Numbers 9:7
And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?
Original Language Analysis
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים
H376
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֤ים
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
2 of 19
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לְנֶ֣פֶשׁ
by the dead body
H5315
לְנֶ֣פֶשׁ
by the dead body
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
7 of 19
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
אָדָ֑ם
of a man
H120
אָדָ֑ם
of a man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
8 of 19
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
לָ֣מָּה
H4100
לָ֣מָּה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
9 of 19
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
נִגָּרַ֗ע
wherefore are we kept back
H1639
נִגָּרַ֗ע
wherefore are we kept back
Strong's:
H1639
Word #:
10 of 19
to scrape off; by implication, to shave, remove, lessen, withhold
לְבִלְתִּ֨י
H1115
לְבִלְתִּ֨י
Strong's:
H1115
Word #:
11 of 19
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
הַקְרִ֜יב
that we may not offer
H7126
הַקְרִ֜יב
that we may not offer
Strong's:
H7126
Word #:
12 of 19
to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
13 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
קָרְבַּ֤ן
an offering
H7133
קָרְבַּ֤ן
an offering
Strong's:
H7133
Word #:
14 of 19
something brought near the altar, i.e., a sacrificial present
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
15 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בְּמֹ֣עֲד֔וֹ
in his appointed season
H4150
בְּמֹ֣עֲד֔וֹ
in his appointed season
Strong's:
H4150
Word #:
16 of 19
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
Historical Context
This incident demonstrates the living nature of God's law under Moses—when new circumstances arose, Moses inquired of the Lord for clarification (verse 8). This pattern appears repeatedly in Torah, showing that even Moses did not presume to legislate without divine instruction. The supplementary Passover in the second month (verses 10-11) became permanent law from this incident.
Questions for Reflection
- How does genuine desire for God's ordinances distinguish true piety from mere duty?
- What does God's responsiveness to sincere questions teach about His accessibility?
- How should church leaders respond when circumstances create barriers to covenant participation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The defiled men's question 'Wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season?' expresses genuine grief over exclusion from corporate worship. Their phrase 'kept back' (Hebrew gara—diminished/restrained) reveals they felt impoverished by missing the feast. This holy desire for participation led to divine accommodation. The principle emerges that God responds to sincere longing for His presence and ordinances. Their question also raises the theological issue of how purity laws relate to covenant participation, ultimately resolved in Christ who makes the unclean clean.