Numbers 9 4

Numbers 9:4 kjv

And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.

Numbers 9:4 nkjv

So Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover.

Numbers 9:4 niv

So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover,

Numbers 9:4 esv

So Moses told the people of Israel that they should keep the Passover.

Numbers 9:4 nlt

So Moses told the people to celebrate the Passover

Numbers 9 verses

Numbers 9 4 Meaning

Numbers 9:4 states that Moses conveyed God's instruction to the community of Israel, commanding them to observe the Passover feast. This verse emphasizes the divine mandate for this foundational ceremony, ensuring its continuous practice beyond the initial event of the Exodus from Egypt. It signifies the ongoing covenant relationship between God and Israel, requiring their obedient remembrance of His redemptive acts.

Numbers 9 4 Context

Numbers chapter 9 opens one year after the Israelites departed from Egypt, in the first month of their second year in the wilderness. The command in verse 4 to keep the Passover follows God's prior instructions in the wilderness of Sinai, after the tabernacle had been consecrated (Num 7:1; Ex 40:17). This timing is significant, signifying that with the tabernacle now established, the community is ready to regularly observe God's commands as an organized, worshiping body. The original Passover (Ex 12) was performed hastily during their escape from bondage. Here, it is reiterated as an enduring, annual ordinance, crucial for their national identity and for continually remembering God's saving power. This particular passage also sets the stage for a critical situation: some individuals are ritually unclean and cannot observe the Passover, which leads to God's merciful provision for a "second Passover" (Num 9:6-14). Thus, verse 4 states the general, binding command from which the later, merciful exception is made, emphasizing both the stringency of God's law and His compassion.

Numbers 9 4 Word analysis

• So: Indicates a logical consequence or progression, linking this directive to the preceding context of establishing divine order and worship after the Tabernacle's completion.

• Moses: Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh). The divinely appointed leader and primary mediator between God and Israel. He serves as God's instrument for conveying instructions, underscoring the divine origin of this command.

• told: Hebrew: וַיְדַבֵּר (vay'daber). This Hiphil form of the verb דָּבַר (davar), "to speak," denotes a strong, authoritative, and deliberate declaration. It signifies an official proclamation or command, not merely a casual utterance, highlighting the binding nature of the instruction.

• the children of Israel: Hebrew: בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (b'nei Yisrael). Refers to the entire collective of Israelites, the covenant people chosen by God. The command applies to the whole nation, stressing the communal and national importance of the Passover observance.

• to keep: Hebrew: יַעֲשׂוּ (ya'asu). From the verb עָשָׂה (asah), meaning "to do, make, perform, observe." In this context, it specifically means to diligently observe or faithfully perform the rituals and requirements of the Passover feast. It emphasizes active obedience to the divine will.

• the Passover: Hebrew: הַפָּסַח (haPasach). Denotes the annual festival commemorating God's "passing over" Israelite homes in Egypt, sparing their firstborn, and delivering them from slavery. This encompasses the sacrifice of a lamb and specific rituals, symbolizing God's redemption through blood sacrifice and liberation. It foreshadows the ultimate redemptive work of Christ.

• Moses told the children of Israel: This phrase centrally portrays Moses's crucial intermediary role. He is the faithful conduit of divine revelation, passing on God's will directly to His people, not fabricating his own laws. This establishes the authority and authenticity of the command.

• to keep the Passover: This succinct command highlights that the Passover was not a singular historical event, but a perpetual, mandatory ordinance. Its repeated observance ensured Israel would never forget their foundational deliverance and God's saving power, continually drawing them back to His covenant faithfulness.

Numbers 9 4 Bonus section

• The immediate timing of this command in Numbers 9:1, precisely one year after the Exodus, signifies God's intention for the Passover to be a consistent, annual pillar of Israelite worship, solidifying their collective identity as a redeemed nation now organized under divine law.
• While verse 4 provides the general command, the subsequent verses (Num 9:6-14) illustrate God's compassionate application of the law, making provision for those who were ceremonially unclean or away on a journey to observe a "second Passover" a month later. This shows God's desire for inclusion and His merciful accommodation within the framework of His commands, without nullifying the general principle established in verse 4.
• The annual repetition of the Passover fostered deep corporate memory and spiritual formation, instructing generations in the centrality of God's deliverance and the necessity of obedient response to His saving acts. This emphasis on consistent ritual remembrance anticipates New Covenant practices like the Lord's Supper.

Numbers 9 4 Commentary

Numbers 9:4 is a pivotal statement, reinstating the Passover feast for the second time, exactly one year after its initial, urgent institution in Egypt. It serves as a clear affirmation of the enduring and perpetual nature of God's commands. Unlike the first Passover which marked an immediate act of deliverance, this verse demonstrates its transformation into an annual, foundational ordinance for Israel. Moses, in his divinely appointed role, precisely conveys this instruction, highlighting the importance of obedience and the accurate transmission of God's will. The command "to keep" underscores the necessity of active participation and remembrance, solidifying Israel's identity as a redeemed people. This continuous observance would serve as a constant reminder of God's salvific work through the sacrificed lamb, an event profoundly prophetic of Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills the role of the ultimate Passover Lamb, bringing New Covenant salvation. The act of keeping Passover was not merely a historical commemoration but a reaffirmation of their covenant with God and a pathway for spiritual renewal.