Numbers 11:21 kjv
And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.
Numbers 11:21 nkjv
And Moses said, "The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, 'I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.'
Numbers 11:21 niv
But Moses said, "Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!'
Numbers 11:21 esv
But Moses said, "The people among whom I am number six hundred thousand on foot, and you have said, 'I will give them meat, that they may eat a whole month!'
Numbers 11:21 nlt
But Moses responded to the LORD, "There are 600,000 foot soldiers here with me, and yet you say, 'I will give them meat for a whole month!'
Numbers 11 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 11:4-6 | The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh that we had meat to eat!" | Immediate context: people craving meat. |
| Num 11:18 | "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?"... | God's promise to give meat for a month. |
| Num 11:23 | The Lord said to Moses, "Is the Lord's arm too short? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not." | God's powerful rebuke to Moses' doubt. |
| Num 11:31-34 | Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp... The people rose all that day... while the meat was still between their teeth... the Lord struck the people with a very severe plague. | God provides, but also brings judgment. |
| Exod 16:3 | The people of Israel said to them, "Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots..." | People's desire for meat early in Exodus. |
| Exod 16:13 | In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. | Previous provision of quail. |
| Deut 8:3 | ...that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. | God's teaching on dependence, not food. |
| Ps 78:19-20 | They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out... can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?" | Israel questioning God's ability. |
| Ps 78:26-31 | He let forth the east wind in the heavens... He rained meat on them like dust... and he made it fall in the midst of their camp. But while the food was still in their mouths... | Quail provision and judgment from Psalm. |
| Ps 106:14-15 | But gave themselves up to craving in the wilderness and put God to the test in the desert; He gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them. | Israel's testing God and consequence. |
| Gen 18:14 | Is anything too hard for the Lord? | Fundamental principle: God's limitless power. |
| Jer 32:17 | "Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." | Affirmation of God's omnipotence. |
| Isa 59:1 | Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear. | God's ability to act is not limited. |
| Matt 14:15-21 | When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over... Send the crowds away to buy food for themselves." But Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." | Human impossibility vs. divine provision. |
| Matt 15:32-38 | Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat... " | Jesus again miraculously feeding multitudes. |
| Luke 1:18-20 | And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel... But because you did not believe my words..." | Doubt in a seemingly impossible promise. |
| Rom 4:18-21 | In hope he believed against hope, that he would become the father of many nations... No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in faith... | Abraham's faith in God's power. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's promise to supply needs. |
| Heb 3:17-19 | And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. | Disbelief leading to severe consequences. |
| 1 Cor 10:6-10 | These things took place as examples for us... We must not grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroyer. | Warnings against Israel's grumbling. |
Numbers 11 verses
Numbers 11 21 Meaning
Numbers 11:21 encapsulates Moses’ profound human exasperation and doubt in the face of a seemingly impossible divine promise. It records Moses expressing his logical assessment of the logistical impossibility of God’s vow to provide meat for an entire month to over 600,000 adult males, implying a total population of 2-3 million people in the barren wilderness. This verse starkly highlights the clash between finite human perception and the boundless omnipotence of God.
Numbers 11 21 Context
Numbers chapter 11 opens with the people of Israel complaining about their hardships, incurring God's wrath which consumes parts of the camp (Taberah). Immediately after, a "mixed multitude" among them, followed by the Israelites, develop an intense craving for meat, remembering the diverse diet they had in Egypt, while despising the constant manna (Numbers 11:4-6). This deep-seated discontent and murmuring lead them to weep and lament their condition, even desiring a return to Egypt. Moses, burdened by the immense responsibility of leading such a discontented and rebellious people, reaches a breaking point. He cries out to God about the unbearable weight of his leadership and the impossibility of satisfying the people’s demands for meat. Numbers 11:21 is Moses’ direct expression of this profound distress and human inability, delivered in an argument to God Himself. It sets the stage for God's forceful reaffirmation of His power and His unique, if harsh, method of providing for the people.
Numbers 11 21 Word analysis
- And Moses said: This initiates a direct discourse, conveying Moses's personal struggle and vocalizing his despair and incredulity. It frames the human reaction to a divine decree that appears beyond logical explanation.
- The people: הָעָם (ha'am) – Refers to the vast Hebrew congregation. It emphasizes the sheer numerical challenge, highlighting Moses' perspective of managing a huge, demanding population.
