Numbers 21:5
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר
spake
H1696
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר
spake
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
1 of 18
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
הָעָ֗ם
And the people
H5971
הָעָ֗ם
And the people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
2 of 18
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
בֵּֽאלֹהִים֮
against God
H430
בֵּֽאלֹהִים֮
against God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
3 of 18
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
לָמָ֤ה
H4100
לָמָ֤ה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
5 of 18
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙
Wherefore have ye brought us up
H5927
הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙
Wherefore have ye brought us up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
6 of 18
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
לָמ֖וּת
to die
H4191
לָמ֖וּת
to die
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
8 of 18
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
9 of 18
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
10 of 18
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בַּלֶּ֖חֶם
bread
H3899
בַּלֶּ֖חֶם
bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
12 of 18
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
וְאֵ֣ין
H369
מַ֔יִם
neither is there any water
H4325
מַ֔יִם
neither is there any water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
14 of 18
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
וְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּ
and our soul
H5315
וְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּ
and our soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
15 of 18
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
Cross References
Psalms 78:19Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?Numbers 16:41But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.Exodus 14:11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?Numbers 17:12And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.
Historical Context
This complaint came in the 40th year, meaning the new generation repeated their parents' faithless pattern (11:6). Despite witnessing 40 years of daily manna provision, they despised God's bread, showing unbelief transmits culturally without intentional faith formation.
Questions for Reflection
- What evidence shows your faith has actually matured beyond early struggles with trust?
- How do you guard against repeating patterns of unbelief you've seen in others?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Israel's complaint repeated familiar themes: 'Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?' They again despised manna, calling it 'light bread' (Hebrew 'qeloqel', worthless or contemptible). This rejection of God's miraculous provision near the journey's end showed that time doesn't automatically mature faith—Israel ended as they began, in unbelieving complaint.