Numbers 12 11

Numbers 12:11 kjv

And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

Numbers 12:11 nkjv

So Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned.

Numbers 12:11 niv

and he said to Moses, "Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.

Numbers 12:11 esv

And Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned.

Numbers 12:11 nlt

he cried out to Moses, "Oh, my master! Please don't punish us for this sin we have so foolishly committed.

Numbers 12 verses

Numbers 12 11 Meaning

Numbers 12:11 records Aaron's urgent plea to Moses immediately after Miriam is afflicted with leprosy by the Lord. It signifies his profound confession of guilt, acknowledging that both he and Miriam acted foolishly and sinned against God and His chosen leader, Moses. His appeal is a desperate recognition of the severe consequences of their rebellion and a request for Moses' mediation to avert divine wrath from them.

Numbers 12 11 Context

Numbers 12 recounts a critical challenge to Moses' leadership from within his own family: his elder siblings, Miriam and Aaron. The immediate cause, speaking against Moses regarding his Cushite wife (Num 12:1), quickly escalated into a more profound questioning of his unique prophetic authority (Num 12:2). They questioned whether God spoke only through Moses, asserting their own prophetic claims. This challenge was not merely personal but was a direct affront to God's chosen and uniquely endowed servant.

God immediately intervened, demonstrating His displeasure by appearing in a cloud and speaking directly, affirming Moses' unparalleled position (Num 12:4-8). As a result of their transgression, Miriam was instantly struck with tzara'at (often translated "leprosy"), a severe skin condition that typically signifies uncleanness and divine judgment in biblical contexts. This was a visible, humiliating judgment that also separated her from the community for seven days (Leviticus 13-14). Aaron, perhaps spared from similar affliction due to his priestly office, immediately recognized the gravity of the divine judgment and his complicity in the sin. His plea in verse 11 is his response to witnessing Miriam's devastating punishment, signifying true fear and remorse. The historical context underscores the immense spiritual authority Moses carried as the direct conduit of God's law and will for Israel, making any challenge to his role a challenge to God Himself.

Numbers 12 11 Word analysis

• And Aaron said (וַיֹּאמֶר אַהֲרֹן - vayyomer Aharon): Marks the direct speech of Aaron. The use of "And" suggests an immediate reaction to Miriam's judgment. Aaron, as the High Priest and elder brother, shared responsibility and his confession is significant due to his high standing.
• to Moses (אֶל-מֹשֶׁה - el-Mosheh): Highlights Moses' position as the recipient of the plea, acknowledging his God-given authority and role as mediator.
• Oh, my lord (בִּי אֲדֹנִי - bi adoni): A formal, earnest plea or supplication.
  • בִּי (bi): An interjection, often translated as "oh, please" or "I beg you," used to soften a request or express earnest entreaty. It conveys urgency and humility.
  • אֲדֹנִי (adoni): "My lord." While Moses is not Aaron's literal lord, this respectful address indicates submission, deference, and a recognition of Moses' divinely established superiority in this context. It acknowledges Moses' unique favor and power before God.
• please do not lay this sin on us (אַל-נָא תָּשֵׁת עָלֵינוּ חַטָּאת זוֹ - al-na tashet aleinu chatta't zo):
  • אַל-נָא (al-na): A strong negative imperative, "do not, please!" The particle na adds a note of pleading and urgency.
  • תָּשֵׁת (tashet): From the root שת (shat), meaning "to put," "place," or "lay." Here, it means to impute, assign, or cause sin to be reckoned to them. Aaron is asking Moses not to hold this specific sin against them.
  • עָלֵינוּ (aleinu): "Upon us." Specifically referring to Aaron and Miriam, indicating their shared guilt. Aaron confesses his own complicity alongside Miriam's.
  • חַטָּאת זוֹ (chatta't zo): "This sin." The specific transgression of speaking against Moses and challenging God's authority. Chatta't (sin) signifies "missing the mark," a moral transgression against God's standards.
• in which we have acted foolishly (אֲשֶׁר נוֹאַלְנוּ - asher no'alnu):
  • אֲשֶׁר (asher): "That," "in which," introduces the clause specifying the nature of their offense.
  • נוֹאַלְנוּ (no'alnu): From the root יָאַל (ya'al), "to be foolish," "to act foolishly," "to behave stupidly." This is not mere intellectual dullness, but often implies moral or spiritual folly rooted in arrogance, impiety, or presumption. It signifies a profound lack of wisdom or discernment in a moral or religious sense, leading to errant behavior. It implies a disregard for consequences or God's ways.
• and in which we have sinned (וַאֲשֶׁר חָטָאנוּ - va'asher chata'nu):
  • וַאֲשֶׁר (va'asher): "And in which." Links this statement to the preceding one.
  • חָטָאנוּ (chata'nu): From the root חָטָא (chata), "to miss the mark," "to sin." This is the common biblical term for moral transgression or offense against God.
• "in which we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned": This phrase groups their folly (no'alnu) as the underlying attitude that led to their explicit sin (chata'nu). Their actions were not merely a mistake, but a deliberate foolishness or presumption (pride) that culminated in outright transgression. It's a comprehensive confession covering both the unwise motivation and the overt act.

