Numbers 14:17

KJV

And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,

KJV (with Strong's)

And now, I beseech thee, let the power {H3581} of my Lord {H136} be great {H1431}, according {H834} as thou hast spoken {H1696}, saying {H559},

Complete Jewish Bible

So now, please, let Adonai's power be as great as when you said,

Berean Standard Bible

So now I pray, may the power of my Lord be magnified, just as You have declared:

American Standard Version

And now, I pray thee, let the power of the Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 14:17 captures Moses' impassioned plea to God following Israel's profound rebellion and unbelief at Kadesh-Barnea. After the ten unfaithful spies instilled fear and doubt, leading the people to reject entry into the Promised Land and even contemplate returning to Egypt, God's righteous anger threatened to consume the nation. In this pivotal moment, Moses intercedes, appealing not to Israel's merit but to God's inherent character and His previously declared attributes of mercy, patience, and great power to forgive, thereby seeking to uphold God's glory and reputation among the nations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded in the narrative of Israel's journey from Sinai to the Promised Land, specifically following the disastrous report of the twelve spies in [Numbers 13](/numbers/13 "Numbers 13 - The Spies Sent to Canaan"). Ten of the spies brought back a fearful account of giants and fortified cities, causing the people to grumble against the Lord and Moses, even proposing to appoint a new leader and return to Egypt ([Numbers 14:1-4](/numbers/14-1 "Numbers 14:1-4 - Israel's Rebellion")). This outright rebellion provokes God's wrath, leading Him to threaten to strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, raising up a new nation from Moses ([Numbers 14:11-12](/numbers/14-11 "Numbers 14:11-12 - God's Anger and Threat")). Moses' intercession, beginning in [Numbers 14:13](/numbers/14-13 "Numbers 14:13 - Moses' Intercession Begins"), is a direct response to this divine judgment, seeking to avert the destruction of the very people God had redeemed from Egypt. His argument builds upon God's reputation among the nations and His own self-revelation.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the wilderness of Paran, specifically Kadesh-Barnea, a significant oasis on the border of Canaan. This was the threshold of the Promised Land, a moment of truth for the newly formed nation of Israel. Their refusal to enter, despite God's miraculous deliverance from Egypt and His covenant promises, represented a profound failure of faith. In the ancient Near East, the reputation of a deity was often tied to the success and power of their people. Moses' concern for God's "great name" ([Numbers 14:15-16](/numbers/14-15 "Numbers 14:15-16 - Moses' Appeal to God's Reputation")) reflects this cultural understanding, where a deity's inability to deliver on promises or protect their people would be seen as a weakness by surrounding nations. Moses' appeal is therefore not just for Israel's sake, but for the vindication of Yahweh's unique power and faithfulness in the eyes of the world.

* **Key Themes:** Numbers 14:17 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. It highlights the recurring theme of **Israel's rebellion and God's patience**, a pattern seen from the murmuring at Rephidim ([Exodus 17:1-7](/exodus/17-1 "Exodus 17:1-7 - Water from the Rock")) to the golden calf incident ([Exodus 32](/exodus/32 "Exodus 32 - The Golden Calf")). Crucially, it underscores the **power and necessity of intercession**, with Moses acting as a mediator who stands in the gap for a sinful people, foreshadowing the ultimate mediator. The verse also emphasizes **God's character of mercy and steadfast love**, contrasting it with His righteous wrath. Moses' appeal, "according as thou hast spoken," grounds his request in God's own self-revelation, particularly from [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6-7 - God's Self-Revelation to Moses"), reinforcing the theme of **God's faithfulness to His covenant word** despite human unfaithfulness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Power (Hebrew, _koach'_):** While _koach_ generally signifies strength, might, or ability, in this context, Moses is not asking for God's power to be great in judgment or destruction, which God had already threatened. Instead, he is appealing for God's power to be magnified in its capacity for forbearance, forgiveness, and covenant faithfulness. It is a request for God's power to overcome His just wrath with His greater mercy, demonstrating a divine strength that transcends mere physical might.
* **I beseech thee (Hebrew, _na'_):** This particle, often translated as "please" or "I pray," conveys a tone of urgent, humble, and earnest supplication. It indicates Moses' deep personal involvement and the gravity of the situation, highlighting his role as a compassionate mediator who is pleading on behalf of a people who do not deserve such mercy. It underscores the intensity and sincerity of his intercession.
* **Great (Hebrew, _gadol'_):** This adjective means "large," "mighty," or "magnified." When applied to God's "power" in this context, it signifies a desire for God's attribute of mercy and forgiveness to be displayed on a grand, overwhelming scale, surpassing the magnitude of Israel's sin. Moses is asking for God's capacity for grace to be so immense that it eclipses the deserved judgment, thereby bringing greater glory to His name.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And now, I beseech thee,"**: This opening phrase signals a critical turning point and an urgent appeal. "And now" connects Moses' intercession directly to God's declaration of judgment, indicating an immediate and necessary response. "I beseech thee" conveys the earnest, humble, and deeply personal nature of Moses' plea, emphasizing his role as an intercessor standing between God's wrath and the people's sin.
* **"let the power of my Lord be great,"**: Moses is not asking God to *become* powerful, for God is inherently omnipotent. Rather, he is requesting that God's power be *demonstrated* or *magnified* in a particular way – specifically, in the exercise of patience, forgiveness, and restraint, rather than immediate judgment. This is a profound theological insight: God's greatest power is often seen in His mercy and self-control.
* **"according as thou hast spoken, saying,"**: This crucial clause grounds Moses' entire appeal in God's own revealed character and word. Moses is reminding God of His self-declaration at Mount Sinai, particularly in [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6-7 - God's Attributes Proclaimed"), where God proclaimed Himself as "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." Moses is essentially holding God to His own promises and revealed nature, arguing that a demonstration of overwhelming mercy would be consistent with who God has declared Himself to be.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 14:17, as part of Moses' larger intercession, employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is **Intercession**, where Moses acts as a mediator, pleading on behalf of a guilty party to a higher authority. This is a classic example of **Rhetorical Argument**, as Moses constructs a compelling case based not on Israel's merit but on God's reputation and self-revealed character. He uses **Appeal to Authority** by referencing God's own spoken word ("according as thou hast spoken"), effectively reminding God of His own attributes. There is also an element of **Paradox** in his request for God's "power" to be "great" through an act of restraint and forgiveness rather than a display of destructive force. This highlights a deeper understanding of divine strength.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Moses' intercession in Numbers 14:17 is a profound theological statement about the nature of God and the role of humanity in prayer. It reveals a God who, while just and holy, is also immensely merciful and longsuffering, willing to relent from deserved judgment when His own character and glory are appealed to. This moment underscores that God's power is most truly magnified not merely in destructive acts, but in His capacity for forgiveness and steadfast love, demonstrating His covenant faithfulness even in the face of human rebellion. It also powerfully illustrates the efficacy of intercessory prayer, where one person's earnest appeal can influence divine action and avert catastrophe.

