Numbers 15:2 kjv
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,
Numbers 15:2 nkjv
"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you have come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving to you,
Numbers 15:2 niv
"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'After you enter the land I am giving you as a home
Numbers 15:2 esv
"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving you,
Numbers 15:2 nlt
"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. "When you finally settle in the land I am giving you,
Numbers 15 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:7 | Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." | God's original promise of land to Abraham. |
| Gen 13:15 | "for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever." | Confirmation of the land promise. |
| Gen 15:18 | On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land..." | Covenant made concerning the land. |
| Gen 17:8 | "The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession..." | Land as an everlasting possession. |
| Ex 3:8 | "So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land..." | God's intention to bring them into the land. |
| Ex 13:5 | "When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land flowing with milk and honey..." | Specifics of the promised land. |
| Num 14:31 | "But as for your little ones whom you said would be victims, I will bring them in to know the land which you have rejected." | God's promise to the next generation despite sin. |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore..." | God's directive to take the land. |
| Deut 6:10 | "When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob..." | Reminding of the oath to the patriarchs. |
| Deut 8:1 | "Be careful to follow every command I issue you today, so that you may live and increase and enter and possess the land..." | Obedience for living in the land. |
| Deut 11:8-9 | "Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take possession of the land..." | Strength for taking possession through obedience. |
| Josh 1:3 | "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses." | Fulfillment of the land promise under Joshua. |
| Josh 11:23 | So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses... | God's faithfulness in fulfilling the promise. |
| Neh 9:23 | "You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven and brought them into the land which you had told their fathers to enter..." | Recounting God's faithfulness to the covenant. |
| Ps 37:3 | Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. | Trust and dwell in God's promised place. |
| Ps 89:33-34 | "But I will not remove my love from him, nor will I ever be unfaithful... My covenant I will not break..." | God's faithfulness to His covenant despite sin. |
| Isa 54:10 | "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken..." | God's unfailing love and covenant. |
| Rom 3:3-4 | What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God's faithfulness? Certainly not! | God's faithfulness always prevails over human unfaithfulness. |
| 2 Cor 1:20 | For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. | All God's promises are yes in Christ. |
| Heb 4:1 | Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. | Spiritual parallel of entering God's rest. |
| Heb 11:8-9 | By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed... | Abraham's faith in the promise of the land. |
Numbers 15 verses
Numbers 15 2 Meaning
Numbers 15:2 opens with a divine command from God to Moses, instructing him to deliver specific regulations to the Israelites regarding their conduct once they have definitively entered and settled in the promised land. This verse highlights the absolute certainty of Israel's future possession of the land of Canaan, emphasizing God's unwavering covenant promise to "give" it to them, despite their current wilderness wanderings and recent failures. It sets the stage for a series of laws concerning offerings, signifying a shift from the transient desert existence to a settled, agricultural life of established worship.
Numbers 15 2 Context
Numbers 15:2 marks a significant pivot point in the book of Numbers. It follows directly after the major crisis of the spies (Num 13-14) and the subsequent divine judgment that the wilderness generation would die off and not enter the promised land. Despite this severe punishment and the ongoing period of wandering, God reaffirms His steadfast intention to bring the next generation into the land. This chapter (Num 15) contains laws related to various offerings (burnt offerings, sacrifices, drink offerings, offerings for unintentional sins), highlighting that the wilderness wandering was not an abandonment of the covenant but a preparatory period. The laws anticipate the Israelites' settled life in Canaan, underscoring the enduring nature of God's covenant and His forward-looking plan for their worship and national identity once established in their promised inheritance. The immediate context of future entry and permanent settlement sets the stage for a change in lifestyle and specific religious practices required by God.
Numbers 15 2 Word analysis
- Speak (דַּבֵּר - dabber): An imperative verb, "to speak," but carries the force of a command to proclaim or teach authoritatively. It suggests God's direct and purposeful communication of foundational truths or laws to His people through Moses.
- to the Israelites (אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - el-bənei Yisra'el): Lit. "to the sons of Israel." Emphasizes the specific addressees—the covenant people of God, highlighting their unique relationship and identity. These instructions are exclusive to God's chosen nation.
- and say to them (וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם - ve'amarta aleihem): Repetition of the command to speak, ensuring clarity and emphasis on the direct transmission of God's word. It highlights the divine source of the message.
- When you enter (כִּי תָבֹאוּ - ki tavo'u): The Hebrew particle "ki" indicates a certainty, often translated as "when indeed" or "as surely as." It's not "if" but "when," expressing the absolute certainty of their future entry into the land. The verb "tavo'u" (from bo, to come/enter) signifies physically stepping into and occupying the territory.
- the land (אֶל־הָאָרֶץ - el-ha'arets): Refers specifically to the land of Canaan, the geographical promised inheritance given by God. It signifies the physical fulfillment of ancient promises.
- where you are to live (מוֹשְׁבֹתֵיכֶם - moshəvotêchem): This word (plural of moshav) means "settled places" or "dwellings." It implies not just entering, but taking permanent possession and establishing their homes and communities there, contrasting with their temporary wilderness encampments.
- which I am giving you (אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי נֹתֵן לָכֶם - asher ani noten lakhem): "Asher" is "which," "ani" is "I," and "noten" (from nathan, to give) is the participle "giving." This crucial phrase emphasizes that the land is a divine gift, not earned by Israel's merit or strength. It underscores God's sovereignty, generosity, and faithfulness to His covenant promises. This is foundational to Israel's right to the land.
Words-group analysis
- "Speak to the Israelites and say to them": This double command highlights the divine imperative and the importance of clear, authoritative communication from God to His covenant people. It establishes the nature of the following laws as divinely ordained and non-negotiable.
- "When you enter the land where you are to live": This phrase assures future occupation and permanent settlement, contrasting with their current transient status. It indicates that the laws given here are not for immediate application in the wilderness but for their established life in their permanent dwelling place. It expresses God's long-term plan and foresight.
- "which I am giving you": This key theological declaration reiterates God's ownership and sovereign distribution of the land. It means the land is a promise kept, an undeserved favor, and establishes that Israel's possession is by divine grant, not by conquest alone or inherent right. This grace-based reality formed the foundation for their identity and their responsibilities in the land.
Numbers 15 2 Bonus section
The positioning of Numbers 15 immediately after the tragic incident of the spies and the subsequent decree of forty years of wilderness wandering serves a significant theological purpose. It is a powerful affirmation that God's plans and promises transcend immediate human disobedience and failure. Even while under judgment, the destination remains certain because God is faithful. The laws presented in this chapter are not for the wandering generation to obey, but for the next generation, highlighting God's focus on continuity, redemption, and His ultimate fulfillment of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This underscores that while sin has consequences, it does not derail God's overarching redemptive purpose for His people. It offers a powerful message of hope and God's sovereign control over history.
Numbers 15 2 Commentary
Numbers 15:2 stands as a profound testament to God's enduring faithfulness despite human failure. Following the generation's sin and divine judgment for their unbelief, this verse, far from signifying abandonment, reiterates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises regarding the land. The command anticipates a future reality where Israel is settled, emphasizing that their identity and worship are not temporary wilderness constructs but permanent obligations rooted in their inheritance. The emphasis on "which I am giving you" reinforces that the land is a sovereign gift, an act of divine grace, precluding any claim based on Israel's merit or might. This truth would continually call them to gratitude and faithful obedience, recognizing their very existence in the land depended on God's word and ongoing provision, not their own ability to maintain it. It sets the foundation for understanding all subsequent laws concerning their conduct in the land, underscoring that their settled life was intended for deep, sustained worship and adherence to God's ways.