Numbers

Numbers 20:14–21

¹⁴From Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to tell the king of Edom, “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that has befallen us, ¹⁵how our fathers went down to Egypt, where we lived many years. The Egyptians mistreated us and our fathers, ¹⁶and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt.

Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. ¹⁷Please let us pass through your land. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

¹⁸But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

¹⁹“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”

²⁰But Edom insisted, “You may not pass through.” And they came out to confront the Israelites with a large army and a strong hand. ²¹So Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory, and Israel turned away from them.

Read all of Numbers 20

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Numbers 20:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
From Kadesh	מִקָּדֵ֖שׁ	miq·qā·ḏêš	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6946 apartness, sacredness
Moses	מֹשֶׁ֧ה	mō·šeh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H4872 Moses
sent	וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
messengers	מַלְאָכִ֛ים	mal·’ā·ḵîm	Noun - masculine plural	H4397 messenger
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the king	מֶ֣לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4428 king
of Edom	אֱד֑וֹם	’ĕ·ḏō·wm	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H123 name of a condiment
This is what	כֹּ֤ה	kōh	Adverb	H3541 thus, here
your brother	אָחִ֣יךָ	’ā·ḥî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H251 brother
Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
says	אָמַר֙	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
You	אַתָּ֣ה	’at·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
know	יָדַ֔עְתָּ	yā·ḏa‘·tā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H3045 know
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the hardship	הַתְּלָאָ֖ה	hat·tə·lā·’āh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8513 weariness, hardship
that	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
has befallen us	מְצָאָֽתְנוּ׃	mə·ṣā·’ā·ṯə·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular; first person common plural	H4672 attain to, find

Numbers 20:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
how our fathers	אֲבֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙	’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural	H1 father
went down	וַיֵּרְד֤וּ	way·yê·rə·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3381 come or go down, descend
to Egypt	מִצְרַ֔יְמָה	miṣ·ray·māh	Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
where we lived	וַנֵּ֥שֶׁב	wan·nê·šeḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural	H3427 sit, remain, dwell
many	רַבִּ֑ים	rab·bîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H7227 much, many, great
years	יָמִ֣ים	yā·mîm	Noun - masculine plural	H3117 day
The Egyptians	מִצְרַ֖יִם	miṣ·ra·yim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4713 Mitsrite
mistreated	וַיָּרֵ֥עוּ	way·yā·rê·‘ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7489 be evil, bad
us	לָ֛נוּ	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
and our fathers	וְלַאֲבֹתֵֽינוּ׃	wə·la·’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural	H1 father

Numbers 20:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and when we cried out	וַנִּצְעַ֤ק	wan·niṣ·‘aq	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural	H6817 cry, cry out, call
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
He heard	וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע	way·yiš·ma‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H8085 hear
our voice	קֹלֵ֔נוּ	qō·lê·nū	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common plural	H6963 sound, voice
sent	וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
an angel	מַלְאָ֔ךְ	mal·’āḵ	Noun - masculine singular	H4397 messenger
and brought us	וַיֹּצִאֵ֖נוּ	way·yō·ṣi·’ê·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; first person common plural	H3318 go or come out
out of Egypt	מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם	mim·miṣ·rā·yim	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
Now look	וְהִנֵּה֙	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
we	אֲנַ֣חְנוּ	’ă·naḥ·nū	Pronoun - first person common plural	H587 we
are in Kadesh	בְקָדֵ֔שׁ	ḇə·qā·ḏêš	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H6946 apartness, sacredness
a city	עִ֖יר	‘îr	Noun - feminine singular construct	H5892 excitement
on the edge	קְצֵ֥ה	qə·ṣêh	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7097 end, extremity
of your territory	גְבוּלֶֽךָ׃	ḡə·ḇū·le·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1366 border, boundary, territory

