Numbers 14 17

Numbers 14:17 kjv

And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,

Numbers 14:17 nkjv

And now, I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying,

Numbers 14:17 niv

"Now may the Lord's strength be displayed, just as you have declared:

Numbers 14:17 esv

And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying,

Numbers 14:17 nlt

"Please, Lord, prove that your power is as great as you have claimed. For you said,

Numbers 14 verses

Numbers 14 17 Meaning

Numbers 14:17 presents Moses' earnest plea to God, asking that the Lord's power be demonstrated not in judgment upon the rebellious Israelites, but in mercy and forgiveness, in accordance with God's self-revelation and promised character. Moses appeals to God's inherent greatness, particularly His ability to forgive and show forbearance, as previously declared. His prayer is rooted in a desire for God's glory to be upheld among the nations.

Numbers 14 17 Context

Numbers Chapter 14 finds the Israelites at Kadesh Barnea, on the brink of entering the Promised Land. Twelve spies had been sent into Canaan, but ten returned with a negative report, instilling fear and disbelief in the congregation. The people rebelled against God and Moses, longing to return to Egypt and even proposing a new leader. Enraged by their persistent rebellion and unbelief (Numbers 14:11), God threatens to strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, making Moses a greater nation. It is in response to this divine wrath that Moses earnestly intercedes for the people, fearing that God's name and reputation among the nations would be marred if He destroyed His own chosen people after bringing them out of Egypt. Numbers 14:17 initiates Moses' profound appeal to God's previously revealed attributes.

Numbers 14 17 Word analysis

• And now: Transliterated as v'attah (וְעַתָּה). This connective phrase signifies an immediate transition in thought and action, an urgent plea in a critical moment. It shifts the discourse from God's intended judgment to Moses' fervent intercession.
• please let... be great: A combination in Hebrew, yigdal-na (יִגְדַּל־נָא).
  • yigdal (יִגְדַּל): From the root gadal (גָּדַל), meaning "to be great," "to magnify," "to grow." Here, it's an imperative (or jussive, expressing a wish/command) "let be great" or "may it be magnified." It expresses a desire for God's power to be magnified or publicly demonstrated.
  • na (נָא): A particle of entreaty or request, adding emphasis and politeness to the plea, equivalent to "please" or "I pray." It highlights Moses' earnestness.
• the power: Transliterated as koach (כֹּחַ). Refers to strength, might, ability, or power. In this context, it speaks of God's divine omnipotence and capacity to act, which Moses seeks to be displayed. This power can be demonstrated in both judgment and mercy.
• of my Lord: Transliterated as Adonai (אֲדֹנָי). This is a deferential title for God, typically rendered as "Lord." It emphasizes God's sovereignty and Moses' submission. It is frequently used in prayer. The use of Adonai instead of the more personal YHWH often indicates reverence and a specific appeal to God's mastery or authority.
• just as you have spoken: Transliterated as ka'asher dibbarta (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ).
  • ka'asher (כַּאֲשֶׁר): "According as," "just as," "because." It introduces the foundational basis for Moses' prayer: God's own previous declaration.
  • dibbarta (דִּבַּרְתָּ): "You have spoken." From dabar (דָּבַר), meaning "to speak," "to declare." This is a direct reference to a past divine utterance, specifically God's self-revelation to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7.
• saying: Transliterated as le'mor (לֵאמֹר). Literally "to say," or "as follows." It introduces a direct quotation of God's words, which follow in Numbers 14:18.

Words-group Analysis

• "And now, please let the power of my Lord be great": This phrase marks Moses' immediate and fervent pivot to intercession. It's a humble but powerful appeal, acknowledging God's supreme authority ("my Lord") and His immense ability ("power"), while urging Him to display this power in a way that aligns with His character of mercy and forbearance. Moses is not asking God to gain power but to magnify or demonstrate His existing power in the face of the people's sin, particularly through restraint and forgiveness.
• "just as you have spoken, saying": This is the theological lynchpin of Moses' prayer. He bases his appeal not on the people's merit, nor his own, but entirely on God's own revealed Word and immutable character. It underscores the covenantal faithfulness of God, reminding Him of His promises and self-description from Exodus 34:6-7, which emphasizes mercy, grace, slowness to anger, and abounding steadfast love.

Numbers 14 17 Bonus section

• The entire prayer of Moses (Num 14:11-19) showcases the depth of intercessory prayer, focusing on God's glory and name rather than personal vindication or punishment for others.
• Moses' appeal for God's power to be great implies that even when Israel acts faithlessly, God's greatness is best showcased not in abandoning them, but in persevering with His covenant and demonstrating boundless patience and mercy.
• The request for God's power to be "great" highlights a common Old Testament theme that God's greatest display of power often came not in overt, raw force, but in His surprising and enduring patience, long-suffering, and commitment to His covenant purposes despite human failings. This reflects a divine humility in His exercise of power.

Numbers 14 17 Commentary

Numbers 14:17 is the pivot of Moses' great intercession. It illustrates a crucial principle of prayer: appealing to God based on His revealed character and promises, rather than solely on human need or worth. Moses appeals to the "greatness" of God's "power" (koach) in a paradoxical way; instead of asking for it to be deployed in destructive judgment, he requests it be displayed through magnanimous forgiveness and restraint. He knows that God's power is not solely demonstrated in destruction, but profoundly in His ability to overcome human sin with divine mercy. The phrase "just as you have spoken" anchors Moses' plea in the firm ground of divine revelation, specifically God's declaration in Exodus 34:6-7 of being merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, who forgives iniquity and transgression. For Moses, God's reputation among the nations, and thus His glory, depends not on obliterating a rebellious people, but on patiently sustaining His covenant. This prayer foreshadows the ultimate intercession of Christ, who likewise pleads for forgiveness based on God's own righteous character and merciful nature.