Numbers 11:21

KJV

And Moses said, The people, among whom I [am, are] six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Moses {H4872} said {H559}, The people {H5971}, among {H7130} whom I am, are six {H8337} hundred {H3967} thousand {H505} footmen {H7273}; and thou hast said {H559}, I will give {H5414} them flesh {H1320}, that they may eat {H398} a whole {H3117} month {H2320}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But Moshe said, "Here I am with six hundred thousand men on foot, and yet you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!'

Berean Standard Bible

But Moses replied, “Here I am among 600,000 men on foot, yet You say, ‘I will give them meat, and they will eat for a month.’

American Standard Version

And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 11:21 captures Moses' profound human doubt and incredulity in the face of an extraordinary divine promise. Overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the Israelite population, estimated at six hundred thousand footmen, and the seemingly impossible logistical challenge of feeding them meat for an entire month, Moses questions how the Lord could possibly fulfill such a vast and extended provision. This moment highlights the tension between human limitation and God's boundless power during the wilderness journey.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 11:21 is situated within a critical narrative segment (Numbers 11:4-35) detailing the Israelites' persistent complaining in the wilderness. Following their miraculous deliverance from Egypt and sustained provision of manna (as referenced in [Exodus 16:35](/exodus/16-35 "Exodus 16:35 - Manna in the Wilderness")), the people, described as a "rabble" among them, begin to lament their diet, craving the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt, despising the daily manna. This grumbling deeply grieves Moses, who expresses his overwhelming burden to the Lord, and it provokes God's anger. In response to their insatiable craving for meat, God, though displeased, promises to provide an abundance of quail—so much that they will eat it for a whole month until it becomes loathsome to them. Moses' statement in verse 21 is his immediate, human reaction to the enormity of this divine pledge, expressing his skepticism about the feasibility of feeding such a vast multitude. This doubt is directly answered by God in [Numbers 11:23](/numbers/11-23 "Numbers 11:23 - God's Response to Moses' Doubt"), who asks, "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?"
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were a nomadic people recently freed from slavery in Egypt, traversing a barren wilderness. Their diet would have been simple, and the miraculous provision of manna was a daily testament to God's care. The number "six hundred thousand footmen" (Hebrew: _ragli_) refers to adult males capable of military service, typically aged 20 and above, as seen in census accounts like [Numbers 1:46](/numbers/1-46 "Numbers 1:46 - Census of Israel"). This figure implies a total population, including women, children, and the elderly, of perhaps two to three million people. Feeding such a massive population in a desert environment, even with basic provisions, was an immense logistical challenge. Providing meat, a luxury, for an entire month would have been an unprecedented feat, far beyond any human capability or historical precedent for a nomadic group of this size. The people's longing for the "flesh pots" of Egypt reflects a common human tendency to romanticize past comforts, even those associated with bondage, when faced with present hardship and the discipline of faith.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the broader Pentateuch. It highlights the profound **tension between human limitation and divine omnipotence**, as Moses' finite understanding clashes with God's infinite capacity for provision. It underscores the pervasive theme of **human unbelief and complaint** despite overwhelming evidence of God's faithfulness, a recurring motif throughout Israel's wilderness journey. Conversely, it showcases **God's steadfast, though sometimes disciplinary, provision** for His people, even when they are undeserving. Finally, it illuminates the immense **burden of leadership** borne by Moses, who frequently intercedes for a rebellious people and struggles with his own faith under the weight of their demands, as evidenced by his earlier plea in [Numbers 11:11-15](/numbers/11-15 "Numbers 11:11-15 - Moses' Complaint to God"). The eventual provision of quail in [Numbers 11:31](/numbers/11-31 "Numbers 11:31 - The Provision of Quail") serves as a dramatic demonstration of God's ability to fulfill His word, even to the point of judgment for their greed.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Footmen (Hebrew, _ragli'_):** This term specifically denotes adult males capable of marching or serving in an army, emphasizing their physical readiness and implying a military-aged population. In the context of the wilderness census, this figure of "six hundred thousand" refers to those numbered for military service (cf. [Numbers 1:46](/numbers/1-46 "Numbers 1:46 - Census of Israel")), effectively representing the male heads of households. Moses' use of this term underscores the sheer magnitude of the population for whom God promised provision, making the task seem humanly impossible.
* **Flesh (Hebrew, _basar'_):** While "flesh" can refer to meat in general, in this context, it specifically refers to the animal protein the Israelites craved, contrasting sharply with the manna they had been receiving. Their desire for _basar_ was not merely for sustenance but for a luxury, a symbol of their former life in Egypt, and it became a point of contention and rebellion against God's daily, sufficient provision.
* **Whole month (Hebrew, _chodesh yamim'_):** This phrase emphasizes the duration and scale of the promised provision. It's not a one-time meal or a few days' supply, but a sustained, continuous provision of meat for an entire lunar cycle. This extended period amplifies the logistical impossibility from a human perspective, highlighting the extraordinary nature of God's promise and Moses' subsequent doubt.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Moses said, The people, among whom I [am, are] six hundred thousand footmen;":** This opening clause immediately establishes the speaker and the immense scale of the challenge. Moses, as the leader, is intimately aware of the vast number of people under his charge, specifically highlighting the adult male population. His statement is not merely an observation but an expression of his incredulity and the human impossibility of the task. The parenthetical "[am, are]" in the KJV reflects a textual nuance, but the meaning clearly conveys the presence of this vast multitude with Moses.
* **"and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.":** This second clause directly quotes or paraphrases God's promise from [Numbers 11:18](/numbers/11-18 "Numbers 11:18 - God Promises Meat"). Moses reiterates the divine promise back to God, not in faith, but in a tone of bewildered questioning. The juxtaposition of the immense population ("six hundred thousand footmen") with the extravagant and sustained promise ("flesh... a whole month") forms the core of Moses' dilemma, emphasizing the chasm between human capacity and divine declaration.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as Moses, who has witnessed countless miracles of divine provision (e.g., the parting of the Red Sea, the daily manna), now struggles to believe God's ability to provide meat. This underscores the persistent human tendency to doubt even after experiencing God's faithfulness. **Hyperbole** is used by Moses to emphasize the overwhelming scale of the population and the duration of the promised provision, making the task seem utterly unachievable by human means. This serves to highlight the **contrast** between finite human understanding and infinite divine power. The implicit **anthropomorphism** in God "giving" flesh, while common, here emphasizes God's direct and personal involvement in the provision, despite Moses' skepticism. The entire exchange functions as a **dialogue of doubt**, where human limitation confronts divine omnipotence, setting the stage for God's powerful rhetorical question in [Numbers 11:23](/numbers/11-23 "Numbers 11:23 - God's Response to Moses' Doubt"): "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?"

