Numbers 14:37

Authorized King James Version

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Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.

Original Language Analysis

וַיָּמֻ֙תוּ֙ died H4191
וַיָּמֻ֙תוּ֙ died
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 1 of 9
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים Even those H582
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים Even those
Strong's: H582
Word #: 2 of 9
properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)
מֽוֹצִאֵ֥י that did bring up H3318
מֽוֹצִאֵ֥י that did bring up
Strong's: H3318
Word #: 3 of 9
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
דִבַּת report H1681
דִבַּת report
Strong's: H1681
Word #: 4 of 9
slander
הָאָ֖רֶץ upon the land H776
הָאָ֖רֶץ upon the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 5 of 9
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
רָעָ֑ה the evil H7451
רָעָ֑ה the evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 6 of 9
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
בַּמַּגֵּפָ֖ה by the plague H4046
בַּמַּגֵּפָ֖ה by the plague
Strong's: H4046
Word #: 7 of 9
a pestilence; by analogy, defeat
לִפְנֵ֥י before H6440
לִפְנֵ֥י before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 8 of 9
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
יְהוָֽה׃ the LORD H3068
יְהוָֽה׃ the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 9 of 9
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis & Commentary

The repetition that these men died 'by the plague before the LORD' emphasizes divine agency in their judgment. Their death was not misfortune but direct divine response to covenant breaking. God takes seriously those who cause His people to stumble, especially leaders whose influence multiplies the damage of unbelief.

Historical Context

The immediacy of judgment contrasts with the delayed consequence for the rest of the generation (who would die over forty years). This differential timing demonstrates that God calibrates His discipline according to degrees of responsibility and influence.

Questions for Reflection

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