Numbers 14:19
Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
Original Language Analysis
נָ֗א
H4994
נָ֗א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
2 of 14
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
לַֽעֲוֹ֛ן
I beseech thee the iniquity
H5771
לַֽעֲוֹ֛ן
I beseech thee the iniquity
Strong's:
H5771
Word #:
3 of 14
perversity, i.e., (moral) evil
לָעָ֣ם
of this people
H5971
לָעָ֣ם
of this people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
4 of 14
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הַזֶּ֖ה
H2088
כְּגֹ֣דֶל
according unto the greatness
H1433
כְּגֹ֣דֶל
according unto the greatness
Strong's:
H1433
Word #:
6 of 14
magnitude (literally or figuratively)
חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ
of thy mercy
H2617
חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ
of thy mercy
Strong's:
H2617
Word #:
7 of 14
kindness; by implication (towards god) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
וְכַֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
וְכַֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
8 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָשָׂ֙אתָה֙
and as thou hast forgiven
H5375
נָשָׂ֙אתָה֙
and as thou hast forgiven
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
9 of 14
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
לָעָ֣ם
of this people
H5971
לָעָ֣ם
of this people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
10 of 14
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
הַזֶּ֔ה
H2088
Cross References
Exodus 34:9And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.Psalms 78:38But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.Psalms 106:45And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.Exodus 32:32Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.Isaiah 55:7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.Exodus 33:17And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.Jonah 4:2And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.Jonah 3:10And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.James 5:15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.1 Kings 8:34Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.
Historical Context
Moses' words echo God's self-revelation after the golden calf incident (Exodus 34:6-7), showing that past demonstrations of mercy create a foundation for present petitions. God's character remains constant; His past forgiveness becomes grounds for confidence in present appeals.
Questions for Reflection
- Which attributes of God give you the greatest confidence when confessing sin?
- How does God's past mercy toward you affect your approach to Him in prayer?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Moses grounds his plea for mercy in God's revealed character: 'longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.' This appeal to divine attributes demonstrates that God's nature itself provides grounds for hope even after severe sin. God's mercy is not arbitrary but flows from His essential character.