Numbers 14:39

KJV

And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Moses {H4872} told {H1696} these sayings {H1697} unto all the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}: and the people {H5971} mourned {H56} greatly {H3966}.

Complete Jewish Bible

When Moshe told these things to all the people of Isra'el, the people felt great remorse.

Berean Standard Bible

And when Moses relayed these words to all the Israelites, the people mourned bitterly.

American Standard Version

And Moses told these words unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 14:39 records the profound and immediate sorrow of the Israelite community upon hearing Moses' pronouncement of God's severe judgment: a generation condemned to die in the wilderness, barred from entering the Promised Land. This lament, born of regret rather than genuine repentance, underscores the devastating consequences of their persistent unbelief and rebellion against the Lord's clear commands and promises.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 14:39 concludes a pivotal and tragic episode in Israel's wilderness journey. Immediately preceding it, the narrative details the Israelites' profound rebellion at [Kadesh-Barnea](/numbers/13 "Numbers 13 - The Spies Sent Out"), where, swayed by the fearful report of ten spies, they rejected God's promise to give them the land of Canaan. Despite the faithful encouragement of [Caleb and Joshua](/numbers/14-6 "Numbers 14:6-9 - Caleb and Joshua's Faithful Report"), the people threatened to stone them and appoint a new leader to return to Egypt ([Numbers 14:10](/numbers/14-10 "Numbers 14:10 - The People Threaten Caleb and Joshua")). This outright defiance provoked God's righteous wrath, leading to His solemn decree in [Numbers 14:26-35](/numbers/14-26 "Numbers 14:26-35 - God's Judgment on the Rebellious Generation") that the entire generation of fighting men, save Caleb and Joshua, would perish in the wilderness over forty years. Moses' "sayings" in verse 39 are the direct communication of this devastating divine sentence, marking the moment the full weight of their sin and its repercussions settled upon the people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the wilderness of Paran, specifically at Kadesh-Barnea, a significant oasis that served as a central encampment for Israel for a period. This location was the threshold to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, promised to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For the Israelites, recently delivered from Egyptian bondage, this was the culmination of their journey to inherit their divine legacy. Culturally, the concept of inheritance and land was paramount, tied to covenant blessings and national identity. To be denied entry to this land, after centuries of anticipation and miraculous deliverance, was not merely a geographical setback but a profound spiritual and national catastrophe. Their "mourning" would have been a public expression of deep communal grief, despair, and the shattering of their hopes, reminiscent of lamentations for the dead or for a lost future.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Numbers and the Pentateuch. Primarily, it highlights the **consequences of unbelief and disobedience**, demonstrating that rejection of God's word and promises leads to severe, tangible judgment, culminating in a lost generation and forty years of [wilderness wandering](/numbers/14-33 "Numbers 14:33 - Forty Years of Wandering"). Secondly, it underscores **God's justice and faithfulness**, revealing that while He is merciful, He is also righteous in upholding His covenant, both in blessing obedience and punishing rebellion. His word, whether of promise or judgment, stands firm. Finally, the people's "mourning" introduces the theme of **regret versus true repentance**. Their sorrow appears to be over the painful consequences of their sin (a lost inheritance, death in the wilderness) rather than a genuine change of heart concerning the sin itself (their unbelief and rebellion). This distinction is tragically confirmed by their subsequent presumptuous attempt to invade the land against God's explicit command, which resulted in a crushing defeat ([Numbers 14:40-45](/numbers/14-40 "Numbers 14:40-45 - Israel's Presumptuous Attack and Defeat")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Mourned (Hebrew, _'ābal'_):** This verb (אָבַל) signifies a deep, intense, and often public expression of grief, sorrow, or lamentation. It is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe mourning for the dead (e.g., [Genesis 37:34](/genesis/37-34 "Genesis 37:34 - Jacob Mourns Joseph")) or for national catastrophe and destruction (e.g., [Isaiah 24:4](/isaiah/24-4 "Isaiah 24:4 - The Earth Mourns")). Here, it conveys the profound despair and disappointment that swept through the Israelite camp as the reality of their forfeited future, their lost inheritance, and the impending death of a generation sank in. It was a lament for a life that would not be lived in the Promised Land.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel":** This clause emphasizes Moses' role as the faithful mediator and messenger of God's word. Having interceded for the people and then received the divine decree, he now fulfills his duty to communicate the Lord's unalterable judgment. The phrase "these sayings" refers specifically to the pronouncement of the forty-year wandering and the death of the rebellious generation detailed in [Numbers 14:26-35](/numbers/14-26 "Numbers 14:26-35 - God's Judgment on the Rebellious Generation"). The communication is "unto all the children of Israel," signifying a public, comprehensive, and inescapable declaration to the entire community, ensuring no one could claim ignorance of their fate.
* **"and the people mourned greatly":** This second clause describes the immediate and overwhelming reaction of the Israelites. The intensity of their sorrow is conveyed by the adverb "greatly," reinforcing the deep emotional impact of Moses' words. Their mourning was a collective expression of profound regret, disappointment, and despair as they grasped the devastating implications of their rebellion: the loss of the Promised Land, the prospect of dying in the wilderness, and the shattered hopes for their children. This lament, however, is distinct from genuine repentance, as it appears to be sorrow over the consequences rather than the sin itself, setting the stage for their subsequent, equally disobedient actions.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 14:39, though brief, employs several literary techniques. The most prominent is **Pathos**, as the verse evokes deep pity and sorrow for the Israelites, who, through their own actions, have brought such a tragic fate upon themselves. The "mourning greatly" serves as a powerful emotional climax to the preceding narrative of rebellion and judgment. There is also a strong sense of **Irony**: the very people who had just rejected the land and wished to return to Egypt now mourn its loss. Their sorrow is a direct, ironic consequence of their earlier defiance. Furthermore, the verse acts as a **Turning Point** in the narrative of Numbers, marking the end of the immediate journey toward the Promised Land and the beginning of the long, punitive period of wilderness wandering. The people's mourning signifies the recognition of this profound shift in their destiny.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 14:39 serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of unbelief and the unyielding nature of God's justice. While God is abundant in mercy, His holiness demands a response of faith and obedience. The Israelites' "mourning" highlights the difference between worldly sorrow, which laments consequences, and godly sorrow, which leads to true repentance and a change of heart. This episode underscores the covenantal principle that blessings are contingent upon faithfulness, and disobedience inevitably brings judgment, even for God's chosen people. It teaches that God's promises are secure, but their fulfillment in our lives often depends on our faithful reception of them.

