Numbers 33 4

Numbers 33:4 kjv

For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

Numbers 33:4 nkjv

For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had killed among them. Also on their gods the LORD had executed judgments.

Numbers 33:4 niv

who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had brought judgment on their gods.

Numbers 33:4 esv

while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. On their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

Numbers 33:4 nlt

Meanwhile, the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn sons, whom the LORD had killed the night before. The LORD had defeated the gods of Egypt that night with great acts of judgment!

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 4 Meaning

Numbers 33:4 concisely recounts the divine acts that compelled Egypt to release the Israelites. It states that the Egyptians were engaged in mourning and burial due to the Lord's slaying of all their firstborn. This devastation served not only as a severe plague upon the people but also as a definitive execution of judgment upon Egypt's false gods, demonstrating the absolute sovereignty of the God of Israel and securing the triumph of His people.

Numbers 33 4 Context

Numbers chapter 33 serves as a meticulous historical record, providing a complete itinerary of the Israelites' journey from their departure from Egypt to their encampment in the plains of Moab. This detailed list of 42 encampments emphasizes the historicity and literalness of their forty-year wilderness wandering under God's guidance. Verse 4 specifically interrupts this itinerary with a brief yet profound explanatory note. It harks back to the foundational event of the Exodus, explaining why Israel was able to set out so victoriously (as mentioned in 33:3). It reminds the reader that their liberation was not coincidental but was a direct, devastating consequence of YHWH's final plague upon Egypt, specifically targeting their firstborn and, more significantly, executing judicial judgment on the very deities they worshipped. This critical detail grounds Israel's subsequent journey in a clear demonstration of divine power and justice, establishing YHWH's sovereignty over all creation and all other "gods."

Numbers 33 4 Word analysis

• For the Egyptians (מִצְרִים, Mitsrayim): Refers to the inhabitants of Egypt, the powerful nation that held Israel in oppressive slavery. This highlights that the impact of God's judgment was national, affecting the very people who had defied Him.
• were burying (קוֹבְרִים, qoverim): This Hebrew word is a present participle, indicating an ongoing action. It vividly portrays the immediate, pervasive scene of intense grief and mourning engulfing Egypt as the Israelites departed. This ongoing activity signifies the undeniable and devastating consequence of God's final plague.
• all their firstborn (כָּל בְּכוֹר, kol bekhor): "All" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the judgment, leaving no house untouched, from Pharaoh's heir to the lowliest prisoner and even the firstborn of animals (Ex 12:29). "Firstborn" (bekhor) signifies the prime of a family's strength and continuity in ancient Near Eastern culture. The destruction of the firstborn was the ultimate blow, crippling the nation at its spiritual and familial core.
• whom the Lord had struck down among them (אֲשֶׁר הִכָּה יהוה בָּם, asher hikka YHWH bam):
  • Lord (יהוה, YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of Israel's God. His unique name underscores that this decisive act was from the one true God, distinct from any deity worshipped by Egypt.
  • struck down (הִכָּה, hikka): A strong verb often used for military defeat, striking, or killing. It emphasizes the direct, intentional, and devastating nature of God's judgment, signifying a supernatural act rather than a natural occurrence.
  • among them (בָּם, bam): Specifically clarifies the targeted victims, differentiating them from the Israelites who were miraculously spared.
• on their gods also the Lord had executed judgments (בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם עָשָׂה יהוה שְׁפָטִים, be'elohehem 'asah YHWH shəfatim):
  • on their gods (בֵּאלֹהֵיהֶם, be'elohehem): Refers to the numerous deities in the vast Egyptian pantheon (e.g., Ra, Osiris, Heket, Apis, Min). This phrase underscores the polemical nature of the plagues, demonstrating YHWH's absolute supremacy over these false and impotent gods who supposedly protected Egypt and Pharaoh. Each plague often corresponded to a challenge to a specific Egyptian deity or concept.
  • executed judgments (עָשָׂה שְׁפָטִים, 'asah shəfatim): Literally "did judgments" or "carried out judicial decisions." This phrase has a strong legal and judicial connotation. It means God publicly brought a legal verdict against the false gods, convicting them of their impotence and demonstrating their nothingness before His omnipotence. It highlights that the plagues were not random acts but precise, purposeful acts of divine justice against idolatry and resistance to His will. This also fulfilled the promise in Gen 15:14 where God promised judgment on the nation that enslaved Abraham's descendants.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn...": This opening phrase sets the scene of overwhelming tragedy and national catastrophe in Egypt. It serves as vivid, undeniable proof of the severity of God's final plague and the dire consequences of defying Him. The Egyptians' frantic act of burial signifies a forced surrender.
  • "...whom the Lord had struck down among them...": This clause attributes the calamity directly and solely to the sovereign act of YHWH. It establishes that this was a deliberate, targeted intervention by the God of Israel, emphasizing His unique power over life and death and differentiating it from any natural disaster.
  • "...on their gods also the Lord had executed judgments.": This powerful statement elevates the entire narrative of the plagues beyond a mere punishment of people. It frames the Exodus plagues as a divine courtroom drama where YHWH judicially demonstrated the utter nullity and impotency of every Egyptian deity. The destruction of the firstborn, particularly Pharaoh's, struck at the heart of their false theological system, where the king was considered divine or a god's son. This phrase fundamentally underscores the theological battle won by YHWH, confirming His exclusive claim to deity and setting the stage for Israel's exclusive worship of Him.

Numbers 33 4 Bonus section

• The specific phrasing "executed judgments" on their gods has strong ties to ancient Near Eastern conquest narratives where a conquering deity would subjugate the gods of the defeated nation. Here, YHWH is portrayed as the ultimate divine warrior and judge, securing total victory not just over Egypt as a political entity but over its entire spiritual infrastructure.
• The mention of burying reinforces the complete reversal of fortune: the mighty oppressors were rendered helpless, overwhelmed by grief and death, allowing their former slaves to march out triumphantly without opposition, laden with wealth (Ex 12:35-36). This public humiliation and terror in Egypt underscored God's power and ensured Israel's unopposed departure.
• The judgment on the firstborn was arguably the ultimate polemic against Egyptian gods. For instance, the god Min was a fertility deity often associated with kingship and procreation, and the attack on firstborn directly challenged his supposed power. Similarly, the sun-god Ra, supreme among many deities, was symbolically overshadowed by the literal darkness of the ninth plague, but then truly defeated by YHWH's control over life itself in the tenth. Pharaoh himself was considered a god, or son of Ra, making the death of his firstborn son a direct assault on the core of Egyptian religious and political authority.

Numbers 33 4 Commentary

Numbers 33:4, though brief, provides profound theological insight into the Exodus narrative. Nestled within an itinerary of physical journeys, it sharply reminds the reader that the very possibility of that journey hinged entirely on YHWH's supreme and decisive act of power. The verse emphasizes not only the horrific human cost to Egypt through the death of their firstborn but, critically, positions this plague as God's definitive judgment against Egypt's pantheon of gods. This act wasn't just punishment; it was a cosmic legal declaration that affirmed YHWH's unrivalled sovereignty. Through this climactic plague, God demonstrated that He alone holds dominion over life and death, and that all human power, political authority (Pharaoh), and idol worship are futile against Him. Israel's departure, therefore, was not merely an escape but a triumphant exit made possible by divine judgment and God's victorious conquest over all rival powers, visible and invisible.