Numbers 27:14

KJV

For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that [is] the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

KJV (with Strong's)

For ye rebelled {H4784} against my commandment {H6310} in the desert {H4057} of Zin {H6790}, in the strife {H4808} of the congregation {H5712}, to sanctify {H6942} me at the water {H4325} before their eyes {H5869}: that is the water {H4325} of Meribah {H4809} in Kadesh {H6946} in the wilderness {H4057} of Zin {H6790}.

Complete Jewish Bible

because in the Tzin Desert, when the community was disputing with me, you rebelled against my order to uphold my holiness by means of the water, with them looking on." (This was M'rivat-Kadesh Spring, in the Tzin Desert.)

Berean Standard Bible

for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

American Standard Version

because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 27:14 serves as a solemn divine pronouncement to Moses, explicitly reiterating the precise transgression that prevented him from entering the Promised Land: his act of rebellion at the waters of Meribah. This verse underscores God's unwavering commitment to His own holiness and the absolute necessity of obedience, particularly for those in leadership, highlighting that even a figure as esteemed as Moses was held accountable for failing to sanctify God before the eyes of the Israelite congregation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a pivotal section of Numbers, immediately following God's declaration to Moses that his time of leadership is drawing to a close and he will not lead the Israelites into Canaan. It provides the explicit divine rationale for this exclusion, setting the stage for the subsequent appointment of Joshua as Moses' successor in [Numbers 27:18](/numbers/27-18 "Numbers 27:18 - God Commands Moses to Appoint Joshua"). The verse directly references a critical event detailed earlier in [Numbers 20](/numbers/20 "Numbers 20 - The Waters of Meribah"), where the Israelites' grumbling for water at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin led to God's command for Moses to speak to a rock. Moses' failure to obey this specific instruction, instead striking the rock twice in anger, is the "rebellion" to which this verse refers, marking a turning point in his leadership.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events described in Numbers 27:14 occurred during the Israelites' protracted wilderness wanderings, a period marked by frequent testing of their faith and God's consistent provision. Kadesh, located in the desert of Zin, was a significant encampment where the people had previously rebelled (e.g., the Kadesh-Barnea incident in [Numbers 13](/numbers/13 "Numbers 13 - The Spies Sent to Canaan")). Water scarcity was a constant, life-threatening concern in the arid wilderness, making God's provision of water a profound demonstration of His power and care. Culturally, leaders like Moses were expected to mediate God's will precisely and to model unwavering faith and obedience. Any deviation, especially one that misrepresented God's character or authority before the entire congregation, carried immense weight and consequence within the covenant relationship.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 27:14 powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes central to the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of **obedience versus disobedience**, illustrating that even minor deviations from God's explicit commands, regardless of one's stature or past faithfulness, can have severe consequences, as seen in [Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - Moses' Failure to Sanctify God"). This verse also highlights God's **holiness and sanctity**, emphasizing that His character must be perfectly upheld and "sanctified" (treated as holy) in the eyes of His people. Moses' actions, driven by frustration rather than faith, failed to properly glorify God's power and word, thus diminishing God's holiness in the people's perception. Furthermore, the verse underscores the **accountability of leaders**, demonstrating that those entrusted with spiritual authority bear a greater responsibility to accurately represent God, and their failures carry significant implications for the entire community, a principle echoed in [Deuteronomy 32:51](/deuteronomy/32-51 "Deuteronomy 32:51 - Moses' Transgression at Meribah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **rebelled (Hebrew, _marah'_):** This verb signifies acting defiantly, being disobedient, or showing bitterness and resistance against authority. In this context, it describes Moses' specific act of insubordination at Meribah, where he failed to follow God's precise instruction to "speak" to the rock, choosing instead to strike it. This was not merely a lapse but an act of direct opposition to God's clear command, reflecting a lack of trust in God's word alone and an expression of his own exasperation.
* **sanctify (Hebrew, _qadash'_):** This verb means to set apart, to treat as holy, to consecrate, or to show to be holy. God's command was for Moses to "sanctify" Him before the people, meaning to demonstrate God's unique holiness, power, and faithfulness through perfect obedience. By striking the rock, Moses failed to properly display God's holy character and power, instead acting in a way that might have suggested God's inability or Moses' own power, thus diminishing God's glory in the eyes of the congregation.
* **Meribah (Hebrew, _Meribah'_):** Literally meaning "strife" or "contention," this name was given to the place precisely because of the contentious attitude of the Israelite congregation and their grumbling against Moses and God over the lack of water. It serves as a perpetual memorial of both the people's rebellion and Moses' own significant failure to honor God's holiness amidst that strife.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin":** This clause directly states the reason for Moses' exclusion, identifying his act as a rebellion against God's explicit instruction. The location, "the desert of Zin," specifically Kadesh, anchors the event to a known geographical point during the wilderness journey.
* **"in the strife of the congregation":** This phrase contextualizes Moses' rebellion within the broader narrative of the people's persistent grumbling and contention. While the people's strife provoked Moses, it did not excuse his failure to maintain perfect obedience and represent God faithfully.
* **"to sanctify me at the water before their eyes":** This crucial phrase articulates the divine purpose behind God's original command to Moses at Meribah. God intended for Moses' actions to publicly demonstrate His holiness and power to the entire congregation. Moses' failure to obey precisely meant he did not "sanctify" God as commanded, thereby obscuring God's glory rather than revealing it.
* **"that [is] the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin":** This final clause serves as a clear identification of the specific site of the transgression, linking it unequivocally to the infamous "waters of Meribah." The repetition of "Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin" reinforces the historical and geographical reality of this pivotal event.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 27:14 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Repetition** of the location ("desert of Zin," "Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin") serves to firmly establish the setting and underscore the significance of the event, ensuring its memorability. There is a strong element of **Emphasis** placed on "my commandment" and the divine purpose "to sanctify me," highlighting the absolute authority of God's word and the gravity of Moses' failure to uphold God's glory. The verse also carries a subtle **Irony**: Moses, the preeminent law-giver and mediator of the covenant, himself disobeys a direct divine command. This underscores that even the greatest spiritual leaders are subject to God's law and judgment. Furthermore, this verse functions as a form of **Retrospective Explanation**, providing the definitive divine judgment for an event that occurred earlier in the narrative, cementing its theological implications for Moses' destiny and the succession of leadership.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 27:14 profoundly illustrates the uncompromising nature of God's holiness and the non-negotiable demand for obedience, especially from those entrusted with representing Him. Moses' failure at Meribah was not merely a minor misstep but a public act that misrepresented God's character, implying a lack of faith in His word and a failure to perfectly display His glory before a grumbling congregation. This incident serves as a stark reminder that God's standards are immutable, and even His most faithful servants are held to account. It underscores the principle that God's glory and holiness are paramount, and no human leader, regardless of their past service or perceived indispensability, is exempt from the consequences of disobedience that diminishes God's honor.

