Numbers 14:21 kjv
But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
Numbers 14:21 nkjv
but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD?
Numbers 14:21 niv
Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth,
Numbers 14:21 esv
But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD,
Numbers 14:21 nlt
But as surely as I live, and as surely as the earth is filled with the LORD's glory,
Numbers 14 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:3 | "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse... all the families of the earth shall be blessed." | God's blessing extends to all nations. |
| Gen 22:16-18 | "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD... your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." | God's solemn oath for universal blessing. |
| Psa 2:7-8 | "He said to me, 'You are My Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.'" | God's Messiah will reign over all the earth. |
| Psa 19:1-4 | "The heavens declare the glory of God... Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world." | Creation testifies to God's glory everywhere. |
| Psa 72:19 | "Blessed be His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory! Amen and Amen!" | A prayer and prophetic desire for universal glory. |
| Isa 6:3 | "And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!'" | Prophetic vision of God's present glory in creation. |
| Isa 11:9 | "They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." | Future state of peace with universal knowledge of God. |
| Isa 40:5 | "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." | Future revelation of God's glory for all to see. |
| Isa 45:23 | "By Myself I have sworn; from My mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'" | God's unchangeable word concerning universal worship. |
| Hab 2:14 | "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." | Echoes Num 14:21 directly, linking glory to knowledge. |
| Mal 1:11 | "For from the rising of the sun to its setting My name will be great among the nations... in every place incense will be offered to My name, and a pure offering." | God's name universally exalted among Gentiles. |
| Joel 2:28 | "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh..." | Future universal outpouring of God's Spirit. |
| Zep 3:9-10 | "For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech... From beyond the rivers of Cush My worshipers... shall bring My offerings." | Gentiles worshiping the Lord in pure speech. |
| Rom 11:25-36 | "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen." | God's sovereign plan culminates in His glory through all. |
| Php 2:9-11 | "Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... to the glory of God the Father." | Christ's universal exaltation and worship bring glory to God. |
| Eph 1:7-12 | "In Him we have redemption through His blood... that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory." | God's plan of redemption is for the praise of His glory. |
| Col 1:20 | "And through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross." | Universal reconciliation accomplished by Christ. |
| Rev 5:13 | "And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, 'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'" | Universal praise to God and the Lamb in revelation. |
| Rev 21:23-24 | "And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light..." | God's manifest glory illuminates the new creation, drawing nations. |
| Rev 22:3-5 | "The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it... and they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more." | Unhindered access to God's manifest presence. |
| Exod 40:34-35 | "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle... because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." | Previous filling of the tabernacle with God's glory. |
| Num 16:19 | "Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation." | God's glory appearing amidst rebellion and judgment. |
| Num 20:6 | "And they fell on their faces, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them." | God's glory manifesting during Israel's murmuring. |
Numbers 14 verses
Numbers 14 21 Meaning
Numbers 14:21 declares God's solemn oath and unwavering purpose that His glory will definitively and universally cover the entire earth. Despite the immediate judgment on the rebellious generation of Israelites, this verse reaffirms the Lord's supreme sovereignty and His ultimate plan for His presence, power, and character to be known across all creation, unhindered by human sin.
Numbers 14 21 Context
Numbers chapter 14 describes the critical turning point in Israel's wilderness journey following the spies' return from Canaan. Ten of the twelve spies gave a fearful, discouraging report, causing the entire congregation to weep, grumble against the Lord and Moses, and even propose choosing a new leader to return to Egypt. Despite Caleb and Joshua's faithful appeal and dire warnings, the people refused to trust God and even threatened to stone His faithful servants. Enraged by this rebellion and unbelief, the Lord threatened to disinherit Israel and destroy them with a plague. Moses, however, interceded, appealing to God's great power, mercy, and, crucially, to the potential disgrace upon God's reputation among the nations if He annihilated His people. Numbers 14:21 is God's immediate, profound response to Moses' intercession, proclaiming His ultimate and universal purpose, juxtaposed against the impending judgment of the generation condemned to die in the wilderness for their unbelief. Historically, this incident took place at Kadesh-Barnea, approximately two years after the Exodus from Egypt. This rebellion solidified Israel's forty-year wilderness wanderings as divine punishment for their unbelief, setting a pattern for understanding the consequences of rejecting God's word.
Numbers 14 21 Word analysis
- But indeed, as I live (כִּי חַי אָנִי - kî ḥay ʾānî)
- כִּי (kî): This particle can mean "for," "surely," "indeed," or "but." Here, it marks a strong affirmation, introducing an emphatic declaration from God that contrasts with the previous threat of immediate destruction. It pivots the focus to God's grander, eternal purpose.
