Numbers 20:8 kjv
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
Numbers 20:8 nkjv
"Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals."
Numbers 20:8 niv
"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
Numbers 20:8 esv
"Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."
Numbers 20:8 nlt
"You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock."
Numbers 20 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 20:11 | Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff... | Moses' disobedient act |
| Num 20:12 | ...Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel... | Reason for Moses' punishment: lack of faith and failing to sanctify God |
| Deut 32:50-51 | ...die on the mountain which you go up...because you broke faith with me...in the wilderness of Zin...by not upholding my holiness... | Reiterates Moses' sin at Meribah as cause of his death before entering Canaan |
| Ps 106:32-33 | They angered him at the waters of Meribah...he sinned with his lips. | Moses' sin at Meribah and his intemperate words |
| Exod 17:1-6 | ...strike the rock...and water will come out of it... | Previous instance where Moses was commanded to strike the rock |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. | New Testament interpretation of the rock as a symbol of Christ |
| Isa 48:21 | He led them through the desert...He made water flow from the rock for them... | God's continued miraculous provision of water in the wilderness |
| Neh 9:15 | You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water from the rock for their thirst... | Recounts God's faithful provision for Israel in the wilderness |
| Ps 78:15-16, 20 | He split rocks in the wilderness...brought forth streams...for them he made streams come out of the rock... | Describes God's miraculous water provision from rocks |
| Lev 10:1-2 | ...offered unauthorized fire before the LORD... | Parallel warning against disobedience to specific divine commands for leaders |
| Deut 4:2 | You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it... | Importance of obeying God's commands precisely |
| Jer 1:12 | I am watching over my word to perform it. | God's commitment to fulfilling His word |
| Gen 12:4 | So Abram went, as the LORD had told him... | Obedience to God's precise instruction |
| John 4:10, 14 | ...He would have given you living water. Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again... | Jesus as the source of "living water," fulfilling the spiritual thirst for God |
| John 7:37-38 | ...If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. | Jesus inviting those who thirst spiritually |
| Num 27:14 | For you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin... | The sin is defined as rebellion against God's word |
| Ezek 20:41 | ...I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations. | God's desire to be recognized as holy through His people's obedience |
| Hab 2:4 | ...the righteous shall live by his faith. | Emphasizes faith as central to walking with God, a contrast to Moses' lack of faith |
| Jas 3:1-2 | Not many of you should become teachers...for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. | Highlights the higher accountability for leaders like Moses and Aaron |
| Rom 6:9-10 | ...Christ...having been raised from the dead, will never die again...He died to sin once for all... | Christ was "struck" (crucified) once; subsequent spiritual refreshing comes by faith, not repeated "striking" |
Numbers 20 verses
Numbers 20 8 Meaning
Numbers 20:8 instructs Moses and Aaron to take Moses' staff, gather the assembly of Israel, and specifically to speak to a rock in their presence, upon which the rock would supernaturally bring forth water for the entire congregation and their livestock. This divine command provided the precise method by which God intended to deliver water to the murmuring Israelites in the wilderness of Zin.
Numbers 20 8 Context
Numbers chapter 20 describes several significant events immediately following Miriam's death. The Israelites arrive at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, where, once again, they experience a severe lack of water. This leads to familiar grumbling and quarreling with Moses and Aaron, echoing past instances of discontent (Exod 15:22-25, 17:1-7). God intervenes by giving precise instructions to Moses and Aaron for miraculously providing water from a rock. This specific command in verse 8 sets the stage for Moses' subsequent act of disobedience, which results in his being forbidden from entering the Promised Land. The preceding encounter at Rephidim (Exod 17:6), where Moses was commanded to strike the rock, provides a critical background for understanding the difference in God's instruction and the gravity of Moses' error in Numbers 20.
Numbers 20 8 Word analysis
- Take the staff (וְקַח אֶת-הַמַּטֶּה, v'qaḥ et-hammatteh): "Staff" (מַטֶּה, matteh) refers to Moses' rod, which God had already empowered as a sign of His authority and presence (Exod 4:2, 17:5; Num 17:8). Taking the staff indicates the performance of a divine sign, yet it is God's power, not the staff's inherent ability, that performs the miracle.
