Numbers 27:16

Contemporary English Version

"You are the Lord God, and you know what is in everyone's heart. So I ask you to appoint a leader for Israel.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

King James Version
Let the Lord , the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

Lexham English Bible
"Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the community

English Standard Version
"Let the Lord , the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation

New Century Version
"The Lord is the God of the spirits of all people. May he choose a leader for these people,

New English Translation
"Let the Lord , the God of the spirits of all humankind, appoint a man over the community,

Amplified Bible
"Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation

New American Standard Bible
"May the LORD, the God of the spirits of humanity, appoint a man over the congregation,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Let the Lorde God of the spirits of all flesh appoint a man ouer the Congregation,

Legacy Standard Bible
"May Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

Complete Jewish Bible
"Let Adonai , God of the spirits of all human beings, appoint a man to be over the community,

Darby Translation
Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the assembly,

Easy-to-Read Version
" Lord , you are the God who knows what people are thinking. I pray that you will choose a leader for these people.

George Lamsa Translation
Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation

Good News Translation
" Lord God, source of all life, appoint, I pray, a man who can lead the people

Christian Standard Bible®
“May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all, appoint a man over the community

Literal Translation
Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
O let the LORDE God of the spretes of all flesh set a ma ouer the congregacion,

American Standard Version
Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

Bible in Basic English
Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, put a man at the head of this people,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Let the Lord God of the spirites of all fleshe set a man ouer ye congregation,

JPS Old Testament (1917)
'Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

King James Version (1611)
Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man ouer the Congregation,

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Let the Lord God of spirits and of all flesh look out for a man over this congregation,

English Revised Version
Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

Berean Standard Bible
"May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord God of spiritis of al fleisch puruey a man, that be on this multitude,

Young's Literal Translation
`Jehovah -- God of the spirits of all flesh -- appoint a man over the company,

Update Bible Version
Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

Webster's Bible Translation
Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation.

World English Bible
Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

New King James Version
"Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

New Living Translation
"O Lord , you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community.

New Life Bible
"May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, choose a man to lead the people.

New Revised Standard
"Let the Lord , the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint someone over the congregation

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Let Yahweh, God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the assembly;

Douay-Rheims Bible
May the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh provide a man, that may be over this multitude:

Revised Standard Version
"Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

Contextual Overview

¹⁵ Moses replied, ¹⁶ "You are the Lord God, and you know what is in everyone's heart. So I ask you to appoint a leader for Israel. ¹⁷ Your people need someone to lead them into battle, or else they will be like sheep wandering around without a shepherd." ¹⁸ The Lord answered, "Joshua son of Nun can do the job. Place your hands on him to show that he is the one to take your place. ¹⁹ Then go with him and have him stand in front of Eleazar the priest and the Israelites. Appoint Joshua as their new leader ²⁰ and tell them they must now obey him, just as they obey you. ²¹ But Joshua must depend on Eleazar to find out from me what I want him to do as he leads Israel into battle." ²² Moses followed the Lord 's instructions and took Joshua to Eleazar and the people, ²³ then he placed his hands on Joshua and appointed him Israel's leader.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Lord: Yehowah elohey haroochoth lechol basar, "Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh." This address sufficiently proves, that this holy man believed man to be compounded of flesh and spirit, and that these principles are perfectly distinct. Either the materiality of the soul is a human fable, or, if it be a true doctrine, Moses did not pray under the influence of the Divine Spirit. There is a similar form of expression in Numbers 16:22 : "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh;" and in Job 12:10, "In whose hand is the soul (nephesh) of all living; and the spirit (rooach) of all flesh of man." These seem decisive proofs, among many others, that the Old Testament teaches that there is an immortal spirit in man; for though rooach sometimes denotes breath or wind, yet it certainly has not that signification here, nor in the other passages cited.

the God: Numbers 16:22, Hebrews 12:9

set a man: Deuteronomy 31:14, 1 Samuel 12:13, 1 Kings 5:5, Jeremiah 3:15, Jeremiah 23:4, Jeremiah 23:5, Ezekiel 34:11-16, Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 37:24, Matthew 9:38, John 10:11, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2-4

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:7 - a living Genesis 49:24 - the shepherd Numbers 20:28 - put them Joshua 1:2 - arise 1 Samuel 18:13 - he went out 2 Kings 2:9 - Ask what Ecclesiastes 12:7 - God Isaiah 28:6 - for a spirit Jeremiah 32:27 - God Jeremiah 38:16 - that made Ezekiel 18:4 - all souls Hosea 13:1 - exalted Zechariah 4:6 - Not Acts 1:24 - Lord Acts 9:28 - coming Acts 17:25 - seeing 1 Thessalonians 2:4 - but God 2 Timothy 2:7 - and

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh,.... The Maker of the souls of men, called the spirits of all flesh, or of corporeal beings, to distinguish them from the angels, who, though spirits, are incorporeal; and who knows the different qualities of the souls of men, their powers, and capacities, and fitness for service, what gifts and talents they have for business; and who can bestow such upon them, which will quality them for it:

set a man over the congregation: meaning in his room and stead.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The God of the spirits of all flesh - An acknowledgment that man, who is but flesh (compare Genesis 6:3), is of himself helpless; and “lives and moves and has his being” in God Acts 17:28. The words are suitably employed here to introduce an entreaty that God would not leave the congregation without a guide and leader, and in Numbers 16:22 as a preface to an intercession that the whole people should not suffer for the sin of a, few.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 27:16. The Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh — Numbers 16:22.