Numbers - 14:27



27 "How long (shall I bear) with this evil congregation, that murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Numbers 14:27.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
How long'shall I bear with this evil congregation, that murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
How long doth this wicked multitude murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel.
How long shall I bear with this evil assembly, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
'Until when hath this evil company that which they are murmuring against Me? the murmurings of the sons of Israel, which they are murmuring against Me, I have heard;
How long am I to put up with this evil people and their outcries against me? The words which they say against me have come to my ears.
'How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, that keep murmuring against Me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they keep murmuring against Me.
"How long will this very wicked multitude murmur against me? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel.
Usque quo congregationem hanc perversam feram, quae murmurat adversum me? murmurationes filiorum Israel, quibus ipsi murmurant contra me, audivi.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me?.... Bear with their murmurings, spare them, and not cut them off? how long must sparing mercy be extended to them? the Lord speaks as one weary of forbearing, so frequent and aggravated were their murmurings. The Jews understand this not of the whole congregation of Israel, but of the ten spies, from whence they gather, that ten make a congregation; and they interpret the phrase, "which murmur against me", transitively, "which cause to murmur against me"; made the children of Israel murmur against him, so Jarchi; but rather all the people are meant, as appears from Numbers 14:28, and from the following clause:
I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me; for their murmurings were not only against Moses and Aaron, but against the Lord himself, Numbers 14:2.

This announcement commences in a tone of anger, with an aposiopesis, "How long this evil congregation" (sc., "shall I forgive it," the simplest plan being to supply אשּׂא, as Rosenmller suggests, from Numbers 14:18), "that they murmur against Me?"

*More commentary available at chapter level.


Discussion on Numbers 14:27

User discussion of the verse.






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