* [Hebrews 3:12-19](/hebrews/3-12 "Hebrews 3:12-19 - Warning Against Unbelief")
* [1 Corinthians 10:5-11](/1_corinthians/10-5 "1 Corinthians 10:5-11 - Warnings from Israel's History")
* [2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound mourning of the Israelites in Numbers 14:39 offers a sobering mirror for contemporary believers. It compels us to examine the nature of our own faith and the sincerity of our responses to God's word. Are we quick to believe His promises, even when circumstances seem daunting, or do we, like Israel, succumb to fear and doubt, thereby forfeiting the blessings He intends for us? This passage challenges us to move beyond mere regret over the negative consequences of our actions to genuine repentance—a heartfelt sorrow for sin itself, leading to a turning away from disobedience and a renewed commitment to trust and obey God. The wilderness generation's fate serves as a powerful admonition, urging us to learn from their mistakes and to cultivate a faith that perseveres, even when the path is difficult, knowing that God's faithfulness is unwavering, and His commands are for our good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "sayings" of God that I have heard but perhaps not fully embraced or obeyed in my own life?**
* **Is my "mourning" over sin truly godly sorrow that leads to repentance, or is it merely regret over negative consequences?**
* **How does the story of the Israelites' unbelief challenge me to grow in my trust and obedience to God's promises today?**

### FAQ
**What was the specific "saying" that Moses told the people, causing them to mourn greatly?**

Answer: The "saying" Moses communicated was God's severe judgment detailed in [Numbers 14:26-35](/numbers/14-26 "Numbers 14:26-35 - God's Judgment on the Rebellious Generation"). This divine decree stated that because of their profound unbelief and rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea, all the Israelites who were twenty years old or older and had complained against the Lord, except for Caleb and Joshua, would die in the wilderness. They would not enter the Promised Land, but instead, their children would wander for forty years, one year for each day the spies explored the land, until the rebellious generation had perished. This devastating news meant the forfeiture of their inheritance and the death of an entire generation, which naturally led to intense mourning.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The profound mourning of Israel in Numbers 14:39, born of regret for a lost inheritance due to unbelief, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate sorrow and repentance offered through Christ. While Israel mourned a physical land, the New Covenant reveals a spiritual inheritance far greater, accessible through faith in Jesus. The generation that perished in the wilderness serves as a type for those who reject God's gracious invitation, unable to enter His rest due to unbelief, as soberly warned in [Hebrews 3:7-19](/hebrews/3-7 "Hebrews 3:7-19 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts"). Yet, unlike Israel's worldly sorrow, which led to further disobedience ([Numbers 14:40-45](/numbers/14-40 "Numbers 14:40-45 - Israel's Presumptuous Attack and Defeat")), Christ offers a path to true godly sorrow that leads to salvation without regret ([2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly Sorrow Leads to Salvation")). He is the faithful Joshua who leads His people into the true rest, the heavenly Canaan, not by human strength or merit, but by His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice. Through Him, the "sayings" of judgment are transformed into "sayings" of grace for all who believe, offering an eternal inheritance that can never be forfeited ([1 Peter 1:3-5](/1_peter/1-3 "1 Peter 1:3-5 - A Living Hope, 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 33:4

And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.

Proverbs 19:3

¶ The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

Matthew 8:12

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Hebrews 12:17

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Isaiah 26:16

LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening [was] upon them.