- among whom I am: בְּקִרְבִּי (b'qirbi) – Literally, "in my midst" or "in my innermost parts." This phrase underscores Moses’ direct and personal experience of the people’s murmuring and burden. He is not observing from afar but deeply immersed in their difficult reality.
- are six hundred thousand: שֵׁשׁ־מֵאוֹת אֶלֶף (shesh-me'ot eleph) – A precise figure, drawn from census accounts (e.g., Exod 12:37, Num 1:46). Its mention here emphasizes the immense scale of the logistical problem from Moses’ human viewpoint, rendering God’s promise seemingly absurd.
- footmen: רַגְלִי (ragli) – Refers specifically to adult, able-bodied men of military age (20 years and older), excluding women, children, and the elderly. This implies a total population of around 2-3 million people, magnifying the scope of the demanded provision.
- and Thou hast said: וְאַתָּה אָמַרְתָּ (v'attah amarta) – A direct address to God, almost an accusation, reminding God of His own words. It sets God’s seemingly impossible promise in stark contrast to Moses’ perception of reality, highlighting divine power versus human limitation.
- I will give them flesh: אֶתְּנָה לָהֶם בָּשָׂר (et-nah lahem basar) – "I will give them meat." This is the core divine promise that seems ludicrous to Moses given the circumstances. It foregrounds the direct, active role of God as provider, despite the physical impossibility from a human standpoint.
- that they may eat a whole month: וְאָכְלוּ חֹדֶשׁ יָמִים (v'akhlu chodesh yamim) – "And they will eat for a month." This specifies the duration of the miraculous provision. This continuous, month-long supply amplifies the apparent impossibility, not just a one-time meal but an enduring provision on an immense scale.
Words-group analysis:
- "Moses said, The people, among whom I am": This opening phrase sets the scene as a deep lament from Moses, illustrating his overwhelmed leadership. He feels directly responsible for the insatiable demands of this vast population.
- "six hundred thousand footmen; and Thou hast said": This juxtaposition highlights the apparent disparity between human capacity and divine declaration. It underscores the profound gap between Moses's practical, earthly calculation and God's supernatural, omnipotent commitment.
- "I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month": This divine promise is portrayed as the ultimate challenge. It encapsulates the Israelites' profound lack of faith, and Moses’ difficulty in comprehending a God whose provisions transcend all human logistical constraints.
Numbers 11 21 Bonus section
- Moses' argument echoes previous prophetic moments of humility and questioning the scope of their commission (e.g., "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?" - Exod 3:11, or his request for assistance in Exod 4).
- The incident concerning the craving for meat, fueled by the "mixed multitude," serves as a cautionary tale within the narrative of the Exodus, demonstrating how external influences or internal discontent can quickly escalate into widespread rebellion and severe divine judgment.
- The meticulous demographic count of "six hundred thousand footmen" further solidifies the historical setting and validates Moses' perspective of overwhelming numbers. However, for God, the precise number, no matter how vast, is irrelevant to His ability to provide.
- This verse contributes to the overall theme in Numbers that the journey to the Promised Land was not just physical but a profound test of faith for both the people and their leader, exposing areas where trust in God's supernatural provision was challenged.
Numbers 11 21 Commentary
Numbers 11:21 is a powerful expression of Moses’ leadership fatigue and human limitations confronting God's boundless power. Despite numerous previous miracles, Moses, overwhelmed by the scale of the human problem, resorts to logical arguments to show the absurdity of God's promise from a natural perspective. This moment underscores Israel's deep-seated unbelief, their persistent murmuring revealing a deeper spiritual issue—a lack of trust in God's consistent provision, choosing to remember slavery’s table over wilderness freedom. Moses' lament is a common human experience when faced with challenges that seem to defy all natural explanation and ability. God's response (in later verses) confirms that His omnipotence is not limited by human logic or vast numbers. This passage teaches us that divine promises, though often exceeding our comprehension or physical capacity, are rooted in God’s character and power, inviting us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and trust His boundless resources. For instance, when confronted with what seems insurmountable (e.g., vast debt, overwhelming illness, or seemingly irreparable broken relationships), this verse reminds believers that God's solution can exceed all human estimation and logistical possibility.