Numbers 27:17 kjv
Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
Numbers 27:17 nkjv
who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd."
Numbers 27:17 niv
to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."
Numbers 27:17 esv
who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd."
Numbers 27:17 nlt
Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd."
Numbers 27 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 27:18-23 | And the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun..." | God immediately responds to Moses' request for a shepherd. |
| Deut 31:7-8 | Then Moses summoned Joshua... "The LORD himself goes before you." | Moses formally commissions Joshua; God's promise to go before him. |
| Deut 31:2 | "I am now 120 years old and I can no longer lead you..." | Moses acknowledges his inability to continue leading the people. |
| Josh 1:9 | "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous..." | God's command to Joshua for his new leadership role. |
| 1 Sam 18:16 | "...all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them..." | Exemplifies good leadership through the "go out and come in" phrase. |
| 1 Kgs 22:17 | Then Micaiah said, "...Israel scattered on the hills like sheep..." | Prophecy illustrating the outcome of kingless/misled people. |
| Eze 34:5-6 | "So they were scattered because there was no shepherd..." | Consequences of absent or bad shepherds in prophetic context. |
| Zec 10:2 | "...they wander about like sheep in distress for lack of a shepherd." | Similar imagery showing the people's aimless state without guidance. |
| Ps 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | God as the ultimate Good Shepherd, fulfilling all needs. |
| Isa 40:11 | "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs..." | Depicts God's tender care as a shepherd over His people. |
| Jer 23:1-4 | Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep... | God's judgment against false shepherds and promise of good ones. |
| Matt 9:36 | When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. | Jesus' compassionate observation of leaderless people. |
| Mark 6:34 | When Jesus landed... he saw a large crowd... they were like sheep without a shepherd. | Jesus identifying with and fulfilling the need for a shepherd. |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." | Jesus as the perfect, sacrificial shepherd, the ultimate fulfillment. |
| Heb 13:20 | Now may the God of peace... bring back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep. | Jesus confirmed as the "Great Shepherd" through His resurrection. |
| 1 Pet 2:25 | For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. | Believers returned to Christ, the Shepherd and Overseer. |
| 1 Pet 5:4 | And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory... | Christ's role as the "Chief Shepherd" for Christian leaders. |
| Acts 3:15 | You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. | Jesus as the "Author of Life" (Archi-gos), similar to a leader. |
| Acts 5:31 | God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior... | Jesus as "Prince" or "Leader" (Archēgos), pointing to His headship. |
| Prov 29:18 | Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. | Implied disorder without guiding foresight/leadership. |
| Exod 32:27 | "each man put his sword on his side and go back and forth..." | "Go out and come in" as a military command in early context. |
| Deut 28:6 | "You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out." | The phrase "go out and come in" signifies completeness, safety. |
Numbers 27 verses
Numbers 27 17 Meaning
Numbers 27:17 encapsulates Moses' heartfelt plea for a divinely appointed successor. He recognizes the imminent transfer of leadership and implores the Lord to designate someone who can actively lead and guide the entire congregation of Israel in all their endeavors. The core concern is preventing the people from becoming disoriented, scattered, and vulnerable, like sheep without a guiding and protective shepherd, highlighting the vital necessity of stable, godly leadership for the covenant community.
Numbers 27 17 Context
Numbers 27 is a pivotal chapter, occurring near the end of Moses' life, as Israel stands on the plains of Moab, poised to enter the Promised Land. The immediate context of verse 17 follows the daughters of Zelophehad's appeal regarding inheritance (vv. 1-11), which established a legal precedent for property succession in the absence of male heirs. This sets the stage for Moses to consider the even larger issue of spiritual and national leadership succession. The Lord then informs Moses of his impending death due to his sin at the waters of Meribah (vv. 12-14). Moses, demonstrating his profound care for the people and his humility, does not complain about his fate but instead prays for a suitable replacement to lead the congregation (vv. 15-16). Verse 17 articulates Moses' specific desire for a leader's qualifications: one who can truly shepherd God's people. God answers this prayer in the very next verses (18-23) by selecting and commissioning Joshua, affirming the shepherd leadership ideal and ensuring the nation's future under divine guidance.
