Numbers 20 16

Numbers 20:16 kjv

And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:

Numbers 20:16 nkjv

When we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice and sent the Angel and brought us up out of Egypt; now here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your border.

Numbers 20:16 niv

but when we cried out to the LORD, he heard our cry and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. "Now we are here at Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.

Numbers 20:16 esv

And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.

Numbers 20:16 nlt

But when we cried out to the LORD, he heard us and sent an angel who brought us out of Egypt. Now we are camped at Kadesh, a town on the border of your land.

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 16 Meaning

Numbers 20:16 is part of Moses' diplomatic message to the king of Edom, serving as an appeal for safe passage through Edomite territory. The verse recounts Israel's historical relationship with God, emphasizing their miraculous liberation from Egypt through divine intervention. It highlights their present location at Kadesh, on the very border of Edom, asserting a plea rooted in past divine favor and their immediate need. The core meaning conveys Israel's dependent relationship with the LORD, His active deliverance, and their present vulnerability as a rationale for their request.

Numbers 20 16 Context

Numbers chapter 20 describes pivotal events in Israel's wilderness wanderings, nearing the end of their forty-year journey. The narrative begins with the death of Miriam in Kadesh. Subsequently, due to a lack of water, the Israelites grumble against Moses and Aaron. Moses, in an act of disobedience, strikes the rock twice instead of speaking to it as commanded, leading to God forbidding him and Aaron from entering the promised land. Following these events, the Israelites, positioned at Kadesh, send messengers to the king of Edom, seeking passage through his territory, the "King's Highway," to avoid the longer route around Edom. Verse 16 is part of this diplomatic overture. It recounts Israel's foundational narrative of liberation by God, serving as an appeal to Edom, highlighting their common ancestry (Jacob and Esau) and God's powerful support of Israel. The request, however, is denied by Edom, forcing Israel to take a significantly longer detour, leading to further frustrations and events like the plague of fiery serpents.

Numbers 20 16 Word analysis

• When we cried unto the LORD (וַנִּצְעַ֤ק אֶל־יְהוָה֙ - vannis'ts'aq 'el-YHVH):
  • וַנִּצְעַק (vannis'ts'aq): From the root tsa'aq (צָעַק), meaning "to cry out," "to shout for help." It conveys an urgent, distressed appeal, often used in times of great affliction or oppression (Ex 2:23; 3:7). It implies a cry born out of a desperate situation, emphasizing their inability to deliver themselves.
  • אֶל־יְהוָה֙ ('el-YHVH): "Unto the LORD" (Yahweh), the personal, covenant name of God. This indicates a direct and intimate appeal to their God who is specifically bound to them by covenant, unlike appeals to other deities. It underscores that their cry was directed to the one true Helper.
• he heard our voice (וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע קֹלֵ֙נוּ֙ - vayyishma' qoleynu):
  • וַיִּשְׁמַע (vayyishma'): From the root shama' (שָׁמַע), "to hear," but often means "to hear and respond" or "to obey." Here, it signifies divine attentiveness and affirmative action. It's not just passive listening, but a responsive, intervening hearing.
  • קֹלֵ֙נוּ֙ (qoleynu): "Our voice," indicating a distinct, recognized cry. This emphasizes God's personal attention to the plea of His people.
• and sent an angel (וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח מַלְאָךְ֙ - vayyishlakh mal'akh):
  • וַיִּשְׁלַח (vayyishlakh): From the root shalakh (שָׁלַח), "to send." It denotes a purposeful dispatch.
  • מַלְאָךְ (mal'akh): "Angel" or "messenger." In the context of the Exodus, this refers to a divine messenger who guided and protected Israel. Often, this "Angel of the LORD" (mal'akh Yahweh) is understood by many scholars as a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ (theophany/Christophany), serving as the divine agent through whom God acted directly for Israel's deliverance and guidance (Ex 14:19; 23:20-23; Judg 6:11-12; 13:3). It represents God's active presence and intervention without necessarily having to appear in His full glory to humanity.
• and hath brought us forth out of Egypt (וַיֹּצִאֵ֧נוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם֙ - vayyotz'i'enu miMitzrayim):
  • וַיֹּצִאֵ֧נוּ (vayyotz'i'enu): From the root yatza' (יָצָא), "to go out," used here in the hiphil (causative) form, "He caused us to go out" or "He brought us forth." This directly attributes Israel's liberation to the LORD's power, not their own strength or negotiation.
  • מִמִּצְרַיִם֙ (miMitzrayim): "Out of Egypt." This phrase is foundational to Israel's identity, symbolizing deliverance from bondage and the establishment of their nation under God's hand. It underscores the unparalleled power of their God compared to any earthly ruler or force.
• and, behold, we are in Kadesh (וְהִנֵּ֖ה אֲנַ֣חְנוּ בְקָדֵ֑שׁ - vehinneh 'anakhnu veKadesh):
  • וְהִנֵּ֖ה (vehinneh): "And behold!" This interjection draws immediate attention to the current situation, adding urgency and emphasizing their proximity to Edom. It shifts from past divine acts to present reality.
  • בְקָדֵ֑שׁ (veKadesh): "In Kadesh." A significant oasis city on the edge of the wilderness, bordering Edom and other territories. Kadesh-Barnea was a place of earlier rebellion (Num 13-14) and Miriam's death (Num 20:1). Its strategic location makes the plea to Edom essential for easy passage.
• a city in the uttermost of thy border (עִ֚יר קְצֵה֙ גְּבוּלְךָ֖ - 'ir qetzah gvul-kha):
  • עִ֚יר ('ir): "City" or "town."
  • קְצֵה֙ (qetzah): "End," "edge," "border," "extremity." This term precisely defines Kadesh's location relative to Edom.
  • גְּבוּלְךָ֖ (gvul-kha): "Your border," referring to Edom's territory. This phrase highlights their precise geographical location, asserting that they are right at Edom's doorstep, presenting their request from a position of both proximity and need.

