Numbers 5:4 kjv
And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.
Numbers 5:4 nkjv
And the children of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the LORD spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did.
Numbers 5:4 niv
The Israelites did so; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the LORD had instructed Moses.
Numbers 5:4 esv
And the people of Israel did so, and put them outside the camp; as the LORD said to Moses, so the people of Israel did.
Numbers 5:4 nlt
So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses and removed such people from the camp.
Numbers 5 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 39:42-43 | According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. And the LORD blessed them. | Obedience in Tabernacle construction complete. |
| Exod 40:16 | Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he. | Moses' personal obedience in erecting Tabernacle. |
| Lev 8:36 | So Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. | Priestly consecration carried out faithfully. |
| Lev 9:6-7 | This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear... Moses said to Aaron, 'Go to the altar...' | Glory of the LORD connected to obedience. |
| Num 1:54 | According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did. | Census of tribes carried out obediently. |
| Num 8:20 | Thus Moses and Aaron and all... did to the Levites according to all that the LORD commanded Moses... | Levites' purification ritual carried out. |
| Deut 4:5-6 | See, I have taught you statutes... observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom... | Laws given for Israel's wisdom and reputation. |
| Deut 5:32-33 | You must therefore be careful to do everything the LORD your God has commanded you... Walk in obedience... | Exhortation to complete and continuous obedience. |
| Deut 12:32 | Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take from it. | Strict adherence to God's commands. |
| Josh 11:15 | As the LORD had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. | Legacy of divine command and obedience. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? | Obedience prioritized over ritual sacrifice. |
| Psa 103:7 | He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. | God reveals His will through Moses. |
| Psa 119:4 | You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. | God's precepts require full compliance. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all your heart... In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. | Obedience rooted in trust and acknowledgement. |
| Isa 1:19 | If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. | Blessings linked to willing obedience. |
| Jer 7:23 | But this command I gave them: 'Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people.' | The covenant based on obedience to God's voice. |
| Matt 7:24-27 | Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man... | Christ's words to be heard and acted upon. |
| John 14:15 | If you love me, you will keep my commandments. | Love for Christ demonstrated by keeping His commands. |
| Acts 5:29 | We must obey God rather than men. | Prioritizing divine authority. |
| Heb 5:9 | And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. | Salvation for those who obey Christ. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Actionable faith beyond mere hearing. |
| 1 Jn 2:3-4 | And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. | Keeping commandments as proof of knowing God. |
Numbers 5 verses
Numbers 5 4 Meaning
Numbers 5:4 signifies the swift and complete obedience of the children of Israel to the specific command given by God through Moses, which was to remove anyone ritually unclean from the camp. This verse highlights the immediacy and totality of their adherence to divine instruction, ensuring the maintenance of the camp's purity and God's holy presence within their midst. It underscores a foundational principle: Israel's relationship with the Holy One of Israel was contingent upon their exact compliance with His revealed will.
Numbers 5 4 Context
Numbers chapter 5 opens a section dedicated to the purity and sanctification of the Israelite camp, essential for God's holy presence to dwell among them. Verses 1-4, which include the focus verse, outline the specific command to remove from the camp anyone who is ritually unclean due to leprosy, a bodily discharge, or contact with a dead body. This expulsion was not for punishment but for maintaining communal holiness. Following this, the chapter details laws concerning restitution for wrongs committed (Num 5:5-10) and the sensitive ritual for a woman accused of adultery (Num 5:11-31). Historically and culturally, the meticulous maintenance of camp purity was crucial. In the nomadic desert environment, strict hygienic and ceremonial practices distinguished Israel from surrounding peoples. More profoundly, this physical purity symbolized the spiritual holiness required for a nation among whom the God of all creation, YHWH, chose to tabernacle. The obedience recorded in Numbers 5:4 ensures the integrity of this divine dwelling place and signifies the people's understanding and acceptance of their role in a covenant relationship with a holy God.
