Numbers 17 12

Numbers 17:12 kjv

And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.

Numbers 17:12 nkjv

So the children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, "Surely we die, we perish, we all perish!

Numbers 17:12 niv

The Israelites said to Moses, "We will die! We are lost, we are all lost!

Numbers 17:12 esv

And the people of Israel said to Moses, "Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone.

Numbers 17:12 nlt

Then the people of Israel said to Moses, "Look, we are doomed! We are dead! We are ruined!

Numbers 17 verses

Numbers 17 12 Meaning

Numbers 17:12 captures the Israelites' terrified response to the clear divine validation of Aaron's priesthood and the preceding judgments for rebellion. They exclaim to Moses their utter despair, believing that persistent proximity to or attempts to interact with the sacred would inevitably lead to their complete destruction. This verse highlights their profound, though perhaps belated, recognition of God's unapproachable holiness and the absolute necessity of a divinely ordained mediator. It reveals a shift from rebellion to abject fear of God's wrath due to their impurity and persistent sin.

Numbers 17 12 Context

Numbers 17:12 follows a dramatic series of events that validate the divine appointment of Aaron and his lineage to the priesthood, amidst ongoing rebellion against Moses' and Aaron's leadership. Immediately prior, God consumed Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their families (Num 16:31-33), and fire consumed 250 men who offered unauthorized incense (Num 16:35). Subsequently, a plague broke out among the murmuring Israelites, killing 14,700 people (Num 16:49), stopped only by Aaron's atoning intercession. To permanently quell any doubt and to deter further challenges, God commanded each tribal leader to bring a staff, with Aaron's representing the tribe of Levi. Aaron's staff miraculously sprouted, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds (Num 17:8), proving God's selection of the Levitical priesthood. This series of events, emphasizing God's severe judgment on those who violate His ordained order, created immense fear among the people. Their outcry in Numbers 17:12 reflects their overwhelming terror, born from a sudden, stark realization that any unauthorized approach to the holy things of God, or challenging His chosen mediators, leads directly to death and complete ruin. This fear is a drastic change from their prior persistent grumbling and rebellion.

Numbers 17 12 Word analysis

• And (וַיֹּאמְרוּ, wa-yō’mərū): A consecutive "and," linking their desperate outcry directly to the preceding events—the staff's miraculous blossoming and the history of divine judgment.
• the people of Israel (בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, bənê yiśrā’ēl): Refers to the collective nation. This emphasizes that the entire community, which had often rebelled, now shared a common, terrifying realization.
• said (וַיֹּאמְרוּ, wa-yō’mərū): Simple verb of communication, indicating a direct statement.
• to Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֖ה, ’el-mōšeh): Significant that they still communicate through Moses. Despite their past rebellion against his authority, they instinctively turn to their established intermediary when faced with the overwhelming reality of divine holiness and impending judgment. This implicitly acknowledges his unique mediatorial role.
• Behold (הֵ֣ן, hēn): An interjection signaling immediacy, drawing attention, and conveying a sense of dawning, terrifying realization. It's like saying, "Look, this is our terrifying reality now!"
• we perish (גָּוַ֖עְנוּ, gāwa‘nū): From the Hebrew verb גָּוַע (gava), meaning "to expire," "to die," "to breathe one's last." This signifies a complete ceasing of life. While it can imply natural death, here it strongly denotes perishing by divine intervention or consequence. It suggests an immediate, present state of dying or being as good as dead.
• we are undone (אָבַ֖דְנוּ, ’āvaḏnū): From the Hebrew verb אָבַד (’avad), meaning "to be lost," "to perish," "to be destroyed," "to utterly vanish." This verb suggests a more profound and total annihilation or disappearance, a state of complete ruin. It is stronger than gava, implying irrecoverable destruction and oblivion.
• we all are undone! (כֻּלָּ֥נוּ אָבַ֖דְנוּ, kullānū ’āvaḏnū):
  • we all (כֻּלָּ֥נוּ, kullānū): Emphasizes universality. Not just a few, but every single one of them. It signifies that no one is exempt from the pervasive danger they perceive.
  • are undone! (אָבַ֖דְנוּ, ’āvaḏnū): This is a repetition of avadnu from the previous phrase, but now intensely underscored by the preceding "we all." The repetition itself is a rhetorical device, powerfully amplifying their terror, desperation, and sense of complete and inescapable doom. It's not just that they're dying; they're utterly, entirely, universally, and irretrievably lost.

Numbers 17 12 Bonus section

This moment marks a significant shift, albeit temporary, in the people's collective attitude. Prior to this, their pattern was marked by chronic complaint, skepticism, and direct defiance (e.g., Kadesh Barnea in Numbers 14). Here, for the first time in a while, they articulate not a demand or grievance, but a deep existential dread rooted in a newfound, terrifying appreciation of God's power and sanctity. Their repetitive lament "we perish, we are undone, we all are undone" serves as a confession of their own utter inadequacy and defilement in the face of such a holy God. While this fear might be a right start for repentance, it is also a reminder that fear alone, without the corresponding turning to the God who provides grace and atonement through His chosen High Priest, can lead only to despair. Their concern appears to be purely about avoiding physical annihilation, without yet a full grasp of the spiritual implications of their separation from a holy God, which requires a mediator. This is an essential step in their understanding of the strict terms of the Mosaic Covenant, anticipating the New Covenant's provision of safe access through Christ.

Numbers 17 12 Commentary

Numbers 17:12 is a climactic outcry, signifying the Israelites' terrifying realization of the profound holiness of God and the lethal danger of approaching Him improperly. Their previous grumbling and outright rebellion, as seen with Korah, were met with severe judgment, culminating in the divine affirmation of Aaron's staff. This visible sign, coupled with the recent mass deaths, shifted their disposition from audacious challenge to abject fear. "We perish, we are undone, we all are undone!" expresses not merely fear of future death, but a present sense of being utterly annihilated, a complete and inescapable ruin that permeated the entire community. This verse underscores the foundational truth that God's presence, while life-giving when approached properly, is consuming fire to those who treat it with irreverence or self-appointment. It reinforces the critical necessity of a divinely ordained mediator—first Aaron, and ultimately Christ—through whom alone humanity can approach God safely and receive His grace rather than His wrath. The passage highlights that only when we fully grasp the infinite holiness and perfect justice of God do we truly understand our own desperate need for His provided means of atonement and access.

Examples:

• Reverence: Like someone approaching royalty with absolute adherence to protocol, knowing a slight misstep could lead to dire consequences.
• Awe of Holiness: Understanding that trying to 'help' God's Ark by touching it like Uzzah (2 Sam 6:7) demonstrates a failure to grasp divine power and order.
• Need for Mediation: Recognizing that we cannot stand before a holy God on our own merits, but need a righteous High Priest like Christ (Heb 7:24-25) to intercede for us.