Numbers 33 51

Numbers 33:51 kjv

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;

Numbers 33:51 nkjv

"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

Numbers 33:51 niv

"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'When you cross the Jordan into Canaan,

Numbers 33:51 esv

"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

Numbers 33:51 nlt

"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: When you cross the Jordan River into the land of Canaan,

Numbers 33 verses

Numbers 33 51 Meaning

This verse introduces a pivotal divine directive given through Moses to the Israelite assembly at the plains of Moab. It establishes the immediate context for God's impending command regarding their entry into and settlement of the promised land of Canaan, marking a definitive transition from wilderness wandering to inheritance.

Numbers 33 51 Context

Numbers chapter 33 documents Israel's journey from Egypt to the plains of Moab, outlining their various encampments and milestones during the forty years in the wilderness. Verses 50-56 mark a critical transition, as they record God's final instructions to Moses regarding the impending conquest and inheritance of the promised land of Canaan. Specifically, verse 51 sets the stage, highlighting the immediate future: Israel's crossing of the Jordan River, which served as a physical and symbolic boundary between the wilderness and the land God had sworn to give them. This divine pronouncement follows decades of preparation and anticipation, underscoring the certainty of God's covenant promise finally being fulfilled for this generation.

Numbers 33 51 Word analysis

• Speak (דַּבֵּר - dabber): An imperative verb, conveying a direct, authoritative command from God. It emphasizes that this instruction is not Moses's personal counsel, but a binding divine decree for all Israel, marking a formal and significant address.
• people of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - bene Yisrael): Refers to the covenant community as a whole. The command is for every individual and every family, highlighting their collective identity and shared responsibility in the divine plan, particularly as they prepare for settlement.
• say to them (וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם - ve'amarta alehem): This repetition of direct speech ("speak... and say") emphasizes the importance and unequivocal nature of the message. Moses acts as the faithful and precise intermediary, transmitting God's word without alteration.
• When you pass over (כִּי אַתֶּם עֹבְרִים - ki attem ovrim): The Hebrew particle "ki" combined with the present participle "ovrim" conveys not a contingency ("if"), but a definite certainty or settled intention: "Surely you are crossing over," or "As soon as you cross over." It signifies a guaranteed future event, a divine inevitability, regardless of potential human obstacles, implying divine enablement and providence.
• Jordan (הַיַּרְדֵּן - haYarden): More than just a geographical feature, the Jordan River functions as a potent symbolic boundary. Its crossing marks the culmination of the Exodus generation's wandering and the literal entry into their long-awaited inheritance. Spiritually, it signifies a decisive break from the wilderness past and progression into God's new provision. Historically, the river often swelled during the harvest season, making a miraculous crossing essential.
• land of Canaan (אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן - Eretz Kena'an): This is the very land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob centuries earlier, often described as a "land flowing with milk and honey." Its mention evokes the ancient covenant and God's enduring faithfulness to His word. It is also a land deeply steeped in idolatry and morally corrupt practices by its current inhabitants, making its purification and occupation a testament to divine justice and holiness.

Words-group analysis

• "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them": This foundational phrase emphasizes the divine initiative and authority behind the forthcoming instructions. It underscores that God is actively directing His people as they prepare for their long-anticipated inheritance, making His commands clear and explicit to the entire community through Moses.
• "When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan": This phrase succinctly encapsulates the entire trajectory of Israel's recent history and future destiny. It signifies the assured fulfillment of centuries-old promises, the impending end of wilderness wandering, and the commencement of a new era defined by settled possession and stewardship within the land specifically chosen and consecrated by God. It heralds a critical point of no return.

Numbers 33 51 Bonus section

The specific geographical location, "the plains of Moab, opposite Jericho," from which this command is given (Num 33:48), further emphasizes the imminent reality of the crossing. Jericho was the first city Israel would face upon entering Canaan, a formidable stronghold. The context underscores that this instruction comes at the precise moment Israel is positioned to fulfill centuries of divine promise, requiring active participation and complete obedience to claim their spiritual and physical inheritance. The Jordan itself, often depicted as a natural obstacle, becomes the literal conduit for divine intervention, preparing the people for subsequent miracles and battles.

Numbers 33 51 Commentary

Numbers 33:51 acts as a divine declaration of Israel's imminent entry into the Promised Land, presenting the crossing of the Jordan not as a possibility but as a certainty ordained by God. This absolute assurance underlines God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, initiated centuries earlier with Abraham. The verse sets the stage for vital instructions regarding the land's future inhabitants and its division, highlighting God's justice in displacing wicked nations and His holiness requiring a consecrated people in a purified land. It marks Israel's transition from being a nomadic people dependent on immediate provision to a settled nation, requiring the diligent execution of God's laws to inherit and sustain their dwelling place.