Numbers 11 19

Numbers 11:19 kjv

Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;

Numbers 11:19 nkjv

You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,

Numbers 11:19 niv

You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days,

Numbers 11:19 esv

You shall not eat just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,

Numbers 11:19 nlt

And it won't be for just a day or two, or for five or ten or even twenty.

Numbers 11 verses

Numbers 11 19 Meaning

The verse articulates God's severe response to the Israelites' constant grumbling and their longing for the food of Egypt, rejecting His provision of manna. Instead of providing meat temporarily, God promises an overwhelming abundance for an entire month, until it becomes utterly repugnant and sickening to them. This extreme provision serves as a divine judgment, revealing the consequence of their profound ingratitude and contempt for the very presence and faithfulness of the Lord in their midst, manifested by their lament over leaving Egyptian bondage.

Numbers 11 19 Context

Numbers chapter 11 opens with the Israelites complaining, described simply as "the people complained" (Num 11:1), which led to a consuming fire from the Lord. Soon after, "the mixed multitude who were among them" (Num 11:4) gave in to intense cravings for meat, weeping and causing the entire camp to join in lamenting the loss of Egyptian fare—fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic—and expressing their utter disgust with the manna, God's daily miraculous provision. They articulated a desire to return to Egypt, questioning the very purpose of their deliverance. This incessant, ungrateful grumbling provoked God deeply and sorely tried Moses' leadership. Moses himself became weary, expressing his burden to the Lord, which led to the appointment of seventy elders to share the responsibility. Within this escalating discontent, Numbers 11:19 is God's direct and stern response to their rejection of His daily bread and their preference for worldly sustenance, promising an extreme measure of what they desired, but with disastrous consequences.

Numbers 11 19 Word Analysis

• not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days: This escalating sequence emphasizes God's long-suffering and patience, demonstrating a deliberate buildup before judgment. It shows that their grievance was persistent, not fleeting, and God's judgment would be proportional, exceeding any minor, momentary craving. The specific numbers intensify the promise, conveying an unavoidable reality.
• but even a whole month: "Whole month" (Hebrew: חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים, chodesh yamim) indicates a significant, extended period. It signifies not a mere provision but a forced, continuous consumption of their desired meat to the point of unbearable satiety and judgment, contrasting sharply with their desire for varied diet in Egypt.
• until it come out at your nostrils: A vivid and visceral image. "Nostrils" (Hebrew: מִנַחֲרֵיכֶם, minachirakhem, lit. from your nostrils/nasal cavity) portrays extreme physical repulsion and disgust. It goes beyond just satiety, suggesting that the meat would be so over-consumed and repugnant that the very smell and remnants of it would cling to them, nauseating them even from within. This highlights a physical manifestation of their spiritual revulsion towards God's goodness.
• and it be loathsome unto you: "Loathsome" (Hebrew: לְזָרָא, le'zara, a derivative of זָרָא, zara, meaning "to be estranged, alienated, abhorred, loathed") describes a state of profound disgust, abhorrence, or revulsion. It implies that what was once desired becomes utterly detestable. This is God allowing them to experience the bitter end of their covetousness, turning their perceived pleasure into profound agony.
• because that ye have despised the Lord: "Despised" (Hebrew: מָאַס, ma'as, meaning "to reject, cast away, abhor, refuse") is a strong accusation. It shows their discontent with manna and their longing for Egyptian food was not just a dietary preference but a fundamental rejection of God's character, His faithfulness, and His divine leadership. Their discontent was aimed not just at Moses, but directly at God Himself who was "among them," in their very midst through the tabernacle and His miraculous provision.
• which is among you: This phrase underscores God's immanent presence with Israel. Despite His intimate closeness, His constant miracles (pillar of cloud/fire, manna, water from rock), and His covenant faithfulness, they rejected Him. Their rejection was amplified by His constant availability and care.
• and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?: "Wept before Him" (i.e., God) indicates their grievance was directly expressed as a lament, bordering on accusation against divine purpose. Their question, "Why came we forth out of Egypt?" is the ultimate act of faithlessness, longing to return to slavery rather than trust in God's path to the promised land. It negates the entire redemptive history of the Exodus, demonstrating profound ingratitude and a preference for temporal comfort over spiritual freedom and God's divine calling.

Numbers 11 19 Bonus section

The narrative in Numbers 11 serves as a stark precursor to Israel's repeated cycles of disobedience throughout their history and indeed, for humanity's struggle with immediate gratification over faithful endurance. The quail event (fulfilled in Num 11:31-34), though a provision, culminates in a plague that takes many lives, illustrating that sometimes what we pray for or intensely desire can, in God's righteous anger, become the very instrument of our discipline. This episode highlights the difference between God's grace in giving manna as spiritual nourishment (John 6:31-33) and His judgment in granting flesh out of anger, leading to a spiritual "leanness" (Psa 106:15) even amid physical abundance. It warns against a superficial faith that prioritizes physical comfort over the deeper spiritual communion with God.

Numbers 11 19 Commentary

Numbers 11:19 reveals God's patient yet resolute justice. He does not deny Israel their flesh; instead, He grants it to them to an agonizing degree. The escalating time frame (days turning into a month) signifies a judgment designed to expose the true, repulsive nature of their unrestrained desires. The physical manifestation of disgust—the meat coming out of their nostrils and becoming utterly loathsome—serves as a grim reminder that sinful desires, when fully indulged, lead to ultimate disillusionment and suffering. The root of their sin was not merely a craving for food but a fundamental contempt for the Lord who was present and providing for them. Their longing for Egyptian slavery over God's miraculous wilderness provision demonstrates an alarming spiritual rebellion and an outright rejection of God's redemptive work. This verse is a powerful lesson in the dangerous consequences of discontent and faithlessness, showing how God can, in His righteous anger, give people precisely what they demand, turning it into their torment.