Numbers 20 11

Numbers 20:11 kjv

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

Numbers 20:11 nkjv

Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.

Numbers 20:11 niv

Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.

Numbers 20:11 esv

And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

Numbers 20:11 nlt

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 11 Meaning

Numbers 20:11 describes Moses' specific actions in bringing forth water from the rock at Meribah, an event crucial for understanding his exclusion from the Promised Land. It records Moses lifting his hand and striking the rock twice with his rod, resulting in an abundant gush of water, satisfying the thirst of both the people and their animals. This act, though providing necessary sustenance, directly contravened God's preceding command to "speak to the rock" (Num 20:8), leading to severe divine judgment against Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 20 11 Context

Numbers chapter 20 begins the final major section of the Israelites' wilderness journey, leading up to the borders of the Promised Land. After thirty-eight years of wandering following the Kadesh Barnea rebellion, the older, faithless generation has perished. This chapter records the death of Miriam and subsequently Aaron, framing the event of Moses striking the rock. The incident at Meribah (meaning "contention") occurs as the new generation faces a lack of water, echoing their parents' complaints in earlier passages (Exod 17). God specifically commands Moses to take his rod and, importantly, to "speak to the rock" in the sight of the people (Num 20:8). This contrasts sharply with the earlier miracle at Rephidim where Moses was commanded to strike the rock. Moses, exasperated by the persistent grumbling of the congregation, failed to perfectly execute God's command. His disobedience, particularly the method and apparent lack of full reliance on God's simple word, resulted in God's pronouncement that Moses and Aaron would not lead the people into Canaan (Num 20:12).

Numbers 20 11 Word analysis

• And Moses (וַיָּרֶם מֹשֶׁה – vai·ya·rem Mo·sheh): Highlights Moses as the direct actor and the designated leader, responsible for leading God's people. His actions, therefore, carry significant weight.
• lifted up his hand (וַיָּרֶם מֹשֶׁה אֶת־יָדוֹ – vai·ya·rem Mo·sheh et-ya·doh): A preparatory gesture, often associated with invoking authority or performing an act. Here, it likely signals intent to act, potentially reflecting his frustration.
• and with his rod (וַיַּךְ בַּמַּטֶּה – vai·yach ba·maṭ·ṭeh): The rod (מַטֶּה, maṭṭeh) was God's instrument, symbol of divine authority and power, used previously in Exodus for miracles like the plagues and the splitting of the Red Sea, and crucially, for the first water miracle (Exod 17). Using the rod was not wrong; how he used it was.
• he smote (וַיַּךְ – vai·yach): The Hebrew verb נָכָה (nakah) signifies "to strike," "to hit," "to smite." This word explicitly contrasts with God's instruction to "speak" (דַּבֵּר, dabber) in Numbers 20:8. This forceful, physical action replaced the quiet, faith-filled act of speaking God's word.
• the rock (הַסֶּלַע – has·se·la): Refers to the particular large stone outcrop. Theologically, this rock is significant, later interpreted by Paul (1 Cor 10:4) as a symbol or "type" of Christ.
• twice (פַּעֲמַיִם – pa·'a·ma·yim): This adverbial detail is crucial. Striking once would have been disobedient; striking twice amplifies the disobedience, possibly indicating a lack of belief in the sufficiency of God's power through a single act, an outburst of temper, or an effort to compel a reluctant God. It emphasized Moses' action over God's word.
• and the water came out abundantly (וַיֵּצְאוּ מַיִם רַבִּים – vai·ye·tse·'u ma·yim rab·bîm): Despite Moses' failure, God remained faithful to His promise to provide water. This demonstrates God's grace and consistent provision for His people even in the face of human sin, fulfilling the immediate need.
• and the congregation drank, and their beasts also: This underscores the full, practical, and immediate outcome of God's continued provision, satisfying the thirst of the entire camp.

Words-group Analysis:

• "And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice": This entire clause describes Moses' physical, volitional action that directly contradicts God's explicit instruction. It reflects human frustration and a lapse in perfect obedience, choosing a humanly devised method (striking) over God's divinely commanded method (speaking), exacerbated by the repeated, forceful action ("twice"). It also hints at a desire for dramatic results or a display of personal power rather than a quiet reliance on God's simple command.
• "and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also": This second part of the verse highlights God's sovereignty and faithfulness. Even when His appointed leader disobeys and misrepresents His holiness, God's promise to provide for His people prevails. The abundance (רַבִּים - many/much) confirms the miracle's efficacy, yet it cannot erase the sin that preceded it. This shows God's mercy to the people even when He judges their leaders.

Numbers 20 11 Bonus section

• Contrasting Miracles: This event deliberately echoes, yet strikingly contrasts, the miracle at Horeb in Exod 17. There, God explicitly commanded Moses to "strike the rock," signifying the one-time, painful striking of Christ (the spiritual rock, 1 Cor 10:4) for salvation. At Meribah, God commanded to "speak to the rock," symbolizing that Christ, having been struck once for all, now provides living water continuously through His spoken word or through prayer (John 7:37-39). Moses' striking at Meribah therefore symbolically repeated Christ's suffering or doubted the ongoing sufficiency of His single sacrifice, effectively minimizing the singularity and finality of Christ's once-for-all atonement.
• Leadership Responsibility: The judgment against Moses and Aaron highlights the elevated accountability of leaders. Their actions, whether good or bad, directly impact the people's perception of God. Public disobedience by a leader is seen as a serious offense because it tarnishes God's image and diminishes His holiness in the eyes of the congregation.
• Human Frustration vs. Divine Patience: Moses' action also reflects the culmination of decades of dealing with the rebellious and complaining Israelites. While understandable from a human perspective, his anger and frustration overrode his spiritual obedience, indicating a moment where human emotion clouded divine direction. God, conversely, maintained His divine patience by still providing water.

Numbers 20 11 Commentary

Numbers 20:11 is pivotal, detailing Moses' action that seals his fate. The core issue wasn't simply a loss of temper, but a failure to "hallow" God in the eyes of the people (Num 20:12). God had commanded Moses to "speak" to the rock (Num 20:8), a command emphasizing the power of God's word and Moses' role as a faith-filled representative who trusts in that word alone. By striking the rock, particularly twice, Moses implicitly misrepresented God's character. He may have appeared to convey impatience or a belief that God's power required a more forceful, visible act than mere words, thereby obscuring the true glory and ease of God's power. It could have stemmed from doubt (unbelief mentioned in Num 20:12), exasperation with the people, or a lapse in his unique privilege of directly hearing and perfectly executing God's commands. For a leader representing the Holy God, a higher standard of precise obedience was required, particularly in front of a grumbling generation prone to unbelief. Moses’ act risked making it seem that he was the one producing the miracle, or that God needed physical prodding. God's unwavering provision of water demonstrates His commitment to His covenant with Israel, yet His swift judgment on Moses underscores the absolute sanctity of His name and commands, especially for those in positions of spiritual authority.