* [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6 "Exodus 34:6-7 - God's Proclamation of His Character")
* [Psalm 103:8-10](/psalms/103-8 "Psalm 103:8-10 - The Lord's Compassion and Mercy")
* [Jonah 4:2](/jonah/4-2 "Jonah 4:2 - Jonah's Knowledge of God's Mercy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 14:17 offers a timeless lesson on the nature of God and the power of prayer. It invites us to approach God not based on our own righteousness or deservingness, but on the unshakeable foundation of His revealed character—His boundless mercy, patience, and readiness to forgive. When we face our own failures, or when we witness the shortcomings of others, this verse calls us to intercede with confidence, knowing that God's "power to forgive" is truly great. It challenges us to reflect God's character in our own lives, extending grace and patience to those who stumble, just as He does for us. Ultimately, it fosters a deeper trust in a God whose steadfast love triumphs over judgment, reminding us that His glory is most brightly displayed in His compassion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Moses' appeal to God's character challenge our own understanding of divine power?**
* **In what ways can we, like Moses, stand in the gap through intercessory prayer for those who have stumbled or rebelled?**
* **How does understanding God's "great power" to forgive impact our confidence in approaching Him with our own sins?**
* **What practical steps can we take to reflect God's mercy and patience in our relationships with others?**

### FAQ
**Why does Moses appeal to God's reputation among the nations in his intercession?**

Answer: Moses appeals to God's reputation among the nations (explicitly in [Numbers 14:15-16](/numbers/14-15 "Numbers 14:15-16 - Moses' Concern for God's Reputation")) because in the ancient world, the power and credibility of a deity were often judged by the success and fate of their people. If God were to destroy Israel in the wilderness, the surrounding nations, particularly the Egyptians who had witnessed the Exodus, might conclude that Yahweh was either unable to bring His people into the Promised Land or that He was not powerful enough to protect them. This would diminish God's "great name" and glory. Moses' argument is a powerful rhetorical strategy, appealing to God's zeal for His own honor, suggesting that a demonstration of overwhelming mercy and faithfulness, even to a rebellious people, would ultimately magnify His name more than an act of destructive judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 14:17, with Moses' intercession grounded in God's character of mercy and power to forgive, finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Moses, as a mediator, foreshadows the true and final Mediator between God and humanity, Jesus Christ ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - Christ, the One Mediator")). While Moses appealed to God's previously spoken word and character, Christ embodies that very character, being the "radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ's Divine Nature")). The "great power" of the Lord to forgive, which Moses pleaded for, is fully manifested in Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, where He bore the sin of the world, making forgiveness available to all who believe ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"); [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love Demonstrated")). Unlike Israel's repeated rebellion, Christ's obedience was perfect, and His intercession for His people is not a plea for a temporary reprieve but an eternal High Priestly work, continually interceding for us at the right hand of God ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Christ's Enduring Priesthood"); [Romans 8:34](/romans/8-34 "Romans 8:34 - Christ's Intercession")). Thus, the mercy Moses longed for is fully realized in the New Covenant established through Christ's blood, where God's power to forgive is not just great, but absolute and freely given to those who turn to Him.

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

Matthew 9:8

But when the multitudes saw [it], they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Micah 3:8

¶ But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

Matthew 9:6

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.