Numbers 14:37

Authorized King James Version

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

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

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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