Numbers 14:3
And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
Original Language Analysis
וְלָמָ֣ה
H4100
וְלָמָ֣ה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
1 of 18
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
יְ֠הוָה
And wherefore hath the LORD
H3068
יְ֠הוָה
And wherefore hath the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֹתָ֜נוּ
H853
אֹתָ֜נוּ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָאָ֤רֶץ
us unto this land
H776
הָאָ֤רֶץ
us unto this land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
6 of 18
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
לִנְפֹּ֣ל
to fall
H5307
לִנְפֹּ֣ל
to fall
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
8 of 18
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
בַּחֶ֔רֶב
by the sword
H2719
בַּחֶ֔רֶב
by the sword
Strong's:
H2719
Word #:
9 of 18
drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement
וְטַפֵּ֖נוּ
and our children
H2945
וְטַפֵּ֖נוּ
and our children
Strong's:
H2945
Word #:
11 of 18
a family (mostly used collectively in the singular)
יִֽהְי֣וּ
H1961
יִֽהְי֣וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
12 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הֲל֧וֹא
H3808
הֲל֧וֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
14 of 18
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
ט֦וֹב
were it not better
H2896
ט֦וֹב
were it not better
Strong's:
H2896
Word #:
15 of 18
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
Historical Context
God had explicitly promised to drive out the Canaanites and give Israel the land (Exodus 3:8, 17). Their accusation directly contradicted God's sworn oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, showing how fear blinds people to clear revelation.
Questions for Reflection
- When has fear caused you to question God's good intentions toward you?
- How does remembering God's covenant faithfulness protect against misrepresenting His character?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Israel accuses God of bringing them to Canaan merely to die by the sword and have their families enslaved: 'Our wives and our children should be a prey.' They attribute malicious intent to God, suggesting He's leading them into disaster. This perverts God's character—He who delivered them from slavery supposedly plans to enslave their children. Unbelief always misrepresents God's nature and intentions.