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 11:21 serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring tension between human doubt and divine omnipotence. Despite witnessing God's miraculous provision and deliverance repeatedly, Moses, a man of profound faith, momentarily succumbs to human logic and limitation when confronted with a promise that defies natural explanation. This episode underscores that even great leaders can falter in their trust, highlighting the constant need for faith in the face of the seemingly impossible. It also powerfully affirms God's boundless capacity to fulfill His word, even when His people are undeserving or when the means seem utterly unattainable from a human perspective. God's subsequent provision of quail, though accompanied by judgment for the people's greed, unequivocally demonstrates that His power is not constrained by human numbers or desert scarcity.

* [Jeremiah 32:27](/jeremiah/32-27 "Jeremiah 32:27 - Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?")
* [Luke 1:37](/luke/1-37 "Luke 1:37 - For Nothing Will Be Impossible with God")
* [Matthew 19:26](/matthew/19-26 "Matthew 19:26 - With God All Things Are Possible")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Moses' moment of doubt in Numbers 11:21 offers a deeply relatable human experience for believers today. We, too, often find ourselves in situations where God's promises or His expected provision seem utterly impossible given our circumstances, resources, or understanding. This verse challenges us to examine the limits we place on God based on our finite perspective. It calls us to remember that the God who delivered Israel from Egypt, sustained them with manna, and promised to provide meat for millions in a barren wilderness is the same God who works in our lives. Our faith is not in our ability to comprehend God's methods, but in His unfailing character and boundless power. When faced with overwhelming odds or promises that seem too good to be true, we are invited to move beyond our human calculations and trust in the God for whom nothing is impossible.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "six hundred thousand footmen" situations in your life cause you to doubt God's ability to provide?**
* **How does remembering God's past faithfulness in your life or in biblical history strengthen your trust for future challenges?**
* **In what areas are you tempted to limit God based on your human understanding or resources?**
* **What specific promise from God's Word do you need to trust Him for, even when the "how" seems impossible?**

