Numbers 5:1 kjv
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 5:1 nkjv
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Numbers 5:1 niv
The LORD said to Moses,
Numbers 5:1 esv
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Numbers 5:1 nlt
The LORD gave these instructions to Moses:
Numbers 5 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1:3 | "And God said, Let there be light..." | God's word has creative power and authority. |
| Exod 3:4 | "...God called unto him out of the midst of the bush..." | God initiates direct communication with Moses. |
| Exod 19:3 | "...the LORD called unto him out of the mount, saying..." | God's specific call to Moses for covenant at Sinai. |
| Exod 25:1 | "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," | Establishes pattern for instructions on Tabernacle construction. |
| Exod 30:11 | "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," | Commands given for the atonement money. |
| Lev 1:1 | "And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him..." | Introduction to the detailed sacrificial laws. |
| Lev 4:1 | "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," | God speaking on sin offerings. |
| Num 1:1 | "And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai..." | God commands the first census. |
| Num 7:89 | "...when Moses went into the tabernacle... he heard the voice..." | God spoke audibly to Moses from the ark. |
| Deut 1:3 | "...Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according..." | Moses faithfully delivers God's laws. |
| Deut 5:4-5 | "The LORD talked with you face to face... I stood between the LORD and you..." | Moses' unique role as intercessor and mediator. |
| Josh 1:1 | "Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spake unto Joshua..." | God's continuing revelation through a new leader. |
| 1 Sam 3:10 | "...The LORD came and stood, and called... 'Samuel, Samuel.'" | God speaks to new prophet, continuing His communication. |
| Isa 1:2 | "Hear, O heavens... for the LORD hath spoken..." | Emphasizes the supreme authority of God's declarations. |
| Jer 1:7 | "...The LORD said unto me, 'Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go... and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.'" | God commissions and empowers a prophet. |
| Ezek 1:3 | "...the word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel..." | Divine word given specifically to Ezekiel. |
| John 1:1-3 | "In the beginning was the Word... and the Word was God... all things were made by him." | Christ as the Eternal Word of God. |
| John 1:18 | "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son... he hath declared him." | Jesus perfectly reveals God to humanity. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "God, who... spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son..." | God's continuous revelation, culminating in Christ. |
| Heb 3:1-2 | "...Moses was faithful in all his house, as a servant..." | Affirms Moses' fidelity in delivering God's commands. |
| Heb 12:25 | "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth [Moses], much more..." | Urges obedience to God's word spoken through Moses and Christ. |
| 2 Pet 1:20-21 | "...holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." | Reinforces divine inspiration of prophetic words, like Moses'. |
| Rev 1:1 | "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him... to his servant John..." | God continues to reveal truth through His chosen servants. |
Numbers 5 verses
Numbers 5 1 Meaning
Numbers 5:1, "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying," introduces a new set of divine instructions from God to Moses for the Israelite camp. This verse marks the continuation of God's direct and authoritative communication to His chosen mediator, underscoring His active involvement in shaping the life and purity of His people. It serves as an infallible divine imprimatur for the commands that follow, emphasizing that the subsequent laws concerning ceremonial uncleanness are direct pronouncements from Yahweh Himself.
Numbers 5 1 Context
Numbers 5:1 marks a crucial transition within the Book of Numbers. Chapters 1-4 focused on establishing the orderly physical arrangement of the Israelite camp: the census, tribal encampment around the Tabernacle, and the duties of the Levites concerning the sanctuary. With Numbers 5, the divine directives shift from external organization to internal purity and the maintenance of holiness within the camp itself. This section deals with cases of ritual defilement that render individuals unfit to remain in the holy encampment where Yahweh's presence dwells. Therefore, verse 1 introduces these fundamental laws of cleanliness, emphasizing their direct divine origin and necessity for the ongoing presence of a holy God amidst His people.