Numbers 27 17 Word analysis
- who may go out before them: Refers to
יֵצֵא(yetzei). This verb suggests initiative, taking the lead, going forth, especially into conflict or daily life. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, a leader who "goes out" (and "comes in") is one who directs and controls all public activities, including military expeditions, diplomatic interactions, and judicial proceedings. It implies a public and active presence, engaging directly with the challenges the people face. - and come in before them: Refers to
וְיָבֹא(v'yavo). This complements "go out," indicating safe return, administrative control within the community, and oversight of their domestic affairs. Together, "going out and coming in" (as seen in Deut 31:2; 1 Sam 18:16) is an idiomatic expression signifying comprehensive and complete leadership – governing every aspect of their collective life, military, judicial, and domestic. It suggests full authority, freedom of movement, and consistent presence. - who may lead them out: Refers to
אֲשֶׁר יוֹצִיאֵם(asher yotziem). This is more active and causative than merely "going out." It emphasizes the leader's direct role in moving the congregation from one place or situation to another, guiding their physical movements and strategic direction. This specifically includes leading them into battles and navigating the wilderness. - and bring them in: Refers to
וְיָבִיאֵם(v'yaviem). Similarly, this is a causative action, signifying the leader's responsibility for safely conducting the people into new territory or secure circumstances. In the immediate context, this powerfully alludes to bringing Israel into the Promised Land, a critical part of their divine covenant and a major task for the next leader. The pairing of "lead them out and bring them in" defines a comprehensive military, migratory, and administrative function. - so that the congregation of the Lord:
וְלֹא תִהְיֶה עֲדַת יְהוָה(v'lo ti'yeh adat YHVH).עֲדַת(edah) means "congregation" or "assembly," frequently used for the assembled body of Israel as a divinely constituted and led community. The term highlights their identity as God's chosen and covenant people. Attributing the "congregation of the Lord" emphasizes their divine ownership, sacred purpose, and inherent value to God, which undergirds Moses' concern for their welfare and leadership. This phrase asserts that Israel is not just a collection of individuals but a unique community belonging to Yahweh. - may not be like sheep: Refers to
כַּצֹּאן(ka'tso'n). This simile employs a familiar and poignant image from an agrarian society. Sheep (small livestock) are known for their dependence, lack of innate direction, and extreme vulnerability without a shepherd. This image powerfully conveys the potential chaos, disunity, and defenselessness of a community without proper guidance. - without a shepherd: Refers to
אֲשֶׁר אֵין לָהֶם רֹעֶה(asher ein lahem ro'eh).רֹעֶה(ro'eh) is a shepherd, one who tends, feeds, guides, protects, and finds pasture for the flock. This specific absence highlights not just a lack of leader, but the lack of a particular kind of caring, providing, and unifying leadership. This imagery is both a stark warning against chaos and an indirect polemic against leaders who fail to fulfill their shepherd-like duties, as often critiqued by prophets (e.g., Ezekiel 34). It implicitly calls for a divinely empowered leader who cares for the flock's welfare, aligning with God's own character as the ultimate Shepherd of His people.
Numbers 27 17 Bonus section
- Divine Initiative in Leadership: This verse beautifully illustrates that true leadership within God's people is not based on human ambition or popular vote, but on divine appointment and enablement. Moses doesn't nominate someone; he asks God to provide. God responds by choosing Joshua, a man described as "a man in whom is the Spirit" (Num 27:18), emphasizing that divine leaders are Spirit-filled and gifted.
- Theocratic Principle: Moses' prayer reinforces the theocratic nature of Israel. The
adat YHVH(congregation of the Lord) signifies that God is the true Head, and earthly leaders are merely His appointed representatives or "under-shepherds" (as reflected in NT theology, e.g., 1 Pet 5:2-4). Their authority derives from God, and their primary role is to ensure the flock's alignment with His will and protection from internal or external threats. - Contrast to Self-Rule/Anarchy: The "sheep without a shepherd" imagery stands in stark contrast to any notion of radical individualism or anarchy. It points to the essential need for ordered, unifying leadership for communal thriving and fulfilling corporate destiny, highlighting that without it, disarray, harm, and loss are inevitable for the community. This principle finds echo throughout biblical history, particularly in the chaotic period of the Judges, where "everyone did what was right in their own eyes" (Judg 21:25) due to lack of strong, unifying leadership.
Numbers 27 17 Commentary
Numbers 27:17 serves as Moses' poignant request for a God-appointed shepherd for Israel, a people intimately belonging to the Lord. His concern stems from Israel's utter dependence and the potential for severe disarray and vulnerability without clear, God-given leadership. The "going out and coming in" idiom underscores the comprehensive scope of leadership required—military, judicial, and communal management. The powerful metaphor of "sheep without a shepherd" encapsulates the vulnerability and confusion of an unled populace, contrasting with the divinely ordered nature of the adat YHVH (congregation of the Lord). This verse profoundly establishes the necessity of a shepherd-like leader, one chosen and empowered by God, to ensure the unity, security, and proper direction of God's covenant people. It highlights that true leadership in Israel is not self-appointed or human-centric but flows from divine initiative to protect and guide His cherished flock, preparing the way for Joshua's Spirit-filled succession.