Numbers 12 11 Bonus section

Aaron's use of "my lord" (adoni) toward Moses is noteworthy. Given that Aaron was Moses' elder brother and, more significantly, the divinely appointed High Priest, his addressing Moses in such a subordinate and respectful manner emphasizes the extraordinary, God-given authority that Moses held, an authority far exceeding familial bonds or priestly status. It signals Aaron's profound realization of Moses' unique relationship with God, as seen just prior in Numbers 12:8.

Miriam was struck, not Aaron, even though both sinned. While not explicitly stated, one interpretation suggests that as High Priest, striking Aaron with such a disease would have rendered him ritually unclean and unable to perform his duties, which could have led to more significant spiritual disruption for the nascent nation. Miriam’s judgment served as a severe, public lesson for both Aaron and the entire camp regarding the gravity of challenging divine authority, without crippling the vital priestly office. This demonstrates God's sovereign wisdom in judgment, administering punishment in a way that aligns with His broader purposes for Israel's worship and order. It is also significant that Miriam, as a prophetess and Aaron's older sister, initiated the criticism, hence bearing the initial and direct punitive response.

Numbers 12 11 Commentary

Numbers 12:11 captures a pivotal moment of deep contrition from Aaron, forced by the visible judgment on his sister Miriam. His urgent appeal, "Oh, my lord, please do not lay this sin on us," underscores his understanding of divine wrath and his plea for Moses to intercede on their behalf. The phrase "this sin" specifically refers to their challenging Moses' authority, which God viewed as a direct affront to Himself.

Aaron's double confession – "we have acted foolishly and in which we have sinned" – reveals two crucial aspects of their transgression. "Acted foolishly" (נָאַל na'al) denotes a moral failing stemming from arrogance or a lack of wisdom, akin to spiritual obtuseness that leads one to defy divine order. This isn't just an error but a conscious act of moral blindness. It suggests that their challenge to Moses was rooted in presumption and pride. Following this, "we have sinned" (chata') refers to the explicit transgression – missing God's mark, a direct disobedience to His will and a rebellion against His chosen representative. The sequence implies that foolish pride preceded and resulted in the overt act of sin. This confession highlights the progressive nature of sin, where an unholy thought or attitude (folly) matures into an overt act (sin).

This verse profoundly illustrates the sacredness of God's appointed leadership. Any rebellion against Moses was immediately seen as a rebellion against God himself, necessitating swift and public judgment, exemplified by Miriam's leprosy. Aaron's immediate recognition and heartfelt plea also serves as a model of how one should respond to divine conviction and judgment: with genuine confession, humility, and seeking the intercession of the one God has placed in authority. Moses, as a type of Christ, demonstrates the role of a mediator between God and sinful humanity, whose intervention can avert wrath. The mercy shown (Miriam’s temporary isolation vs. death) highlights God's justice tempered with grace when repentance is offered.Example: This mirrors the progression in human relations where a foolish attitude of superiority can lead to open disrespect or harm towards another, requiring an acknowledgement of both the initial flawed perspective and the resultant hurtful action.