Numbers 20:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Please	נָּ֣א	nā	Interjection	H4994 I (we) pray, now
let us pass	נַעְבְּרָה־	na‘·bə·rāh-	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
through your land	בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ	ḇə·’ar·ṣe·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H776 earth, land
We will not	לֹ֤א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
go through	נַעֲבֹר֙	na·‘ă·ḇōr	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
any field	בְּשָׂדֶ֣ה	bə·śā·ḏeh	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H7704 id.
or vineyard	וּבְכֶ֔רֶם	ū·ḇə·ḵe·rem	Conjunctive waw, Preposition; Noun - masculine singular	H3754 vineyard
drink	נִשְׁתֶּ֖ה	niš·teh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H8354 drink
water	מֵ֣י	mê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H4325 water, juice, urine
from any well	בְאֵ֑ר	ḇə·’êr	Noun - feminine singular	H875 well, pit
We will stay on	נֵלֵ֗ךְ	nê·lêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H1980 go, come, walk
the King’s	הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
Highway	דֶּ֧רֶךְ	de·reḵ	Noun - common singular construct	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
we will not	לֹ֤א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
turn	נִטֶּה֙	niṭ·ṭeh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
to the right	יָמִ֣ין	yā·mîn	Noun - feminine singular	H3225 right hand
or to the left	וּשְׂמֹ֔אול	ū·śə·mō·wl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H8040 the left
until	עַ֥ד	‘aḏ	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
we have passed through	נַעֲבֹ֖ר	na·‘ă·ḇōr	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
your territory	גְּבוּלֶֽךָ׃	gə·ḇū·le·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1366 border, boundary, territory

Numbers 20:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But Edom	אֱד֔וֹם	’ĕ·ḏō·wm	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H123 name of a condiment
answered	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
You may not	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
travel	תַעֲבֹ֖ר	ṯa·‘ă·ḇōr	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
through our land	בִּ֑י	bî	Preposition; first person common singular
or we will come out	אֵצֵ֥א	’ê·ṣê	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H3318 go or come out
and confront you	לִקְרָאתֶֽךָ׃	liq·rā·ṯe·ḵā	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singular	H7122 encounter, befall
with the sword	בַּחֶ֖רֶב	ba·ḥe·reḇ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H2719 sword

Numbers 20:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
We will stay	נַעֲלֶה֒	na·‘ă·leh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
on the main road	בַּֽמְסִלָּ֣ה	bam·sil·lāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4546 highway
the Israelites	בְּנֵֽי־	bə·nê-	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1121 son
replied	וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
and if	וְאִם־	wə·’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
we	אֲנִ֣י	’ă·nî	Pronoun - first person common singular	H589 I
or our herds	וּמִקְנַ֔י	ū·miq·nay	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common singular	H4735 cattle
drink	נִשְׁתֶּה֙	niš·teh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural	H8354 drink
your water	מֵימֶ֤יךָ	mê·me·ḵā	Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H4325 water, juice, urine
we will pay	וְנָתַתִּ֖י	wə·nā·ṯat·tî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular	H5414 give, put, set
for it	מִכְרָ֑ם	miḵ·rām	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H4377 merchandise, value
There will be no	אֵין־	’ên-	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
problem	דָּבָ֖ר	dā·ḇār	Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
only	רַ֥ק	raq	Adverb	H7535 thin
let us pass through	אֶֽעֱבֹֽרָה׃	’e·‘ĕ·ḇō·rāh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
on foot	בְּרַגְלַ֥י	bə·raḡ·lay	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine dual construct; first person common singular	H7272 foot

Numbers 20:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But Edom	אֱדוֹם֙	’ĕ·ḏō·wm	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H123 name of a condiment
insisted	וַיֹּ֖אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
You may not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
pass through	תַעֲבֹ֑ר	ṯa·‘ă·ḇōr	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
And they came out	וַיֵּצֵ֤א	way·yê·ṣê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3318 go or come out
to confront	לִקְרָאת֔וֹ	liq·rā·ṯōw	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singular	H7122 encounter, befall
with a large	כָּבֵ֖ד	kā·ḇêḏ	Adjective - masculine singular	H3515 heavy
army	בְּעַ֥ם	bə·‘am	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
and a strong	חֲזָקָֽה׃	ḥă·zā·qāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H2389 strong, stout, mighty
hand	וּבְיָ֥ד	ū·ḇə·yāḏ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular	H3027 hand

Numbers 20:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Edom	אֱד֗וֹם	’ĕ·ḏō·wm	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H123 name of a condiment
refused	וַיְמָאֵ֣ן׀	way·mā·’ên	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3985 refuse
to allow	נְתֹן֙	nə·ṯōn	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5414 give, put, set
Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
to pass	עֲבֹ֖ר	‘ă·ḇōr	Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H5674 pass over, through, by, pass on
through their territory	בִּגְבֻל֑וֹ	biḡ·ḇu·lōw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1366 border, boundary, territory
and Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
turned away	וַיֵּ֥ט	way·yêṭ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5186 stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend
from them	מֵעָלָֽיו׃פ	mê·‘ā·lāw	Preposition-m; third person masculine singular	H5921 height