Numbers 11 18

Numbers 11:18 kjv

And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.

Numbers 11:18 nkjv

Then you shall say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt." Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.

Numbers 11:18 niv

"Tell the people: 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The LORD heard you when you wailed, "If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!" Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat it.

Numbers 11:18 esv

And say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, "Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt." Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.

Numbers 11:18 nlt

"And say to the people, 'Purify yourselves, for tomorrow you will have meat to eat. You were whining, and the LORD heard you when you cried, "Oh, for some meat! We were better off in Egypt!" Now the LORD will give you meat, and you will have to eat it.

Numbers 11 verses

Numbers 11 18 Meaning

Numbers 11:18 reveals God's instruction to Moses to address the Israelites' passionate longing for meat. It commands them to ritually prepare themselves for a specific timeframe to receive the meat they demanded, highlighting that their desire, expressed through weeping, was heard directly by the Lord. This verse underscores the Lord's responsive nature, not necessarily out of compassion but as a direct answer to their intense and discontented craving for a diet reminiscent of their time in Egyptian bondage, rather than being satisfied with His provided manna.

Numbers 11 18 Context

Numbers 11:18 is found in a pivotal section where the Israelites, shortly after leaving Sinai and experiencing God's miraculous provision of manna, express intense dissatisfaction. The "rabble" or mixed multitude among them ignited a deeper craving, leading the Israelites to bitterly complain against God's sustenance. They remember with longing the readily available and diverse food of Egypt (fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, garlic) and declare that "there is nothing at all but this manna to look at" (Num 11:6). This fervent, collective grumbling angers the Lord significantly (Num 11:1, 10) and overwhelms Moses, leading him to despair (Num 11:10-15). In response, God promises Moses that He will give the people meat, not just for a day or two, but "for a whole month" until they detest it. Verse 18 is part of God's direct command through Moses to prepare the people for this impending provision, which carries the weight of both fulfillment and a disciplinary judgment for their persistent murmuring and rejection of His divine care.

Numbers 11 18 Word analysis

• And say (וְאָמַרְתָּ - ve'amarta): A direct imperative from God to Moses. This verb indicates a formal, authoritative declaration, highlighting that Moses is a conduit for divine command.
• to the people (אֶל־הָעָם - el ha'am): Indicates the immediate and broad recipient of God's message – the entire Israelite community.
• 'Sanctify yourselves (הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ - hitqaddeshū): From the root קדש (qadash), meaning "to be holy," "to be set apart," or "to be consecrated." In the Hithpael stem, it means "to purify oneself" or "to make oneself holy." This involves ritual and moral preparation. The people are to make themselves ready to meet God's action, often in expectation of divine presence or judgment. This preparation is for a profound encounter with God's power, in this case, a display of both provision and potential punishment.
• for tomorrow (לְמָחָר - lemahār): Specifies a precise and imminent timeframe for God's action. It signals the certainty and speed of God's response to their plea, emphasizing that His word is reliable, whether for blessing or consequence.
• and you shall eat meat (וַאֲכַלְתֶּם בָּשָׂר - va'akaltem basar): "Basar" generally means flesh or meat. This phrase confirms that their specific request for meat will be met directly. The focus on "eating" highlights the satisfaction of their craving.
• for you have wept (כִּי בְכִיתֶם - kī bekhitem): "For" (kī) indicates the reason for the upcoming provision. "Wept" (bekhitem) from בּכה (bakha) signifies their crying or wailing. This was not a weeping of repentance or distress but of deep discontent, demanding a particular provision from God.
• in the hearing of the Lord (בְּאָזְנֵי יְהוָה - be'oznê YHWH): Emphasizes God's direct and full awareness of their grumbling and complaints. God hears every word, especially those spoken against Him. This reinforces divine omniscience and His active engagement with their complaints, preparing for His direct response.
• saying (לֵאמֹר - lemor): Introduces the exact content of their complaint, conveying the specifics of their lament.
• "Who will give us meat to eat? (מִי־יַאֲכִלֵנוּ בָשָׂר - mī ya'akhilēnu basar): A rhetorical question of despair and discontent, indicating their perceived lack of provision and a challenge to God's care. It suggests that manna is insufficient and that their deliverer, the Lord, is failing to provide according to their desires.
• For it was better for us in Egypt." (כִּי טוֹב לָנוּ בְּמִצְרָיִם - kī ṭōv lānu bemitsrayim): The climax of their rebellious complaint. This statement represents a direct rejection of God's deliverance and freedom, preferring the physical abundance of slavery over the miraculous but seemingly monotonous provision of divine freedom. It expresses severe ingratitude and a dangerous romanticization of their bondage.
• Therefore (לָכֵן - lākēn): Indicates a consequential relationship. Because they demanded it with such fervor and rejection of His past care, God will provide what they asked for, but not without implicit discipline.
• the Lord will give you meat (וְנָתַן יְהוָה לָכֶם בָּשָׂר - venatan YHWH lākhem basar): Direct affirmation of the promise to provide. God responds to their demand specifically, underscoring His sovereignty and willingness to give, even if the giving entails severe lessons.
• and you shall eat it." (וַאֲכַלְתֶּם - va'akaltem): Repetition of the act of eating, cementing the certainty of their getting the meat. This sets the stage for the fulfillment of the promise as well as the later "until it comes out of your nostrils" (Num 11:20).

