Numbers 6 22

Numbers 6:22 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 6:22 nkjv

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

Numbers 6:22 niv

The LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 6:22 esv

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Numbers 6:22 nlt

Then the LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 6 verses

Numbers 6 22 Meaning

Numbers 6:22 states that "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,". This verse functions as a critical introductory formula within the Pentateuch, emphasizing the divine origin and authority of the commands or instructions that follow. It establishes that the subsequent pronouncement (the Aaronic Blessing) did not originate from human wisdom or priestly innovation, but directly from the personal and covenantal God of Israel, YHWH, through His chosen mediator, Moses. This signifies a direct divine revelation, highlighting God's initiative in communicating His will to His people through a divinely appointed channel.

Numbers 6 22 Context

Numbers chapter 6 concludes a section detailing various laws and regulations for the Israelites during their wilderness journey, particularly concerning personal dedication and purity. It specifically follows the detailed instructions regarding the Nazirite vow, which emphasizes personal sanctification and separation unto the Lord. Following these individual spiritual disciplines, Numbers 6:22-27 presents the Aaronic Blessing. Therefore, verse 22 acts as the divine introduction to this most sacred and communal priestly blessing, signifying a shift from individual obligations to a corporate spiritual act mandated by God Himself. Historically, this divine pronouncement would have provided absolute authority for the priests to pronounce the blessing, confirming its power and efficacy came directly from God, not from their own inherent power.

Numbers 6 22 Word analysis

• וַיְדַבֵּר (Way-da-ber): "And spoke" (or "Then spoke").

  • This is a "Vav-conversive" (or wayyiqtol) verb form, characteristic of Hebrew narrative, indicating a sequential action or immediate consequence.
  • The root דָּבַר (davar) means "to speak, declare, command." It signifies purposeful, articulate, and authoritative communication, not mere chatter.
  • Significance: It emphasizes God's initiative and the immediate, direct nature of His communication. This is a deliberate, divine utterance.

• יְהוָה (YHWH): "The LORD."

  • This is the Tetragrammaton, the sacred, personal covenant name of God, revealed to Moses (Exo 3:14-15).
  • It distinguishes Him as the Self-Existent One, the covenant-keeping God who is actively involved with His people.
  • Significance: It underscores that the instructions come from the God who has made a covenant with Israel and remains faithful to it, asserting His unique identity over against other deities.

• אֶל־מֹשֶׁה (el-Moshe): "to Moses."

  • אֶל (el) is a preposition meaning "to" or "towards," indicating the direct recipient of the communication.
  • מֹשֶׁה (Moshe) refers to Moses, the chosen leader and prophet, through whom God typically communicated His laws and will to the nation of Israel.
  • Significance: It affirms Moses' unique and irreplaceable role as the divinely appointed mediator of revelation for Israel, ensuring the authenticity and direct pipeline of God's word to His people.

• לֵּאמֹֽר (lemor): "saying."

  • This is an infinitive construct from the verb אָמַר (amar), meaning "to say, speak."
  • It is a common grammatical device in biblical Hebrew, functioning to introduce direct speech or a command, acting much like quotation marks.
  • Significance: It clearly indicates that the following words (the instructions for the Aaronic Blessing) are a direct quotation of God's very words, emphasizing their verbatim nature and ultimate divine authority.

• "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,"

  • This phrase group serves as a theological framing device. It establishes beyond doubt that what follows is divine communication.
  • It signals a transition in the narrative, introducing a new direct divine command or teaching.
  • The repetitive use of this phrase throughout the Pentateuch underscores the consistent pattern of God's direct revelation through His chosen mediator, authenticating the entire body of Israelite law and instruction.

Numbers 6 22 Bonus section

The repetitive use of "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying" (or similar constructions like "The LORD said to Moses") is a significant literary and theological device throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It reinforces the doctrine of verbal inspiration, emphasizing that the laws, statutes, and blessings conveyed were not Moses's thoughts or cultural adaptations, but the direct and exact words from YHWH. This consistent phrasing contributes to the canonicity and divine authority claimed by the biblical text itself, asserting that these are God-breathed words. It contrasts sharply with polytheistic or animistic religions where divine will might be discerned through ambiguous omens, oracles, or spirit mediums, presenting YHWH as a God of clear, direct, and purposeful revelation.

Numbers 6 22 Commentary

Numbers 6:22 is more than a mere narrative transition; it is a foundational statement affirming the divine origin of all that follows. By declaring that "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying," the verse grounds the ensuing Aaronic Blessing firmly in the character and will of YHWH Himself. This formula asserts God's sovereign initiative in revealing His heart and plan to His covenant people through His uniquely appointed servant. It preempts any human claim to the authority or efficacy of the blessing, establishing it as a sacred divine mandate rather than a human invention. This direct, unambiguous communication through Moses ensures that the blessing carries the full weight and power of the God who is personal, faithful, and active in the lives of His people. The blessing itself, revealed in the verses immediately following, becomes not merely words spoken by priests but God's own promised impartation of favor, peace, and protection upon Israel.