Numbers 14:12

KJV

I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

KJV (with Strong's)

I will smite {H5221} them with the pestilence {H1698}, and disinherit {H3423} them, and will make {H6213} of thee a greater {H1419} nation {H1471} and mightier {H6099} than they.

Complete Jewish Bible

I am going to strike them with sickness, destroy them and make from you a nation greater and stronger than they are!"

Berean Standard Bible

I will strike them with a plague and destroy them—and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are.”

American Standard Version

I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 14:12 captures a dramatic moment where God, in righteous indignation over Israel's persistent unbelief and rebellion, threatens to annihilate the entire nation and raise up a new, greater people from Moses. This divine pronouncement follows the Israelites' refusal to enter the Promised Land, choosing instead to believe the discouraging report of ten spies and proposing a return to Egyptian bondage. It highlights the severe consequences of defying God's direct commands and promises, while simultaneously revealing God's unwavering commitment to His covenant purposes, even if it means altering the means of their fulfillment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climax of God's immediate response to Israel's profound act of rebellion. In [Numbers 13](/numbers/13 "Numbers 13 - The Spies Sent to Canaan"), Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan, and upon their return, ten delivered a fearful report emphasizing the strength of the inhabitants and their fortified cities. This negative report, despite the faithful and encouraging words of Joshua and Caleb in [Numbers 14:6-9](/numbers/14-6 "Numbers 14:6-9 - Joshua and Caleb's Faith"), plunged the congregation into despair. In [Numbers 14:1-4](/numbers/14-1 "Numbers 14:1-4 - Israel's Rebellion"), the people wept, murmured against Moses and Aaron, and even proposed choosing a new leader to return to Egypt, effectively rejecting God's leadership and His promise of the land. God's patience, having been tested repeatedly since the Exodus, reached its breaking point, leading to His direct confrontation with Moses in [Numbers 14:11](/numbers/14-11 "Numbers 14:11 - God's Question to Moses"), immediately preceding this verse. This sets the stage for Moses' powerful intercession in [Numbers 14:13-19](/numbers/14-13 "Numbers 14:13-19 - Moses' Intercession").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Israelites were a newly liberated people, recently delivered from centuries of slavery in Egypt through a series of miraculous interventions by Yahweh. They had witnessed the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Law at Sinai. Their journey through the wilderness was marked by divine provision (manna, water from the rock) and protection. Culturally, they were still forming their identity as a covenant people, transitioning from a nomadic existence to a nation preparing to settle in a land promised to their patriarchs. The wilderness period was intended as a time of spiritual formation and testing, designed to cultivate trust and obedience. However, their repeated murmuring and lack of faith, culminating in this outright rejection of God's command to enter Canaan, demonstrated a profound failure to grasp the implications of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. The threat of "pestilence" was a recognized form of divine judgment in the ancient Near East, often associated with a deity's displeasure and power.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 14:12 powerfully underscores several major themes prevalent throughout the book of [Numbers](/numbers/1 "The Book of Numbers"): the **consequences of unbelief and disobedience** are starkly presented, demonstrating that God's covenant blessings are conditional upon faithfulness. This verse highlights **God's righteous anger** and holiness, emphasizing that His patience has limits when faced with persistent rebellion against His revealed will and leadership. It also showcases God's **sovereign faithfulness to His covenant promises**, even to the point of proposing to fulfill them through a new lineage if the current generation proves utterly faithless, echoing the original promise to Abraham in [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - God's Promise to Abraham"). Finally, this dramatic declaration serves as a crucial setup for the theme of **intercession**, as God's severe threat prompts Moses to stand in the gap for his people, demonstrating the pivotal role of a faithful mediator.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Smite (Hebrew, _nagaf_):** This verb (נָגַף) frequently denotes a divine strike or plague, often resulting in defeat, a wound, or death. It implies a direct, supernatural act of judgment from God, not merely a natural disaster. In this context, it emphasizes the immediate and devastating nature of the punishment God intends to inflict upon the rebellious Israelites.
* **Pestilence (Hebrew, _dever_):** The noun (דֶּבֶר) refers to a plague, epidemic, or widespread disease, often explicitly described as sent by God as a form of judgment. It is a common instrument of divine wrath in the Old Testament, signifying a swift and comprehensive destruction that leaves no doubt as to its divine origin.
* **Disinherit (Hebrew, _yarash_):** While _yarash_ (יָרַשׁ) commonly means "to inherit" or "to take possession of," its Hiphil stem (causative) here means "to cause to inherit" or, more relevantly in this context, "to dispossess" or "to drive out." God threatens to dispossess the Israelites from their covenant inheritance, the Promised Land, effectively stripping them of their national identity and future as His chosen people in that land.
* **Make of thee a greater nation (Hebrew, _'asah l'kha goy gadol_):** This phrase directly echoes the promise made to Abraham in [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - God's Promise to Abraham"), "I will make of thee a great nation." The offer to Moses signifies God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promise to raise up a great nation, even if it means bypassing the current rebellious generation and starting anew through a faithful individual.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I will smite them with the pestilence":** This clause reveals God's immediate and severe judgment. The use of "pestilence" (דֶּבֶר, _dever_) indicates a divinely inflicted plague, a swift and comprehensive act of destruction. This is not merely a threat of military defeat but an internal, existential threat to the very life of the community, underscoring the gravity of their rebellion against the Almighty.
* **"and disinherit them":** This phrase signifies the ultimate consequence of their unbelief: the stripping away of their covenantal right to the land of Canaan. To be "disinherited" means to lose their claim to the Promised Land, the very inheritance God had sworn to give their forefathers. This would effectively nullify their national future as God's chosen people in the land of promise, a devastating blow to their identity and destiny.
* **"and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they":** This concluding clause presents a radical alternative, a re-establishment of the covenant through Moses. God offers to bypass the rebellious generation and fulfill His promise to Abraham through Moses' lineage. The phrase "greater nation and mightier" emphasizes not only numerical superiority but also a spiritual and political ascendancy, signifying God's ability to achieve His purposes through a faithful remnant, even if it means a complete reset of the national lineage.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 14:12 is a powerful example of **Divine Fiat** or **Pronouncement**, where God speaks directly and decisively, declaring His intent. The language is stark and unambiguous, reflecting the depth of His righteous anger. There is a clear **Contrast** established between the rebellious and faithless generation of Israel and the potential for a new, faithful nation to be raised through Moses. This highlights the themes of divine justice and covenant faithfulness. The phrase "greater nation and mightier than they" also serves as a direct **Echo** or **Allusion** to the Abrahamic covenant, specifically [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - God's Promise to Abraham"), demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His promises even when human faithfulness falters. The severity of the threatened judgment ("smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them") employs **Hyperbole** or strong, decisive language to underscore the gravity of Israel's sin and the absolute nature of God's authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 14:12 stands as a stark testament to the seriousness of unbelief and the profound consequences of rebellion against God's revealed will. It underscores God's holiness and justice, demonstrating that while He is merciful, His patience is not infinite when confronted with persistent defiance of His covenant. Yet, even in the midst of divine wrath, God's unwavering commitment to His overarching redemptive plan is evident in His offer to Moses, showcasing His sovereign ability to fulfill His promises through alternative means. This pivotal moment sets the stage for Moses' intercession, highlighting the critical role of a faithful mediator in turning away divine judgment and demonstrating the power of prayer rooted in God's own character and past promises.

