Numbers 12:3 kjv
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Numbers 12:3 nkjv
(Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
Numbers 12:3 niv
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
Numbers 12:3 esv
Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.
Numbers 12:3 nlt
(Now Moses was very humble ? more humble than any other person on earth.)
Numbers 12 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:1 | Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country..." | God calls His chosen servants. |
| Ex 3:11 | But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh..." | Moses' initial humility and reluctance. |
| Ex 4:10 | Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent..." | Moses expresses self-doubt, indicating humility. |
| Num 12:6-8 | "If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make Myself known... not so with My servant Moses." | God's direct and unique communication with Moses due to his faithfulness and humility. |
| Num 16:4 | When Moses heard this, he fell on his face... | Moses' posture of humility and intercession. |
| Deut 18:18 | I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brothers... | Prophecy of Christ, the ultimate humble leader like Moses. |
| Ps 103:7 | He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. | Moses' unique intimacy with God's ways due to his character. |
| Ps 105:15 | "Touch not My anointed ones, do My prophets no harm!" | Warning against challenging God's chosen. |
| Ps 106:23 | Therefore he said He would destroy them, had not Moses, His chosen one... | Moses' humble intercession turned away God's wrath. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Contrast with pride, emphasizing consequences for Miriam and Aaron. |
| Isa 53:7 | He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth... | Prophetic humility of the Suffering Servant, fulfilled in Christ. |
| Mt 11:29 | Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart... | Jesus, the ultimate example of humility and meekness. |
| Mt 23:12 | Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. | Principle of humility leading to exaltation, explaining God's defense of Moses. |
| Phil 2:3-8 | ...but in humility count others more significant than yourselves... Christ Jesus... He humbled Himself. | The ultimate example of Christ's humility unto death. |
| Jas 4:6 | But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." | God's favor rests upon the humble. |
| Jas 4:10 | Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. | Principle for believers to emulate Moses' character. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | ...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud..." | Call for humility, citing God's opposition to pride. |
| Heb 3:5-6 | Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant... but Christ is faithful as a Son. | Moses' faithfulness, linked to his humility in service. |
| Jude 1:8 | Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority... | Warning against those who despise authority, mirroring Miriam and Aaron. |
| Rev 1:1 | The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants... | Emphasizes God's servants being given revelation, akin to Moses. |
Numbers 12 verses
Numbers 12 3 Meaning
Numbers 12:3 states that Moses was extraordinarily humble, more so than anyone else on the entire face of the earth. This remarkable characteristic is presented as the foundational quality defining Moses, particularly highlighting why God fiercely defended him against the challenges from Miriam and Aaron in the immediate context. It portrays his leadership not as one of self-assertion or ambition, but as complete reliance on and submission to the will of God, making him a unique instrument for divine purposes.
Numbers 12 3 Context
Numbers chapter 12 details Miriam and Aaron speaking against Moses concerning his Cushite wife and, more fundamentally, questioning his unique prophetic authority by claiming, "Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" (Num 12:2). This challenge undermines God's divinely appointed leadership. Verse 3 is an editorial insertion by the narrator, providing the crucial character insight that explains God's swift and stern response. Because Moses was superlatively humble, God was provoked to intervene immediately and directly, defending His servant and punishing Miriam with leprosy. This highlights that their opposition was not merely against Moses, the man, but against the authority of God who chose and uniquely communicated with Moses due to this very quality of humility. Historically, it reinforces the necessity of respecting God's chosen leaders, especially in the challenging environment of the wilderness journey, and directly contrasts divine appointment with human self-exaltation.
Numbers 12 3 Word analysis
- Now the man Moses (וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה, ve-ha'ish Moshe): "The man" here emphasizes Moses' humanity. It makes the subsequent assertion of his unparalleled humility even more striking, positioning him as an example attainable for humans while highlighting his extraordinary distinction.
- was very humble (עָנָיו מְאֹד, anav me'od):
- Anav (עָנָיו): This Hebrew term implies not just humility, but meekness, gentleness, and often refers to one who is afflicted or lowly, fully dependent on God. It does not signify weakness but a profound inner strength rooted in submission to divine will. This disposition allows for exceptional receptivity to God's word and action, without personal ego or ambition interfering.
- Me'od (מְאֹד): This intensifying adverb means "very," "exceedingly," or "greatly." It accentuates the degree of Moses' humility, making it superlative and exceptional.
- more than all men (מִכֹּל הָאָדָם, mi-kol ha'adam):
- Mi-kol (מִכֹּל): "More than all" or "from all." It expresses a superlative comparison, indicating Moses' unique standing among humanity in this quality.
- Ha'adam (הָאָדָם): Refers to mankind or humanity in general. This establishes the claim's scope, contrasting Moses with everyone else.
- who were on the face of the earth (אֲשֶׁר עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה, asher al-penei ha'adamah): This phrase further expands the global reach of the superlative claim, making it a universal statement about Moses' unparalleled humility at that specific time in history.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "The man Moses was very humble": This phrase succinctly identifies the specific virtue of Moses and underscores its profound intensity. It implies a divinely ordained character assessment, highlighting a core aspect that set Moses apart, especially contrasting his inner state with his external position of power and authority. His profound humility meant that his leadership was solely driven by God's will, not personal gain.
- "very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth": This extended phrase elevates Moses' humility to an unprecedented and absolute level. It's not just "humble," but exceedingly so, surpassing all others on the entire earth. This exceptional meekness explains why God fiercely defended Moses' leadership: it was proof that Moses acted only as God's instrument, untainted by human pride or ambition. This God-given testimony about Moses' character legitimizes his unique role as mediator and prophet, and underscores that challenges to his authority were, in essence, challenges to God Himself.
Numbers 12 3 Bonus section
The exact nature of the "Cushite woman" (Num 12:1) is a topic of scholarly discussion, with some interpretations suggesting she might be Moses' first wife, Zipporah, or a new wife. Regardless of her identity, the primary issue that provoked Miriam and Aaron was Moses' unique relationship with God, not specifically the wife herself. This is made clear by God's own declaration in Numbers 12:6-8, where He explicitly defends His special mode of communication with Moses. The mention of Moses' unparalleled humility directly following the criticism points to the character of the challenged leader as crucial in God's eyes. This verse functions as an essential theological explanation for God's defense of Moses, underscoring that His choice was based on a heart entirely yielded, a concept counter-cultural to many ancient Near Eastern kings who typically vaunted their own power and achievements. Moses' humility, far from diminishing him, elevated him as God's premier spokesman.
Numbers 12 3 Commentary
Numbers 12:3 serves as a divinely inspired authorial parenthetical note, explaining why God intervened so decisively against Miriam and Aaron's criticism. Moses' unparalleled humility (meekness, anav me'od) was not weakness, but a profound strength rooted in absolute dependence on God. It was this quality that enabled him to faithfully execute God's commands without ego, personal ambition, or a thirst for power, despite his immense authority as Israel's leader. Because his spirit was yielded entirely to the Almighty, any challenge to his authority was, in essence, a direct affront to God who chose and spoke through such a yielded vessel. This verse establishes that God delights in and defends the humble, for they are most pliable to His will. It reminds believers that true, Spirit-filled leadership is characterized by such selfless dependence on God, rather than by human pride or self-assertion. The example of Moses underscores that great spiritual authority often correlates with deep personal humility.