Numbers 11:25

Authorized King James Version

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And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Original Language Analysis

וַיֵּ֨רֶד came down H3381
וַיֵּ֨רֶד came down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 1 of 22
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
יְהוָ֥ה׀ And the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֥ה׀ And the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 2 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בֶּֽעָנָן֮ in a cloud H6051
בֶּֽעָנָן֮ in a cloud
Strong's: H6051
Word #: 3 of 22
a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e., the nimbus or thunder-cloud
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר and spake H1696
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר and spake
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 4 of 22
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אֵלָיו֒ H413
אֵלָיו֒
Strong's: H413
Word #: 5 of 22
near, with or among; often in general, to
וַיָּ֗אצֶל unto him and took H680
וַיָּ֗אצֶל unto him and took
Strong's: H680
Word #: 6 of 22
properly, to join; used only as a denominative from h0681; to separate; hence, to select, refuse, contract
מִן H4480
מִן
Strong's: H4480
Word #: 7 of 22
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
הָר֔וּחַ and it came to pass that when the spirit H7307
הָר֔וּחַ and it came to pass that when the spirit
Strong's: H7307
Word #: 8 of 22
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 9 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָלָ֔יו H5921
עָלָ֔יו
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 10 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וַיִּתֵּ֕ן that was upon him and gave H5414
וַיִּתֵּ֕ן that was upon him and gave
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 11 of 22
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 12 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שִׁבְעִ֥ים it unto the seventy H7657
שִׁבְעִ֥ים it unto the seventy
Strong's: H7657
Word #: 13 of 22
seventy
אִ֖ישׁ H376
אִ֖ישׁ
Strong's: H376
Word #: 14 of 22
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
הַזְּקֵנִ֑ים elders H2205
הַזְּקֵנִ֑ים elders
Strong's: H2205
Word #: 15 of 22
old
וַיְהִ֗י H1961
וַיְהִ֗י
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 16 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כְּנ֤וֹחַ rested H5117
כְּנ֤וֹחַ rested
Strong's: H5117
Word #: 17 of 22
to rest, i.e., settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, l
עֲלֵיהֶם֙ H5921
עֲלֵיהֶם֙
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 18 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָר֔וּחַ and it came to pass that when the spirit H7307
הָר֔וּחַ and it came to pass that when the spirit
Strong's: H7307
Word #: 19 of 22
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ upon them they prophesied H5012
וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ upon them they prophesied
Strong's: H5012
Word #: 20 of 22
to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
וְלֹ֥א H3808
וְלֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 21 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָסָֽפוּ׃ and did not cease H3254
יָסָֽפוּ׃ and did not cease
Strong's: H3254
Word #: 22 of 22
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)

Analysis & Commentary

The theophany 'And the LORD came down in a cloud' demonstrates divine initiative in empowering leadership. The cloud represents God's glory and presence (Exodus 13:21; 40:34-38), and its descent indicates special divine intervention. God didn't merely approve Moses' organizational plan but actively participated in commissioning the elders. This teaches that genuine spiritual leadership requires divine calling and empowerment, not merely human appointment or natural ability.

The remarkable statement 'and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders' describes the distribution of the Spirit. The language doesn't imply Moses lost any of the Spirit or that the Spirit was divided like a material substance. Rather, God who gave His Spirit to Moses now extended the same Spirit to the seventy, enabling them to share his ministry. This anticipates Pentecost, where the Spirit given to Christ was poured out upon His church (Acts 2), enabling believers to continue His mission. The Spirit cannot be diminished by being shared—divine resources multiply through distribution.

The result 'when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease' (or 'but did not continue'—the Hebrew velo yasafu, וְלֹא יָסָפוּ, is ambiguous) describes the visible sign of Spirit-reception. Prophesying indicated Spirit-empowerment, providing public confirmation of their divine appointment. Whether they prophesied only initially or continually, the point is that Spirit-reception produced observable evidence. This pattern—Spirit-giving accompanied by visible manifestation—appears throughout Scripture (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6), demonstrating that genuine spiritual empowerment produces real effects.

Historical Context

This Spirit-distribution event parallels later biblical instances of leadership commissioning: Joshua received Moses' spirit (Deuteronomy 34:9), Elisha received double portion of Elijah's spirit (2 Kings 2:9-15), and the apostles received the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2). The concept of seventy leaders with shared spiritual authority prefigured both the Sanhedrin in Judaism and the plurality of elders in New Testament churches. The visible manifestation (prophesying) served apologetic purpose—proving to Israel that these men were genuinely called by God, not merely Moses' personal choices.

Questions for Reflection

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