* [Exodus 32:9-10](/exodus/32-9 "God's Offer to Moses After the Golden Calf")
* [Psalm 95:10-11](/psalm/95-10 "God's Oath Regarding the Wilderness Generation")
* [Hebrews 3:12-19](/hebrews/3-12 "Warning Against Unbelief")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 14:12 serves as a timeless warning and a profound lesson for believers today. The Israelites' failure to trust God's power and promises, despite overwhelming evidence of His faithfulness, led to a forfeited inheritance and a generation lost in the wilderness. This challenges us to examine the areas in our lives where fear, doubt, or the discouraging "reports" of the world might cause us to shrink back from God's clear call or promises. Our faith must rest in God's character and omnipotence, not in our own perceived limitations or the size of the obstacles before us. Furthermore, the severity of God's reaction reminds us that persistent murmuring, complaining, and outright rebellion against divine authority are not trivial matters but deeply offensive to a holy God. Conversely, Moses' subsequent response models selfless intercession, urging us to stand in the gap for others, pleading for mercy even when those we intercede for are undeserving. This verse ultimately points to God's justice and His capacity for righteous anger, but also His willingness to respond to the humble and faithful pleas of His servants, even if consequences for sin remain.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where in my life am I allowing fear or the "giants" in my path to overshadow God's promises and power?**
* **How quickly do I resort to complaining or doubt when circumstances become challenging, rather than trusting in God's provision and guidance?**
* **In what ways can I emulate Moses' intercessory heart, pleading for others even when it is personally costly?**
* **What does God's willingness to "disinherit" a generation teach me about the seriousness of unbelief and the importance of obedience?**

### FAQ
**Why did God offer to make a new nation from Moses instead of just punishing the Israelites directly?**

Answer: God's offer to Moses in [Numbers 14:12](/numbers/14-12 "Numbers 14:12 - God's Threat and Offer to Moses") was multifaceted. Firstly, it underscored the absolute gravity of Israel's rebellion; their sin was so profound that it warranted complete destruction. Secondly, it demonstrated God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises, particularly the one made to Abraham to make him into a great nation ([Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - God's Promise to Abraham")). Even if the current generation proved faithless, God's faithfulness meant He would find a way to fulfill His word, even if it meant starting anew with a faithful individual like Moses. Thirdly, and most importantly from a narrative perspective, this radical offer served as a crucial test and catalyst for Moses' intercession. God knew Moses' heart and that he would plead for his people, thereby highlighting Moses' role as a mediator and revealing God's own mercy in response to such intercession, even while still upholding justice through the wilderness wandering.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 14:12, though a stark display of divine judgment against unbelief, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in several profound ways. The rebellious generation of Israel, threatened with disinheritance and plague, foreshadows humanity's universal spiritual condition, alienated from God and deserving of judgment due to sin. Yet, just as God offered to raise a new nation through Moses, so too has He raised a new spiritual Israel, the church, through the faithfulness of His Son, Jesus Christ. Unlike the faithless generation, Jesus perfectly trusted and obeyed the Father, even unto death on the cross, thereby becoming the true and ultimate [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). He took upon Himself the "pestilence" of sin's judgment, allowing us, who were once "disinherited" from God's presence, to be adopted as sons and daughters through faith in Him ([Ephesians 1:5](/ephesians/1-5 "Ephesians 1:5 - Adoption Through Christ")). Furthermore, Moses' selfless intercession in [Numbers 14:13-19](/numbers/14-13 "Numbers 14:13-19 - Moses' Intercession") serves as a powerful type of Christ, our great High Priest, who continually intercedes for us at the right hand of God ([Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ's Intercession") and [Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Eternal Priesthood")). Through Christ, the threat of pestilence and disinheritance is overcome, and we are granted an eternal inheritance in the heavenly Canaan ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - An Incorruptible Inheritance")).

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 32:10

Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

Numbers 16:46

And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

Numbers 16:49

Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

2 Samuel 24:12

Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three [things]; choose thee one of them, that I may [do it] unto thee.

2 Samuel 24:15

So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

Numbers 25:9

And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

2 Samuel 24:1

¶ And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.