Numbers 12 6

Numbers 12:6 kjv

And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

Numbers 12:6 nkjv

Then He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.

Numbers 12:6 niv

he said, "Listen to my words: "When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.

Numbers 12:6 esv

And he said, "Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.

Numbers 12:6 nlt

And the LORD said to them, "Now listen to what I say: "If there were prophets among you,
I, the LORD, would reveal myself in visions.
I would speak to them in dreams.

Numbers 12 verses

Numbers 12 6 Meaning

Numbers 12:6 reveals the Lord's established methods for communicating with most prophets: primarily through visions and dreams. This declaration is presented as a foundational principle of divine revelation, defining the typical interaction between the Holy One of Israel and His chosen messengers. It highlights God's initiative in making Himself known and speaking through these distinct, though often indirect, means. This verse sets the stage for a critical contrast, distinguishing the standard prophetic experience from the unparalleled, direct communion Moses enjoyed with the Almighty.

Numbers 12 6 Context

Numbers chapter 12 details a crucial challenge to Moses' authority by his own siblings, Miriam and Aaron. Their contention stems from Moses' marriage to a Cushite woman and, more significantly, their questioning of his unique prophetic status ("Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?"). This verse (Num 12:6) is the Lord's direct response to their challenge, providing a divine clarification of prophetic revelation. Before chastising Miriam and Aaron, the Lord first establishes the common standard for how He interacts with most prophets, reserving a higher, more direct form of communion exclusively for Moses in the subsequent verses (Num 12:7-8). This initial declaration sets the norm against which Moses' distinctiveness is then powerfully illuminated. Historically, this discourse occurs during Israel's journey through the wilderness, reinforcing divine order and Moses' unique mediatorial role for the new nation. It also subtly stands as a polemic against unauthorized prophetic claims and chaotic, uncontrolled forms of revelation prevalent in ancient Near Eastern cultures, emphasizing God's structured and sovereign communication methods.

Numbers 12 6 Word analysis

• And he said, Hear now my words:
  • This opening phrase signifies a solemn, authoritative divine pronouncement. The Lord Himself directly intervenes, demanding immediate and serious attention to what He is about to reveal. It’s a divine call to order, underscoring the gravity of the subsequent revelation regarding prophecy.
• If there be a prophet among you,
  • prophet (נָבִיא, navi): From the root meaning "to bubble up," "to pour forth," suggesting one who speaks under divine inspiration, a spokesperson. In this context, it refers to any divinely appointed messenger, setting the stage for the standard form of communication God uses for them. The phrase "among you" implies the general body of spiritual leaders or future prophetic figures within Israel.
• I the LORD will make myself known unto him
  • I the LORD (אֲנִי יְהוָה, Ani YHWH): Emphasizes the speaker's divine identity and sovereign authority. YHWH (the Tetragrammaton) signifies the personal, covenantal God of Israel. This underlines that the revelation originates directly from Him.
  • make myself known (אֵלָיו אֶתְוַדַּע, elav etvadda'): Literally "I will make myself known to him" or "I will meet with him." This implies an active disclosure on God's part, an intentional revealing of His presence or will, rather than a human seeking. It speaks of a controlled, directed interaction.
• in a vision,
  • vision (בַּמַּרְאָה, ba-mar'ah): Derived from ra'ah "to see," referring to a sight, appearance, or revelation. This typically implies an awareness of God's communication while one is awake, often through a mental perception or extraordinary spiritual sight. These can be symbolic or direct visual experiences that convey divine messages.
• and will speak unto him in a dream.
  • speak unto him: Indicates direct verbal or symbolic communication within the framework of the dream.
  • dream (בַּחֲלוֹם, ba-chalōm): Revelation received during sleep. Dreams were a widely recognized means of divine communication in the ancient Near East and are consistently depicted in the Bible as a medium through which God conveys messages, warnings, or insights into the future. They can be symbolic or direct.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him": This clause sets up a conditional yet definitive statement. It asserts YHWH's sovereign initiative in revelation; if He chooses to designate someone as a prophet, He will reveal Himself to them. This firmly places the power and timing of divine communication solely with God, not dependent on human aspiration or methods. It defines the general modus operandi for His interactions with the prophetic class in Israel, thereby framing the uniqueness of Moses' relationship with God that follows.
• "in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream": This specific pairing of "vision" and "dream" describes the two primary and normative methods of prophetic communication for the general run of prophets. Both forms are mediated and often require interpretation (either by the prophet themselves or by another divine interpreter), contrasting starkly with the direct, unmediated communication Moses experiences, as stated in the following verse (Num 12:8). These forms highlight God's condescension to human perception, adapting revelation to human states of awareness (waking or sleeping). It implies that the prophet's personal presence or direct, immediate audience with God is typically not involved in the same way Moses experienced it.

Numbers 12 6 Bonus section

• Hierarchy of Revelation: This verse initiates a crucial discussion on the hierarchy of divine revelation in the Old Testament, with dreams and visions forming the usual but secondary category compared to Moses' unique face-to-face communion.
• Authenticity of Prophecy: The clarity with which God specifies these channels for prophecy also subtly functions as a safeguard. It helps discern genuine prophetic revelation from unauthorized or false claims. If a 'prophet' claims revelation that deviates from God's established patterns (especially compared to Moses' standards) or lacks clarity, it might be questioned.
• Divine Initiative: The phrase "I the LORD will make myself known" stresses that revelation is always an act of God's grace and initiative. Humans do not command God's voice; God sovereignly chooses to speak and reveal.

Numbers 12 6 Commentary

Numbers 12:6 serves as a divine baseline for prophetic communication, a general rule that immediately precedes and thus accentuates the exception found in Moses. God explicitly states that His common means of revealing Himself and speaking to His prophets are through visions and dreams. This establishes that revelation is a controlled process initiated by God, not something summoned by human will. Visions, often given in a waking state, involve vivid spiritual perception, while dreams occur during sleep, both requiring divine initiation and often interpretation. This method emphasizes a mediated relationship; the prophet typically receives symbolic or indirect communication, highlighting God's majesty and distance, even as He communicates His will. This divine standard sets the stage for Miriam and Aaron's error, who failed to understand that while God did speak through them (and other prophets) via visions and dreams, Moses operated on an entirely different plane of direct, face-to-face communion with the Almighty. The verse implicitly highlights God's sovereignty over revelation and distinguishes true prophetic encounter from any form of human-initiated divination.