Numbers 11 11

Numbers 11:11 kjv

And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

Numbers 11:11 nkjv

So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me?

Numbers 11:11 niv

He asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me?

Numbers 11:11 esv

Moses said to the LORD, "Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

Numbers 11:11 nlt

And Moses said to the LORD, "Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people?

Numbers 11 verses

Numbers 11 11 Meaning

Numbers 11:11 conveys Moses' profound anguish and exasperation as he addresses the Lord. Overwhelmed by the constant grumbling and the enormous responsibility of leading a rebellious people, he questions God's decision to place such a heavy burden upon him. Moses perceives this immense task as a personal "trouble" or calamity brought upon him, rather than a privileged calling, feeling an unbearable weight for which he alone is accountable before God. It highlights a critical moment of human fragility and desperate lament from even a towering figure of faith under extreme pressure.

Numbers 11 11 Context

Numbers chapter 11 opens with the Israelites complaining, described as "evil in the ears of the Lord." Following God's punitive fire, the people's craving turns to a passionate "lusting" for meat, growing weary of the constant manna and longing for the variety of Egyptian food (Num 11:4-6). This persistent grumbling, which quickly morphs into open rebellion, profoundly distresses Moses. Verse 11:10 states that "Moses also was displeased" when he heard them weeping by their tent doors. The verse immediately preceding Numbers 11:11 notes the Lord's "great anger" at the people's complaining. Thus, Moses is caught between a displeased and vengeful God and a murmuring, demanding, and rebellious nation. His lament in verse 11 is not a simple complaint but an outburst of profound emotional, physical, and spiritual exhaustion, a deep cry to God from a leader at his breaking point due to the overwhelming, unceasing burden of their collective dissatisfaction.

Numbers 11 11 Word analysis

• Moses (מֹשֶׁה, Moshe): The divinely appointed leader of Israel. His direct address to the Lord emphasizes his unique relationship with God, enabling him to articulate such a raw, honest lament, which would be inappropriate for others.
• said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayomer): Signifies a direct, personal verbal communication with the Lord. It's a statement of complaint and deep questioning rather than a mere report.
• to the Lord (אֶל־יְהוָה, el-YHWH): Addressed directly to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This underscores the personal, intimate, and often confrontational nature of Moses' relationship with the Almighty. It highlights that his distress is directed to the one he perceives as the source of his burden.
• Why (לָמָּה, lamah): An interrogative expressing deep distress, accusation, or profound perplexity. It's a lamentation word, common in Psalms (e.g., Ps 10:1; 22:1; 42:9), signaling Moses' confusion and even indignation at God's apparent dealing with him.
• have you brought (הֲרֵעֹתָה, ha're'otah): Derived from the root רָעַע (ra'a), "to be evil," or "to do harm/trouble." Moses perceives God's action as directly causing him trouble, distress, or even malevolence. It's an emotionally charged verb.
• this trouble (לְעַבְדֶּךָ, ra'ah - implicit): Though the word "ra'ah" (trouble, evil, calamity) isn't explicitly after "brought" in some English translations of 11:11, the verbal form ha're'otah inherently carries this sense of "causing evil" or "bringing disaster." Moses feels the current situation is a burden of an evil nature imposed by God.
• on your servant (עַל־עַבְדֶּךָ, al-'avdekha): "Servant" ('eved) here is not merely a common laborer but denotes one uniquely chosen and dedicated to God's service. By calling himself "Your servant," Moses underscores his loyal obedience and past faithfulness, contrasting it with his current overwhelming burden, implicitly questioning if this is the reward for his devoted service.
• Why (וְלָמָה, v'lamah): Repetition of the "Why" underscores the depth of Moses' despair and insistent questioning. It reiterates his struggle with God's perceived role in his predicament.
• have you made me responsible for (נָשָׂאתִי, nasati - related to bearing): Literally, "and why have I found favor... to take.../that I carry...". The Hebrew "נָשָׂא" (nasa') means "to lift, carry, bear, take away, support." Here, it expresses the immense weight Moses feels compelled to "carry" or "bear" regarding the people. He is effectively asking, "Why have I been given the impossible burden of being a nursing father to all these people?" It implies the concept of accountability for them.
• all these people (כָּל־הָעָם הַזֶּה, kol-ha'am ha'zeh): Emphasizes the sheer multitude and character of the grumbling, unmanageable masses. "All these people" stresses the overwhelming quantity and, by context, their exasperating quality, highlighting the magnitude of the burden Moses is lamenting.

• "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant?": This phrase expresses Moses' immediate emotional reaction – he feels targeted by God with a difficult and distressing task, which he perceives as hardship rather than a blessing. It implies a personal accusation directed at the divine will.
• "Why have you made me responsible for all these people?": This expands on the nature of the "trouble." It specifies the exact burden: the overwhelming responsibility for the character and needs of the entire nation. It's not just a physical burden but a crushing mental and spiritual one, demanding an almost parental care for an ungrateful "infant" nation.

Numbers 11 11 Bonus section

• Moses' lament here resonates strongly with the "complaint psalms" (laments) in the Book of Psalms, where the psalmist openly expresses distress, doubt, and questions God's justice or presence. This format demonstrates a legitimate biblical way of addressing God during deep personal crises.
• Scholarly interpretation often points out that Moses' burden wasn't merely organizational but deeply spiritual and parental. He was essentially called to "carry" a nascent nation that constantly regressed into spiritual infancy and rebellion, demanding continuous nourishment, guidance, and correction—a burden no single human could sustain.
• This verse can be seen as a turning point in Moses' leadership experience, preceding the establishment of a formal council of elders to share the load. It marks a moment where God intervenes to support His servant rather than allowing him to collapse under the pressure, emphasizing God's pastoral care for His leaders.
• The incident highlights the psychological toll of prolonged exposure to complaining and discontent, a relatable struggle for anyone in leadership, whether in a family, community, or professional setting. It illustrates the danger of burnout when one bears too much alone.

Numbers 11 11 Commentary

Numbers 11:11 is a raw, unvarnished outpouring of a deeply distressed leader's heart to God. Moses, who had communed with God face-to-face and witnessed unimaginable divine power, reaches his breaking point. His lament is not a polite request but an impassioned plea bordering on accusation, born from the overwhelming burden of the people's constant murmuring and the immense weight of leading such a massive, stubborn population. It showcases that even the strongest figures of faith can experience profound despair and questioning when confronted with unrelenting pressure and seemingly insurmountable challenges. The passage humanizes Moses, revealing his fragility and vulnerability despite his unique divine calling. God, instead of rebuking Moses for his challenge, responds with compassion, validating his weariness by providing help and acknowledging the legitimacy of the burden (appointing 70 elders). This teaches us that honest, even desperate, prayers are acceptable to God, who understands our human limitations and often provides aid in our weakness rather than condemning our despair. It underscores the intense, lonely nature of leadership and the absolute reliance on God for strength in impossible situations.