Numbers 14:14

And they will tell [it] to the inhabitants of this land: [for] they have heard that thou LORD [art] among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and [that] thy cloud standeth over them, and [that] thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

And they will tell {H559} it to the inhabitants {H3427} of this land {H776}: for they have heard {H8085} that thou LORD {H3068} art among {H7130} this people {H5971}, that thou LORD {H3068} art seen {H7200} face {H5869} to face {H5869}, and that thy cloud {H6051} standeth {H5975} over them, and that thou goest {H1980} before {H6440} them, by day time {H3119} in a pillar {H5982} of a cloud {H6051}, and in a pillar {H5982} of fire {H784} by night {H3915}.

they will tell the people living in this land. They have heard that you, ADONAI, are with this people; that you, ADONAI, are seen face to face; that your cloud stands over them; that you go ahead of them in a column of cloud by day and a column of fire by night.

And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that thou Jehovah art in the midst of this people; for thou Jehovah art seen face to face, and thy cloud standeth over them, and thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.

Commentary

Context of Numbers 14:14

This verse is part of a powerful intercession by Moses on behalf of the Israelite nation. Following the negative report from ten of the twelve spies sent into Canaan, the people rebelled against the LORD and threatened to choose new leaders to return to Egypt (Numbers 14:1-4). In response, God threatened to disinherit Israel and make a greater nation from Moses (Numbers 14:12). Moses pleads with God, appealing to His reputation among the surrounding nations, particularly the Egyptians, who had witnessed God's mighty acts. Moses reminds God of His visible, undeniable presence and guidance, arguing that destroying His people would cause the nations to question God's power and character.

Key Themes

  • God's Manifest Presence: The verse highlights the tangible and undeniable presence of God among His people. The "pillar of a cloud" by day and "pillar of fire" by night were constant, visible reminders of God's dwelling with and leading Israel through the wilderness.
  • Divine Guidance: God's continuous leadership is emphasized. He "goest before them," signifying His active role in directing their journey and protecting them from dangers.
  • God's Reputation and Glory: Moses appeals to God's concern for His own name among the nations. The Egyptians and Canaanites knew of God's power in delivering Israel. Moses argues that if God were to destroy Israel now, these nations would conclude that God was unable to bring His people into the promised land, thereby diminishing His glory (Exodus 32:12).
  • Intercession: Moses serves as a prime example of an intercessor, standing in the gap for a sinful people and appealing to God's character and promises rather than their deservingness.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "thou LORD art seen face to face" does not imply a literal full manifestation of God's glory to every Israelite, as Exodus 33:20 states no man can see God's face and live. Rather, it signifies a direct, intimate, and undeniable manifestation of God's presence and communication, particularly with Moses (Deuteronomy 34:10), which the people perceived as God being uniquely present among them. The Hebrew word for "LORD" (all caps in KJV) is YHWH (Yahweh), God's personal covenant name, emphasizing His faithful relationship with Israel.

Practical Application

Numbers 14:14 reminds us that God's presence is a powerful witness to the world. Just as God visibly led Israel, He continues to guide His people today, though often through less dramatic means, such as His Word and the Holy Spirit. Our lives, as followers of Christ, are meant to reflect God's character and faithfulness, serving as a testimony to those around us. This verse also underscores the importance of intercessory prayer, demonstrating how one person's earnest plea can influence divine action and uphold God's glory in the eyes of others. We are called to live in a way that magnifies God's name, so that the world might know of His power and love.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 15:14

    The people shall hear, [and] be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.

  • Exodus 13:21

    And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

  • Exodus 13:22

    He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, [from] before the people.

  • Deuteronomy 5:4

    The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,

  • Exodus 33:11

    And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

  • Psalms 78:14

    In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.

  • Joshua 5:1

    ¶ And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which [were] on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which [were] by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
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