Numbers 20 3

Numbers 20:3 kjv

And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

Numbers 20:3 nkjv

And the people contended with Moses and spoke, saying: "If only we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

Numbers 20:3 niv

They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD!

Numbers 20:3 esv

And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!

Numbers 20:3 nlt

The people blamed Moses and said, "If only we had died in the LORD's presence with our brothers!

Numbers 20 verses

Numbers 20 3 Meaning

Numbers 20:3 describes the Israelite community's severe quarreling with Moses and Aaron after arriving in the wilderness of Zin, facing a lack of water. Their statement expresses a profound wish that they had died by divine judgment, like their brethren in Korah's rebellion, rather than enduring their present hardship. This reveals their persistent spiritual rebellion, lack of faith in God's provision, and inability to see His faithful leading beyond immediate physical discomforts. It underscores a cycle of murmuring and testing God, even after years of experiencing His miracles.

Numbers 20 3 Context

Numbers chapter 20 marks a critical transition period, occurring nearly 38 years after the exodus from Egypt. The initial generation, condemned for their unbelief and rebellion (especially in Numbers 13-14), had largely perished in the wilderness. This verse occurs after Israel arrives in the wilderness of Zin, reaching Kadesh—a significant location where their prior journey was halted by a lack of faith. Miriam, Moses's sister, has just died (Num 20:1), signaling the end of an era. The immediate problem is a severe lack of water for the community and their livestock, prompting the same pattern of grumbling and direct challenge to Moses and Aaron seen with the previous generation. Their audacious wish to have died like those in Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16) highlights their profound spiritual amnesia and their assessment of present suffering as worse than direct divine judgment for flagrant rebellion.

Numbers 20 3 Word analysis

• And the people: vaYarev ha'Am (וַיָּרֶב הָעָם֙) – "the people" refers to the entire Israelite community. The verb vaYarev, from the root רִיב (riv), means "to strive, contend, quarrel," or even "to dispute legally." This signifies not a casual complaint, but a formal and aggressive challenge against Moses's authority and, implicitly, God's. It reveals a deep-seated antagonism.
• quarreled with Moses: im-Mosheh (עִם־מֹשֶׁה֙) – This highlights the direct confrontation with God's appointed leader. Moses often bore the brunt of their discontent, acting as an intermediary between the complaining people and the Holy God.
• and said: vaYom'ru (וַיֹּאמְר֕וּ) – A common conjunction introducing direct speech. The power of the verse lies in the content of their utterance, which immediately follows.
• 'Would that we had perished: lu Gav'nu (לוּא־גָוַ֤עְנוּ) – Lu expresses a strong, almost impossible wish or regret: "If only," or "Oh that." Gav'nu, from גָּוַע (gava), means "to expire, perish, or die." This is a dramatic and despairing statement, revealing their profound sense of hopelessness and desire for an escape from their current trials, even by death.
• when our brothers perished: ki-gvah achëinu (כִּגְוַ֤ע אַחֵ֙ינוּ֙) – "our brothers" achëinu is a direct reference to the judgment upon Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their associates (Numbers 16), where thousands perished, many through miraculous means (swallowed by the earth, consumed by fire). They are essentially stating that death through direct divine wrath was a better fate than continuing their present existence. This is a bold and faithless comparison.
• before the Lord!: lifnëi YHVH (לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃) – "in the presence of the Lord," or "at the hand of the Lord." This emphasizes that the prior perishing was a direct act of divine judgment. Their wish, therefore, is to have died directly by God's hand in His visible presence, rather than enduring the perceived indignity or prolonged suffering of the wilderness. This underscores the blasphemous nature of their complaint; they implicitly question God's ongoing, unseen provision.

Words-group analysis

• "And the people quarreled with Moses": This phrase introduces the familiar, tragic pattern of the Israelites' wilderness journey: rather than trusting God, they repeatedly chose to confront His chosen leader due to perceived hardships. It demonstrates a foundational lack of faith and respect for divine authority, projecting their frustrations onto Moses instead of seeking God's help.
• "'Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the Lord!'": This encapsulates the peak of their spiritual rebellion and despair. By wishing they had died alongside those who faced divine judgment for their rebellion, the Israelites reveal their deep ingratitude and spiritual blindness. They deemed their current temporary affliction of thirst worse than direct divine wrath for sin. It's a statement of utter spiritual defeat and a rejection of God's continuing care and leadership through challenging circumstances. This echoes earlier complaints and sets the stage for further divine intervention, though Moses himself will also stumble in responding to this challenge.

Numbers 20 3 Bonus section

• The placement of this complaint at Kadesh, the same site where the initial rejection of the Promised Land occurred almost 38 years prior, emphasizes the cyclical nature of Israel's unbelief and highlights the persistent challenge God faced in forming a faithful people.
• This verse sets the stage for Moses's crucial misstep in striking the rock rather than speaking to it (Num 20:11-12). The people's persistent provocation wore down even Moses, leading to an action born of weariness and possibly exasperation, costing him entry into the Promised Land. This illustrates the contagious and wearing nature of unbelief on even strong leaders.
• The "perished before the Lord" implicitly acknowledges divine judgment. Their wish to have been under that judgment rather than their current state reveals a complete miscalculation of God's testing love versus His punishing wrath, underscoring their inability to appreciate the spiritual purpose of the wilderness journey.

Numbers 20 3 Commentary

Numbers 20:3 encapsulates the perennial human struggle with faith in adversity. The Israelites, now a new generation almost at the cusp of the Promised Land, exhibit the same persistent grumbling as their predecessors, demonstrating that spiritual rebellion can be tragically hereditary when hearts remain hardened. Their desperate wish for death, even by divine judgment like Korah's company, shows an astonishing level of ingratitude and spiritual despair; they saw immediate relief in judgment as preferable to persevering through hardship with God's patient, albeit unseen, provision. This incident highlights humanity's tendency to question God's wisdom and goodness when faced with discomfort, rather than trusting in His sovereign plan. It serves as a stark warning against chronic complaining and demonstrates the critical importance of endurance and trust in the Lord amidst trials.