Numbers 5 1 Word analysis
- And: (Hebrew: וַיְדַבֵּר, vaydaber – "And He spoke"). This Hebrew waw conjunction links this new set of instructions to the preceding narratives. It signifies continuity in God's ongoing revelation and active direction of Israel, showing that these laws are part of an uninterrupted stream of divine communication.
- the LORD: (Hebrew: יְהוָה, Yahweh). This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, self-existent, and faithful character, especially in His relationship with Israel. It signifies not merely a deity, but the specific God who has entered into a covenant with this people, promising to dwell among them and guide them. The use of this name highlights the deep relational aspect of the ensuing commands, which flow from God's character and His desire for a pure people.
- spake: (Hebrew: וַיְדַבֵּר, vaydaber, from the root דָּבַר, dabar – "to speak, to declare, to command"). This verb indicates an authoritative, deliberate, and direct verbal communication. It's not a whisper or a vague impression, but a clear, articulate declaration. In the Pentateuch, dabar is frequently used for divine utterances that constitute laws or covenants, signifying their binding nature and divine authority.
- unto Moses: (Hebrew: אֶל־מֹשֶׁה, ʾel-Mōšeh). Moses (meaning "drawn out" in Hebrew, reflecting his rescue from the Nile) is consistently presented as God's chosen and unique intermediary. This phrase emphasizes Moses' unparalleled access to direct divine revelation. He is the specific individual through whom God chooses to deliver His laws and communicate His will to the entire nation of Israel.
- saying: (Hebrew: לֵאמֹר, lēʾmor – "to say," infinitive construct). This formulaic term serves to introduce the direct quotation of God's exact words. It reinforces the verbatim nature of the following commands (Num 5:2-4), ensuring that what Moses recorded was precisely what God Himself had spoken. This eliminates any doubt about the divine origin and therefore the absolute authority of the instructions.
- "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,": This complete phrase is a foundational declaration of divine authority found repeatedly throughout the Pentateuch. It establishes the immediate divine origin and infallibility of all subsequent legislation and commands given to Israel through Moses. It signals a new chapter in God's covenant relationship, where divine communication is the source of all order and truth for His people. It is a literary device to clearly delineate what God Himself commanded versus human interpretation or tradition.
Numbers 5 1 Bonus section
The repetitive phrase "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying" appears over 100 times in the Torah, functioning as a vital literary and theological device. Its frequency in Numbers (around 84 times) especially highlights God's continuous and active superintendence over every aspect of Israel's journey and community life, moving from military organization to detailed laws of spiritual and moral purity. This insistent divine speaking sets a pattern: God leads by direct revelation, and Israel is called to hear and obey. The "hearing" (shema) of God's word is thus elevated as the paramount act of faithfulness for the covenant people. It reinforces the monotheistic truth that Yahweh is the singular source of all legitimate law and truth, contrasting sharply with polytheistic cultures where diverse deities might be appealed to or rituals performed without direct, comprehensive instruction. This formula affirms the living and personal nature of the God of Israel, whose will is actively communicated and provides the foundation for their distinct identity.
Numbers 5 1 Commentary
Numbers 5:1, while succinct, is profoundly significant. It is not just a perfunctory introductory clause but a powerful theological statement. The constant recurrence of "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying" throughout the Pentateuch establishes the entire Law as direct revelation from Yahweh, the personal covenant God of Israel. This negates any suggestion that the laws were human inventions or merely Moses' ideas. Instead, they are depicted as divine mandates, essential for defining Israel's holiness and communal life.
This verse therefore emphasizes several core truths: God is a speaking God who actively engages with His people; He reveals His will precisely and clearly; Moses serves a unique and faithful role as God's chosen messenger; and the subsequent commands carry absolute divine authority. This introductory phrase underscores that all true order, purity, and blessing within the community arise from attentive obedience to the articulated Word of God. The transition to laws of ritual purity directly stemming from God's command signifies the profound connection between Israel's conduct and God's holy presence dwelling in their midst.