowing the natural, destructive consequences of sin to unfold (e.g., [Romans 1:24-28](/romans/1-24 "Romans 1:24-28 - God Gives Them Over to Their Desires")). It highlights that not every "answered prayer" or fulfilled desire is a blessing, especially when it stems from a heart of rebellion and contempt for God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 11:20, with its depiction of Israel's rejection of God's provision and their longing for the "fleshpots" of Egypt, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament. The Israelites' contempt for the manna, the "bread from heaven" (Exodus 16:4), foreshadows humanity's deeper rejection of the true Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. Just as Israel despised the Lord who was "among them," humanity often despises and rejects the incarnate God who came to dwell among us ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Their longing for the slavery of Egypt over the freedom offered by God in the wilderness mirrors the human tendency to prefer the bondage of sin and worldly comforts over the liberating grace and abundant life found in Christ ([Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Freedom in Christ")). However, unlike the temporary and ultimately unsatisfying provision of quail that led to judgment, Christ offers Himself as the living bread, providing eternal satisfaction and true life to all who believe, so that they "will never be hungry" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")). The judgment upon Israel for their unbelief serves as a solemn warning, yet it also points to Christ as the one who perfectly trusted and obeyed the Father, providing the ultimate sacrifice to atone for our grumbling, ungrateful hearts, and leading us into a true and eternal rest not found in any earthly "fleshpots" but in Him alone ([Hebrews 4:1-11](/hebrews/4-1 "Hebrews 4:1-11 - The Promise of Rest")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 106:15

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Psalms 78:27

He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:

Psalms 78:30

They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat [was] yet in their mouths,

Numbers 21:5

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for [there is] no bread, neither [is there any] water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

1 Samuel 10:19

And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

Malachi 1:6

¶ A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I [be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a master, where [is] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

Proverbs 27:7

¶ The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.