### FAQ
**Why did Moses doubt God's ability to provide, given all the miracles he had witnessed?**

Answer: Moses' doubt, while seemingly surprising given his direct experience with God's power, highlights the persistent human tendency to rely on logic and visible circumstances rather than absolute faith, especially under immense pressure. He had just endured the people's incessant complaining and felt the overwhelming burden of leadership (Numbers 11:11-15). His question in [Numbers 11:21](/numbers/11-21 "Numbers 11:21 - Moses' Doubt") reflects the sheer scale of the logistical challenge: feeding millions of people meat for a month in a desert. Even after witnessing the parting of the Red Sea ([Exodus 14](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Parting of the Red Sea")) and the daily provision of manna ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - The Provision of Manna")), the specific nature and scale of this new demand pushed him to the limits of his human comprehension. It serves as a reminder that faith is a continuous journey, and even the strongest believers can have moments of struggle.

**What was the significance of the "six hundred thousand footmen" figure?**

Answer: The figure of "six hundred thousand footmen" (Hebrew: _ragli_) refers to the adult males capable of military service, typically those aged 20 and above, as enumerated in the census accounts (e.g., [Numbers 1:46](/numbers/1-46 "Numbers 1:46 - Census of Israel")). This number is significant because it represents the fighting force of Israel, implying a total population, including women, children, and the elderly, of approximately two to three million people. Moses emphasizes this vast number to underscore the human impossibility of providing meat for such a multitude for an entire month in a barren wilderness. It sets up a dramatic contrast between the immense scale of human need and the seemingly impossible divine promise, highlighting God's miraculous power when He fulfills it.

**How did God ultimately respond to Moses' doubt and the people's craving?**

Answer: God responded to Moses' doubt with a powerful rhetorical question: "Is the Lord's hand waxed short?" ([Numbers 11:23](/numbers/11-23 "Numbers 11:23 - God's Response to Moses' Doubt")), affirming His limitless power. To the people's craving, God indeed provided an immense quantity of quail, so much that it piled up two cubits high around the camp for a day's journey in every direction ([Numbers 11:31-32](/numbers/11-32 "Numbers 11:31-32 - The Quail Provision")). However, this provision came with a severe judgment. Because the people had craved meat out of greed and disdain for God's provision, and not out of genuine need, a plague struck them while the meat was still in their mouths, resulting in many deaths. This event is memorialized at a place called Kibroth-hattaavah, meaning "graves of craving" ([Numbers 11:33-34](/numbers/11-34 "Numbers 11:33-34 - Kibroth-hattaavah")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 11:21, with Moses' human doubt concerning God's ability to provide flesh for millions, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus, who is the divine provision for humanity's deepest needs. While Israel craved physical meat in the wilderness, Jesus declares Himself the true "bread of life" who came down from heaven, offering eternal sustenance that far surpasses manna or quail ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")). Just as God's hand was not "waxed short" in providing for Israel's physical hunger, so too is His power limitless in providing for our spiritual hunger through Christ. Jesus' miraculous feeding of the five thousand ([Matthew 14:13-21](/matthew/14-21 "Matthew 14:13-21 - Feeding the Five Thousand")) echoes the wilderness provisions, demonstrating His divine authority and boundless capacity to meet human need, both physical and spiritual. Ultimately, the "flesh" God provided in the wilderness pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose body was broken and whose blood was shed to provide eternal life and reconciliation for all who believe ([John 6:51](/john/6-51 "John 6:51 - Jesus Gives His Flesh for the Life of the World")). Thus, what seemed impossible to Moses—feeding millions with flesh—is infinitely surpassed by Christ, who offers His very self as the life-giving provision for all humanity, satisfying a hunger far deeper than any physical craving.

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

Exodus 12:37

¶ And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot [that were] men, beside children.

Numbers 1:46

Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

Genesis 12:2

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Exodus 38:26

A bekah for every man, [that is], half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty [men].

Numbers 2:32

These [are] those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts [were] six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.