- חַי אָנִי (ḥay ʾānî): Literally "live I" or "as I live." This is a divine oath formula (similar to "by My life" or "as surely as I live"), emphasizing the absolute certainty and unchangeableness of God's subsequent declaration. God stakes His very being, His life, His essential existence and faithfulness, on the truth of what He is about to say. This phrase connects to God as the living God (Deu 5:26, Psa 42:2), contrasted with lifeless idols. It signifies a declaration from God's own unwavering, eternal being.
- all the earth (אֶת־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ - ʾet-kol-hāʾāreṣ)
- כָּל־ (kol-): "all," "every," "whole." This indicates totality, universality, without exception.
- הָאָרֶץ (hāʾāreṣ): "the earth," "the land." While 'eretz can refer to a specific land, in this context, combined with 'kol,' it refers to the entire planet, emphasizing the global, cosmic scope of God's ultimate plan. It is a polemic against limited, localized pagan deities. YHWH's domain is truly universal.
- will be filled (וְיִמָּלֵא - wəyimmālēʾ)
- This is from the root מָלֵא (māleʾ), meaning "to be full," "to be filled." The Hebrew verb form used here (Nifal imperfect) is future tense and indicates a passive or reflexive sense, meaning "it will be filled" or "it will come to be filled." This is a definitive, assured future event, not merely a possibility. The implication is that God Himself will be the agent, ensuring its fulfillment. It contrasts the empty faith of the Israelites with the active power of God.
- with the glory of the LORD (כְבוֹד יְהוָה - kəḇōḏ YHWH)
- כְבוֹד (kəḇōḏ): "glory," "honor," "weight," "splendor," "reputation," "manifest presence." The Hebrew "kabod" refers to God's manifested presence, His visible display of power, majesty, and inherent worth. It signifies His renown and majesty that command respect and awe. It represents the full manifestation of His being and attributes.
- יְהוָה (YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, God's personal covenant name, often rendered "the LORD" in English Bibles. This emphasizes that it is the glory of the personal, covenant-making, and redeeming God of Israel that will be globally revealed, not merely an abstract force. This is the very God whose name Moses pleaded (Num 14:13-16). God acts to preserve and magnify His own Name/Glory.
- "But indeed, as I live, all the earth": This phrase combines a divine oath with a universal scope. It emphasizes that God's very being guarantees the truth of the promise, and this truth encompasses the entire world. It speaks to God's omnipotence and faithfulness that cannot be thwarted.
- "will be filled with the glory of the LORD": This is the core prophetic declaration. The verb "will be filled" is decisive and absolute. God's glory—His active presence, power, character, and sovereign rule—is not just to be manifested among Israel, but across every corner of the earth. This extends the limited presence of God's glory in the Tabernacle or Temple to a global phenomenon, speaking to an eschatological reality. It sets the stage for a grander redemptive plan beyond Israel's initial failure.
Numbers 14 21 Bonus section
This verse can be understood as an ironic yet hopeful promise given the immediate context. God is essentially saying, "Despite your rebellion and your generation's failure to enter the land, My name, My character, My glory will nevertheless be known across the whole earth, one way or another." It functions as a guarantee of ultimate divine success even when Israel fails as a corporate witness. It sets a cosmic backdrop to the covenant with Abraham, which promised blessing to all families of the earth. It is a reassertion of God's majestic intent against the backdrop of human pettiness and short-sightedness. The fulfillment of this promise is linked to the reign of the Messiah, when the knowledge of God's glory will truly cover the earth like the waters cover the sea (Hab 2:14). It reminds us that God's purposes transcend any single generation's failings or achievements.
Numbers 14 21 Commentary
Numbers 14:21 stands as a powerful divine affirmation that anchors God's ultimate purpose in the midst of human failure. Though a generation of Israel was condemned for its unbelief, this verse ensures that their rebellion would not nullify God's greater redemptive plan. It is an immutable, self-oath by God, emphasizing His steadfast character and His absolute control over His own purposes. The 'filling of the earth with the glory of the LORD' is an eschatological vision. While God's glory was manifest in the Tabernacle or later the Temple, this verse declares its universal scope, transforming from a localized dwelling to a global revelation. This refers not just to His inherent splendor, but to His active presence and recognition across all nations, a theme picked up powerfully in later prophets (e.g., Habakkuk, Isaiah) and ultimately in the universal worship brought about by Christ's redemption (Philippians 2:9-11). It highlights that God's ultimate objective is not merely Israel's temporal obedience or blessing, but the global glorification of His name, ensuring that His holiness and supremacy will ultimately be fully acknowledged by all creation. This verse therefore signifies that even when His people fail, God's own glory remains paramount and will achieve its destined end.