Numbers 14:28

Say unto them, [As truly as] I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:

Say {H559} unto them, As truly as {H3808} I live {H2416}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, as ye have spoken {H1696} in mine ears {H241}, so will I do {H6213} to you:

Tell them this: 'As surely as I live, ADONAI swears, as surely as you have spoken in my ears, I will do this to you:

So tell them: As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you exactly as I heard you say.

Say unto them, As I live, saith Jehovah, surely as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:

Commentary

Numbers 14:28 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of Israel's wilderness wanderings, delivering God's solemn declaration of judgment upon a rebellious generation. It encapsulates the divine response to their widespread unbelief and grumbling following the spies' report from the Promised Land.

Context

This verse comes immediately after the Israelites, having heard the fearful report of ten of the twelve spies sent into Canaan, expressed a profound lack of faith in God's ability to deliver the land to them. Instead of trusting the Lord, they wept, complained against Moses and Aaron, and even wished they had died in Egypt or the wilderness (Numbers 14:2). Their ultimate rebellion was proposing to appoint a new leader and return to Egypt. Despite the fervent pleas of Caleb and Joshua, who urged them to trust God (Numbers 14:7-9), the people threatened to stone them. In response to this profound rebellion and Moses' intercession, God declares His immutable decision in this verse, setting the stage for the consequences detailed in the subsequent verses regarding their forty-year wilderness wandering.

Key Themes

  • Divine Oath and Sovereignty: The phrase "As truly as I live, saith the LORD" is a powerful divine oath, emphasizing God's very existence as the guarantee of His word. It signifies the absolute certainty and immutability of His decree. God's life is the pledge that His word will be fulfilled, highlighting His supreme sovereignty over all creation and destiny.
  • Consequences of Unbelief and Rebellion: This verse starkly illustrates the direct link between the Israelites' spoken words of doubt and desire for death in the wilderness, and God's corresponding judgment. Their complaints were not just idle words; they were a direct challenge to God's power and faithfulness. The principle here is that our words, especially those born of deep-seated unbelief, can have profound and serious consequences.
  • God's Justice and Faithfulness: While God is merciful (as seen in Moses' successful intercession for the nation's immediate destruction), He is also just. This judgment demonstrates that persistent rebellion and a refusal to trust His promises will not go unpunished. God's faithfulness extends not only to His promises of blessing but also to His warnings of judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "As truly as I live" translates the Hebrew Chai Ani (Χ—Φ·Χ™ אָנִי), meaning "As I live" or "By my life." This is one of the strongest forms of divine oath in the Hebrew Bible, used only by God Himself, underscoring the absolute certainty and solemnity of the declaration. It is an affirmation by God's own being. The phrase "as ye have spoken in mine ears" (Hebrew: ka'asher dibbartem be'oznai) literally means "as you have spoken in my ears," highlighting that God heard every word of their grumbling and wishes, and His response is a direct echo of their own expressed desires.

Practical Application

Numbers 14:28 serves as a potent reminder of the power of our words and the seriousness of our attitude towards God's promises. It teaches us several vital lessons:

  • The Gravity of Our Words: God hears everything we say, and our words can reflect the state of our hearts. Just as the Israelites' negative speech brought judgment, our words of faith, hope, and gratitude can align us with God's will and invite His blessings. Consider the profound impact of the power of the tongue described in Proverbs 18:21.
  • The Danger of Unbelief: This verse underscores the peril of unbelief. When faced with challenges, our natural inclination might be to doubt God's ability or goodness. However, God calls us to trust Him fully, even when circumstances seem impossible.
  • Trusting God's Promises: Instead of grumbling or wishing for an easier path, we are called to embrace God's plan with faith, knowing that He is faithful to His word and able to accomplish all He has promised, even when the path is difficult.
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Cross-References

  • Numbers 14:21 (9 votes)

    But [as] truly [as] I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

  • Hebrews 3:17 (4 votes)

    But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

  • Numbers 26:64 (3 votes)

    But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.

  • Numbers 26:65 (3 votes)

    For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

  • Numbers 14:23 (3 votes)

    Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

  • Numbers 14:2 (3 votes)

    And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

  • Deuteronomy 1:35 (2 votes)

    Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,