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat": This phrase combines divine command with a specific outcome. The act of "sanctification" usually precedes a holy encounter or significant divine intervention. Here, it is required not merely for blessing, but as preparation for receiving what they aggressively desired—a provision that would carry a significant disciplinary dimension. The specific timeline ("tomorrow") signifies the swift and certain fulfillment of God's promise.
• "for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, 'Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.'": This section is the indictment of Israel's sin. Their "weeping" before the Lord was not penitent lament but a complaint rooted in ingratitude and unbelief. The direct citation of their rebellious words, questioning God's provision and longing for their past bondage in Egypt, lays bare their rejection of God's miraculous care and liberation. This ingratitude against the wilderness freedom provided by God stands as a serious provocation.
• "Therefore the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat it.": This statement summarizes God's consequential response. The word "therefore" links their sinful demand to God's inevitable action. God will grant their desire directly, showing His absolute sovereignty over all provision, but the earlier context (Num 11:20) makes it clear that this "giving" is a fulfillment laced with punitive intent, not simply gracious generosity. The repeated promise of eating confirms the fulfillment, but the following events in the chapter show this fulfillment would be a severe lesson.

Numbers 11 18 Bonus section

The concept of "sanctify yourselves" (הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ - hitqaddeshū) in this verse highlights that Israel was required to undergo ritual purification even for a provision born out of divine displeasure. This underscores the severity and holiness with which God approaches the situation. Their craving for meat, the "flesh-pots of Egypt," was not merely a physical longing but signaled a spiritual turning back to the idolatry and comforts of their past servitude. It was a rejection of their unique identity as a holy nation, dependent solely on YHWH's miraculous sustenance. This intense desire for familiar earthly provisions over spiritual dependence implicitly served as a polemic against God's unique power and the wilderness as a test of faith. The provision of quail in Num 11:31-34 was so abundant it buried their tents, forcing them to eat it for a full month until it became loathsome—a literal fulfillment of divine disgust (Num 11:20), followed by a devastating plague. This incident stands as a powerful biblical warning against the dangers of unholy cravings and dissatisfaction with God's provision.

Numbers 11 18 Commentary

Numbers 11:18 represents a pivotal moment of divine instruction amidst intense human discontent. The command to "sanctify yourselves" serves as both a physical preparation and a solemn warning. While often signifying preparation for a blessing or holy encounter (e.g., Ex 19 for Sinai), here it also carries a somber undertone—a call to prepare for what might be an overwhelming, even disciplinary, act of God's giving. The core of Israel's sin lies in their "weeping in the hearing of the Lord," transforming their needs into discontented demands, culminating in the shocking assertion that life in Egyptian bondage was "better." This demonstrates an utter failure to trust in God's current provision and His goodness. The verse reveals God's responsiveness: He hears their every complaint. However, His response is not purely gracious. The promise, "the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat it," becomes a veiled consequence, granting their request but teaching them the profound lesson that some desires, when passionately pursued outside of God's will and in defiance of His wisdom, can lead to sorrow and severe judgment rather than true satisfaction. It is a stark reminder that receiving what one desires is not always a blessing, especially when those desires lead one to reject the living God.