Words-Group Analysis

• "When we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice": This phrase encapsulates the core covenant relationship between Israel and Yahweh. It highlights Israel's humble dependence and God's faithful, responsive nature. This repeated motif throughout Israel's history establishes a precedent of divine intervention upon sincere petition. It teaches that distress rightly leads to prayer, and God responds to His people's genuine cries.
• "and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt": These actions are a singular divine event in Israel's history. The sending of an angel implies not just general providence but specific, powerful, and supernatural intervention. Bringing them out of Egypt defines God's power and ownership over Israel, and is the theological bedrock of their nationhood, identity, and claim to God's continued support. The interconnectedness of the angel and the Exodus points to the sovereign work of God through His appointed messenger.
• "and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border": This transition grounds the appeal in their current reality. "Behold" ("Hinneh") signals immediate relevance. Their precise location at Kadesh is presented not as a threat, but as a practical challenge, indicating their close proximity and their readiness to proceed through Edomite land. It subtly appeals to neighborliness and common sense, leveraging their proximity as a logical basis for the request.

Numbers 20 16 Bonus section

The appeal to Edom through shared ancestry (Jacob and Esau being brothers) is also significant here. While not explicitly in verse 16, the preceding verse (20:15) refers to them being "our fathers," trying to evoke a familial tie and a plea for brethrenly compassion, in addition to showcasing God's past support. The strategic location of Kadesh-Barnea, repeatedly a critical point in the wilderness narrative (spies sent from there, rebellion, Miriam's death), reinforces the significance of Israel's current plea and their desperate need for this shortcut. The refusal by Edom, despite this appeal to shared history and divine intervention, reveals a deep-seated antagonism that continued for generations between the two nations (see Amos 1:11-12; Obadiah).

Numbers 20 16 Commentary

Numbers 20:16 is a concise summation of Israel's divinely orchestrated past and present circumstances, serving as a persuasive preamble to their request for passage through Edom. Moses’ account emphasizes Israel’s absolute dependence on the LORD. When they cried in their distress, God actively listened and responded by sending a divine agent – often interpreted as the Angel of the LORD, possibly a pre-incarnate Christ – to lead them out of Egypt, demonstrating His unique power and covenant faithfulness. This fundamental historical event, the Exodus, defined Israel's identity and underscored God's commitment to His people. Now, standing at Kadesh on Edom’s very border, they recount this powerful narrative not as a boast, but as a statement of their divine backing, reminding Edom of the powerful God who brought them thus far and would continue to lead them. The verse implicitly asserts that opposing Israel would mean opposing the God who delivered them from Pharaoh.