Numbers 11 6

Numbers 11:6 kjv

But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.

Numbers 11:6 nkjv

but now our whole being is dried up; there is nothing at all except this manna before our eyes!"

Numbers 11:6 niv

But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"

Numbers 11:6 esv

But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."

Numbers 11:6 nlt

But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!"

Numbers 11 verses

Numbers 11 6 Meaning

Numbers 11:6 expresses the profound discontent and spiritual weariness of the Israelites regarding the manna, God's miraculous daily provision. Their soul, or inner being, felt dried up and parched, perceiving that there was absolutely nothing else to eat but the monotonous manna constantly before their eyes. This indicates a deep-seated ingratitude and a longing for the diverse, fleshly provisions of Egypt over the consistent, divine sustenance in the wilderness.

Numbers 11 6 Context

Numbers chapter 11 opens with the Israelites complaining, leading to God's judgment by fire. This is followed immediately by the lament of the "rabble" (or "mixed multitude") among them, which incites the native Israelites to join in a renewed, deep-seated grumbling. Their specific complaint is the monotony of the manna and an intense longing for the meat, fish, and diverse produce they remembered from Egypt. Verse 6 directly states the core of their soul-weariness, which is their revulsion towards God's constant, sole provision of manna. Moses, overwhelmed by their incessant demands, subsequently complains to God about the heavy burden of leading such a discontented people, leading to God appointing seventy elders to help him.

Numbers 11 6 Word analysis

• "But now" (וְעַתָּה, we'attah): This phrase signals a critical transition and contrast. It highlights an immediate, pressing crisis in their perception. It implies a sense of exasperation, contrasting their current desolate state of mind with a desired past or alternative. It emphasizes the immediacy and severity of their inner complaint, "this is our situation now."
• "our soul" (נַפְשֵׁנוּ, nafshēnu): From the Hebrew word nephesh, which denotes not merely a soul in the modern sense but encompasses the entire inner being—the self, life, breath, appetite, desires, and emotions. When their nephesh is affected, it indicates a profound, holistic discontent. It's not just a physical complaint but a spiritual and psychological one, stemming from their desires and core being.
• "is dried away" (יְבֵשָׁה, y'vasha): From the verb yabēsh, meaning "to dry up, wither, be parched, be put to shame." Here, it vividly expresses a feeling of utter depletion, desiccation, or spiritual barrenness. Like a plant withering from lack of water, their internal life force felt depleted, deprived of vitality and refreshment. This metaphor powerfully conveys their emotional and spiritual exhaustion stemming from the perceived monotony of the manna, leading to a state of spiritual dehydration and a lack of inward satisfaction.
• "there is nothing at all" (אֵין כֹּל, 'ên kol): Literally "no all" or "there is nothing whatsoever." This is a hyperbolic expression of their extreme dissatisfaction and blindness. Despite receiving miraculous daily bread, they perceived themselves to be utterly lacking in variety, demonstrating profound ingratitude and a denial of the manna as "something" precious. It reveals a mindset fixed on what is absent rather than what is miraculously present.
• "beside" (בִּלְתִּי, bilti): Means "except," "only," or "apart from." It accentuates the exclusive focus of their complaint: it is only the manna that they see. This highlights the perceived lack of diversity in their diet and intensifies their sense of monotony, making the single provision seem like an oppressive burden rather than a blessing.
• "this manna" (הַמָּן הַזֶּה, hammān hazzeh): Refers to the specific, divinely provided food that had sustained them daily. The use of "this" (הַזֶּה, hazzeh) points to the tangible and ever-present reality of the manna, which has now become the object of their disgust rather than their gratitude. It was once a miracle, now a burden.
• "before our eyes" (לְעֵינֵינוּ, le'êynêynu): This phrase emphasizes the visual constancy and unavoidable presence of the manna. They could not escape the sight of it, leading to visual as well as gastronomic weariness. It speaks to a saturation of what was once a wonder, now turning into revulsion because of its unending uniformity.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "our soul is dried away": This phrase captures the spiritual core of their complaint. It is not merely hunger or physical discomfort, but a deep spiritual malaise. Their souls felt parched not because of lack of food (manna was abundant), but because of discontent, highlighting how ingratitude can drain spiritual vitality. This state stands in stark contrast to being spiritually nourished and satisfied by God's provision (Deut 8:3).
• "there is nothing at all beside this manna before our eyes": This entire phrase powerfully illustrates the Israelites' warped perspective. It signifies their extreme ingratitude and spiritual blindness, effectively discounting God's miraculous, life-sustaining gift. Their eyes saw only monotony, while their hearts were filled with cravings for the material provisions of their past bondage, neglecting the profound spiritual lesson God was teaching them about living by every word that comes from Him (Deut 8:3). It also highlights a common human tendency to grow weary of consistent blessings, perceiving them as mundane rather than miraculous.

Numbers 11 6 Bonus section

• The complaint about manna was a symptom of a deeper spiritual rebellion against God's authority and His chosen leadership. Their desire for different food was less about physical hunger and more about a longing for the lifestyle and perceived comforts of Egypt, despite its spiritual and physical bondage. This spiritual blindness preferred the fleeting pleasures of sin over the freedom and sustained, miraculous grace offered by God.
• The term "dried away" (y'vasha) evokes imagery of a parched desert, connecting their internal spiritual state to their external physical environment. This emphasizes a lack of spiritual refreshment, a consequence of turning away from the source of living water (Jer 2:13).
• This verse subtly indicates a "loss of spiritual appetite" for what God had provided. Similar to a sick person who loses the taste for even good food, the Israelites had lost their spiritual appetite for God's divine provision because their desires were fixated on things of the world (Egypt).
• The irony lies in the manna being literally "bread from heaven" and "the food of angels" (Ps 78:24-25), yet it became detestable. This underscores how much human desire and discontent can distort the perception of divine blessings.

Numbers 11 6 Commentary

Numbers 11:6 encapsulates the depth of the Israelites' spiritual decline in the wilderness. Their complaint was not borne of starvation, but of a soul "dried away" from lack of satisfaction, even with abundant divine provision. The manna, designed as a sign of God's faithful presence and as a means to teach dependence on Him (Deut 8:3), had become detestable. This verse exposes the human tendency toward ingratitude and lust for perceived worldly pleasures (the foods of Egypt) over God's miraculous but perhaps less exciting provision. It reveals that the true hunger was not for food, but for self-will and the perceived abundance of their past bondage, highlighting how quickly physical and spiritual satiation can turn into a spirit of complaint when not accompanied by contentment in God. This serves as a potent reminder that discontentment poisons the soul, making even divine blessings seem worthless, and preventing genuine joy in God's sustained faithfulness.