- and assemble the congregation (וְהַקְהֵל אֶת-הָעֵדָה, v'haqhel et-ha`edah): "Assemble" (הַקְהֵל, haqhel) signifies a formal gathering. "Congregation" (עֵדָה, `edah) refers to the whole community of Israel, emphasizing the public and communal nature of the miracle and the lesson to be learned. It underscored that God intended to publicly display His power and holiness.
- you and Aaron your brother (אַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ, 'atta v'aharon 'akhikha): Both Moses and Aaron, as joint leaders, were responsible for this divine instruction and its execution. Their leadership and spiritual standing were on public display, thus increasing their accountability.
- and speak to the rock (וְדִבַּרְתֶּם אֶל-הַסֶּלַע, v'dibartem el-hasella`): This is the pivotal instruction. "Speak" (דִּבַּרְתֶּם, dibbartem, a Piel form emphasizing direct and authoritative speech) is the key action. This stands in stark contrast to the command in Exod 17:6 to "strike" (הִכִּיתָ, hikkita, from נכה, nakah) the rock. The shift from a physical action to a spoken word underscored God's effortless power, His readiness to respond, and that He only needed to speak for His will to be done. "Rock" (הַסֶּלַע, hasella`) typically refers to a large, prominent rock, crag, or cliff face, perhaps implying a more imposing presence than the "rock" (צוּר, tsur) mentioned in Exod 17. The sela` in this instance might also convey the majestic, unchanging power of God.
- before their eyes (לְעֵינֵיהֶם, le`eineihem): The miracle was to be performed openly for all to see. This public display was intended to reinforce the people's faith in Yahweh as their provider and to sanctify His name among them.
- and it will yield its water (וְנָתַן מֵימָיו, v'natan meimav): "Yield" or "give" (וְנָתַן, v'natan) emphasizes God's sovereign and spontaneous provision. The rock itself has no inherent power to give water; it is entirely a divine act. This further highlights God's power, not Moses' or the staff's, in bringing forth the water.
- So you shall bring water for them out of the rock and give drink to the congregation and their livestock: This phrase details the intended outcome and purpose of the command: the meeting of an urgent need for the entire community, including their animals, demonstrating God's comprehensive care.
Numbers 20 8 Bonus section
The two Meribah incidents (Exod 17 and Num 20) are often referred to, but they represent distinct phases and instructions from God. The first instance where the rock was struck (Exod 17:6) can be seen as foreshadowing Christ being "struck" once for the sins of humanity (1 Cor 10:4, Rom 6:9-10). Subsequent "living water" is to be drawn from Christ by speaking or praying by faith, not by repeatedly "striking" Him or His sacrifice. Moses' sin thus went beyond mere disobedience; it obscured this profound prophetic type. He failed to distinguish the two commands and thereby misrepresented the Lord's unique way of delivering spiritual life through the singular striking of the Divine Rock (Christ), and subsequent requests by faith. The episode profoundly illustrates the importance of adhering to God's exact word, especially for leaders, whose actions directly impact the people's perception of God's character and holiness.
Numbers 20 8 Commentary
Numbers 20:8 reveals God's gracious and precise instructions to His leaders, Moses and Aaron, for providing for His people. The change from the command to "strike" in Exodus 17 to "speak" in Numbers 20 is paramount. This shift was meant to highlight a progression in the demonstration of God's power: first, through a physical action signifying God breaking open a resource, and later, by the mere authority of His spoken word, requiring no human effort or forceful intervention. God desired to be sanctified—set apart as holy—in the eyes of His people through their implicit obedience and His effortless provision. Moses' subsequent disobedience in striking the rock demonstrated a lack of faith in God's explicit instruction and an anger that clouded his perception of God's holiness. This public failure from a trusted leader resulted in severe divine consequence, underscoring the high standards of accountability for those who represent God to His people.