Numbers 5 4 Word analysis
- And (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ, `wa-ya‘aśū`): Connects the command in the preceding verses to the action of the people. It signals a direct narrative continuation, indicating an immediate response to the divine decree.
- the children of Israel (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, `bĕnê yiśrā’ēl`): Refers to the entire nation of Israel, emphasizing corporate responsibility and communal action. This was not merely an individual or a leader's compliance, but a unified national effort, vital for the entire community's holiness.
- did so (כֵּן, `kēn`): "Thus," "accordingly," or "in like manner." This concise phrase confirms that the specific actions commanded in Numbers 5:1-3 were precisely executed. It implies an accurate and faithful implementation of the instructions.
- according to all that (כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר, `kə-ḵol ’ăšer`): A crucial phrase highlighting totality and comprehensiveness. It indicates that every aspect and detail of the command was fulfilled, leaving no part neglected or altered. This underscores perfect compliance.
- the LORD (יְהוָה, `YHWH`): The covenant name of God, `Yahweh`. It stresses the divine origin of the command, emphasizing His personal sovereignty, faithfulness, and unique authority over Israel. This is not just any god, but their covenant God.
- commanded (צִוָּה, `ṣiwwâ`): A strong verb indicating an authoritative and binding instruction, an absolute directive that leaves no room for debate or discretion. God's commands are unchallengeable orders for His people.
- Moses (מֹשֶׁה, `Mōšeh`): The chosen mediator. Moses is depicted as the faithful conduit through whom God's exact commands were conveyed to the people. This authenticates the divine origin and mediatorial purity of the laws.
- so did they (כֵּן עָשׂוּ, `kēn ‘āśū`): This phrase acts as a powerful emphatic repetition and a literary device (an "inclusio" or "envelope structure" with "did so"). It reiterates and powerfully confirms the complete, precise, and faithful execution of the divine command by the children of Israel. It serves as a concluding affirmation of their exemplary obedience in this instance.
- "And the children of Israel did so... so did they": This repeated emphasis of "did so" at the beginning and end of the action clause stresses absolute, unequivocal, and exact obedience by the entire nation. It's a common literary feature in the Pentateuch, affirming Israel's faithful execution of critical divine decrees. It contrasts with later narratives where Israel demonstrates disobedience.
- "according to all that the LORD commanded Moses": This formulaic expression serves to validate the divine source and the intermediary role of Moses for every law and instruction given. It ensures the commands are understood as direct revelations from the sovereign God, not human inventions, establishing their ultimate authority.
Numbers 5 4 Bonus section
- The pattern of obedience captured in Num 5:4 ("According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they") is a recurring theological motif throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It often appears after significant commands regarding the construction of the Tabernacle, the setting apart of the priests, or the organization of the camp, reinforcing the ideal picture of Israel's initial faithfulness before the numerous instances of rebellion documented later in Numbers.
- The emphasis on physical purity within the camp was not merely about hygiene but represented a visible, tangible commitment to ritual and spiritual holiness, vital for accommodating the sacred presence of God. Any breach of this purity was considered a defilement of the dwelling place of YHWH Himself (as highlighted in Num 5:3). This highlights a polemical stance against the often lax or chaotic ritual practices of surrounding pagan nations, demonstrating God's order and demand for His people's unique set-apartness.
Numbers 5 4 Commentary
Numbers 5:4 serves as a succinct yet powerful affirmation of Israel's initial and exact obedience to God's challenging commands for maintaining a holy camp. This command required the expulsion of individuals who, through no fault of their own (leprosy, discharge, or contact with death), became ritually impure. The phrase "according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they" highlights total compliance. This level of meticulous obedience was not merely ceremonial but deeply theological, vital for preserving the holiness necessary for the Lord to dwell among them without defilement. It showcases a foundational principle for God's covenant people: that the sanctity of their communal life directly reflects their fidelity to God's precise instructions. It illustrates a moment of ideal adherence, laying the spiritual groundwork for a nation called to be holy as their God is holy.