* [Numbers 20:12](/numbers/20-12 "Numbers 20:12 - The Consequence of Moses' Disobedience")
* [Deuteronomy 32:51](/deuteronomy/32-51 "Deuteronomy 32:51 - Moses' Transgression at Meribah")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 27:14 offers timeless and sobering lessons for believers today, extending beyond the realm of formal leadership to every individual's walk with God. Moses' experience at Meribah reminds us that genuine obedience is not merely about achieving a desired outcome (water flowing from the rock) but about faithfully adhering to God's precise instructions and honoring His character in the process. Our actions, whether public or private, always reflect upon the God we claim to serve. Are we, in our moments of frustration or pressure, prone to act out of our own strength or anger rather than patiently trusting and obeying God's specific word? This verse calls us to a deeper humility, recognizing that our ultimate purpose is to "sanctify" God in all we do, allowing His holiness and power to be clearly seen through our lives. It challenges us to examine our motivations and methods, ensuring that our service to God truly glorifies Him and not ourselves, reminding us that accountability is universal, and God's standards for faithfulness remain unwavering.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Moses' failure at Meribah challenge my understanding of obedience, especially in moments of personal frustration or public pressure?**
* **In what specific ways am I called to "sanctify" God in my daily life, and how might my actions either uphold or diminish His holiness before others?**
* **What lessons can I draw from the accountability of a great leader like Moses regarding my own walk with God and my responsibility to represent Him faithfully?**

### FAQ
**Why was Moses' sin at Meribah considered so severe, preventing him from entering the Promised Land?**

Answer: Moses' sin at Meribah ([Numbers 20:7-12](/numbers/20-7 "Numbers 20:7-12 - The Waters of Meribah")) was deemed severe for several key reasons, despite his lifetime of faithful service. Firstly, it was an act of direct disobedience to God's explicit command. God told Moses to "speak to the rock," but Moses, exasperated by the people's grumbling, struck it twice with his staff. This was not a minor oversight but a failure to trust God's word alone. Secondly, and most critically, Moses failed to "sanctify" God before the eyes of the congregation, as stated in [Numbers 27:14](/numbers/27-14 "Numbers 27:14 - Moses' Rebellion at Meribah"). By striking the rock in anger and saying, "Must we fetch you water out of this rock?" ([Numbers 20:10](/numbers/20-10 "Numbers 20:10 - Moses Strikes the Rock")), Moses implicitly took credit for the miracle or misrepresented God's character as one who required a physical act of force rather than a simple word. This public misrepresentation of God's holiness and power, from the very leader meant to embody His will, was a profound offense that undermined God's authority and glory before His people. Given his unique position as mediator of the covenant, Moses was held to a higher standard, and his failure to perfectly reflect God's holiness had significant implications for the people's perception of God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Moses' failure at Meribah and his subsequent exclusion from the Promised Land finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment, highlighting the perfection of the true Leader who would ultimately bring God's people into their eternal rest. Moses, the great law-giver and deliverer, could not perfectly represent God's holiness or fully lead the people into the promised inheritance due to his own sin. He struck the rock, a symbol of God's provision, in anger and disobedience. In stark contrast, Jesus Christ is the perfect Prophet, Priest, and King, who perfectly obeyed the Father in every detail, even to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). He is the true spiritual Rock ([1 Corinthians 10:4](/1_corinthians/10-4 "1 Corinthians 10:4 - Christ as the Spiritual Rock")) who was struck once for our transgressions, not by human hand in anger, but by divine judgment for the sin of the world ([Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - The Suffering Servant")). From His wounded side flowed not just water, but the living water and blood that cleanse and give eternal life ([John 7:38](/john/7-38 "John 7:38 - Rivers of Living Water"); [John 19:34](/john/19-34 "John 19:34 - Blood and Water from Jesus' Side")). While Moses could only lead the people to the edge of the earthly Canaan, it is Jesus who, through His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice, leads His people into the true, heavenly rest and the eternal inheritance ([Hebrews 4:8-10](/hebrews/4-8 "Hebrews 4:8-10 - The True Rest in Christ")). Moses' failure underscores the need for a perfect mediator, one who would fully sanctify God and perfectly fulfill His commands—a role uniquely and flawlessly accomplished by Christ.

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

Deuteronomy 1:37

Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.

Exodus 17:7

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Deuteronomy 32:51

Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 32:52

Yet thou shalt see the land before [thee]; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.

Numbers 20:8

Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Numbers 20:13

This [is] the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

Psalms 106:32

They angered [him] also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: