Numbers 12:6

Authorized King James Version

And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר
And he said
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
שִׁמְעוּ
Hear
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
#3
נָ֣א
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
#4
דְבָרָ֑י
now my words
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
#5
אִם
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
#6
יִֽהְיֶה֙
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#7
נְבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם
If there be a prophet
a prophet or (generally) inspired man
#8
יְהוָ֗ה
among you I the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#9
בַּמַּרְאָה֙
unto him in a vision
(causatively) a mirror
#10
אֵלָ֣יו
near, with or among; often in general, to
#11
אֶתְוַדָּ֔ע
will make myself known
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
#12
בַּֽחֲל֖וֹם
unto him in a dream
a dream
#13
אֲדַבֶּר
and will speak
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#14
בּֽוֹ׃
H0

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine sovereignty. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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