Numbers 11:29

Easy-to-Read Version

But Moses answered, "Are you afraid the people will think that I am not the leader now? I wish that all the Lord 's people were able to prophesy. I wish that the Lord would put his Spirit on all of them!"

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Moshe said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!

King James Version
And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord 'S people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

Lexham English Bible
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that he give all Yahweh's people prophets, that Yahweh put his spirit on them!"

New Century Version
But Moses answered, "Are you jealous for me? I wish all the Lord 's people could prophesy. I wish the Lord would give his Spirit to all of them!"

New English Translation
Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for me? I wish that all the Lord 's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!"

Amplified Bible
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD'S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"

New American Standard Bible
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? If only all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"

Geneva Bible (1587)
But Moses saide vnto him, Enuiest thou for my sake? yea, would God that all the Lordes people were Prophets, and that the Lord woulde put his Spirit vpon them.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of Yahweh were prophets, that Yahweh would put His Spirit upon them!"

Contemporary English Version
But Moses replied, "Are you concerned what this might do to me? I wish the Lord would give his Spirit to all his people so everyone could be a prophet."

Complete Jewish Bible
But Moshe replied, "Are you so zealous to protect me? I wish all of Adonai 's people were prophets! I wish Adonai would put his Spirit on all of them!"

Darby Translation
But Moses said to him, Enviest thou for my sake? would that all Jehovah's people were prophets, [and] that Jehovah would put his Spirit upon them!

English Standard Version
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord 's people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!"

George Lamsa Translation
But Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? Would God that all the LORDS people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

Good News Translation
Moses answered, "Are you concerned about my interests? I wish that the Lord would give his spirit to all his people and make all of them shout like prophets!"

Christian Standard Bible®
But Moses asked him, “Are you jealous on my account? If only all the Lord’s people were prophets and the Lord would place his Spirit on them!”

Literal Translation
And Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? Oh that all Jehovah's people were prophets, that Jehovah would put His Spirit on them!

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But Moses sayde vnto him: Art thou gelous for my sake? wolde God, yt all the people of ye LORDE coulde prophecie, and that ye LORDE wolde geue them his sprete.

American Standard Version
And Moses said unto him, Art thou jealous for my sake? would that all Jehovah's people were prophets, that Jehovah would put his Spirit upon them!

Bible in Basic English
And Moses said to him, Are you moved by envy on my account? If only all the Lord's people were prophets, and the Lord might put his spirit on them!

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Moyses sayd vnto hym: Enuiest thou for my sake? woulde God that all the Lordes people could prophesie, and that the Lorde woulde put his spirite vpon them.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Moses said unto him: 'Art thou jealous for my sake? would that all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put His spirit upon them!'

King James Version (1611)
And Moses said vnto him, Enuiest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lords people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit vpon them.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Moses said to him, Art thou jealous on my account? and would that all the Lord’s people were prophets; whenever the Lord shall put his spirit upon them.

English Revised Version
And Moses said unto him, Art thou jealous for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

Berean Standard Bible
But Moses replied, "Are you jealous on my account? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would place His Spirit on them!"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide, What hast thou enuye for me? who yyueth that al the puple profesie, and that God yyue his spirit to hem?

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses saith to him, `Art thou zealous for me? O that all Jehovah's people were prophets! that Jehovah would put His Spirit upon them!'

Update Bible Version
And Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? Oh that all Yahweh's people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses said to him, Enviest thou for my sake? I would that all the LORD'S people were prophets, [and] that the LORD would put his spirit upon them.

World English Bible
Moses said to him, Are you jealous for my sake? would that all Yahweh's people were prophets, that Yahweh would put his Spirit on them!

New King James Version
Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD's people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"

New Living Translation
But Moses replied, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord 's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!"

New Life Bible
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my good? If only all the Lord's people would speak for God, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!"

New Revised Standard
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord 's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But Moses said unto him, Art, thou, jealous for, me? Oh would that, all the people of Yahweh, were prophets! Yea let Yahweh put his spirit upon them!

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said: Why hast thou emulation for me? O that all the people might prophesy, and that the Lord would give them his spirit!

Revised Standard Version
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!"

THE MESSAGE
But Moses said, "Are you jealous for me? Would that all God 's people were prophets. Would that God would put his Spirit on all of them."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
But Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"

Contextual Overview

²⁴ So Moses went out to speak with the people. He told them what the Lord said. Then he gathered 70 of the elders together and told them to stand around the Tent. ²⁵ Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. He put on the 70 elders some of the same Spirit that was on Moses. After the Spirit came down on them, they began to prophesy. But that was the only time they ever did this. ²⁶ Two of the elders, Eldad and Medad, did not go out to the Tent. Their names were on the list of elders, but they stayed in camp. But the Spirit also came on them, and they began prophesying in camp. ²⁷ A young man ran and told Moses. The man said, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in camp." ²⁸ Joshua son of Nun said to Moses, "Moses, sir, you must stop them!" (Joshua had been Moses' helper since Joshua was a boy.) ²⁹ But Moses answered, "Are you afraid the people will think that I am not the leader now? I wish that all the Lord 's people were able to prophesy. I wish that the Lord would put his Spirit on all of them!" ³⁰ Then Moses and the leaders of Israel went back to the camp.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Enviest: 1 Corinthians 3:3, 1 Corinthians 3:21, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Philippians 2:3, James 3:14, James 3:15, James 4:5, James 5:9, 1 Peter 2:1

would: Acts 26:29, 1 Corinthians 14:5, Philippians 1:15-18

that the: Matthew 9:37, Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:1 - or else I die Numbers 12:2 - hath he not Numbers 27:20 - put some 2 Kings 5:3 - Would God Isaiah 63:11 - where is he that put Luke 2:25 - Holy Ghost John 7:18 - seeketh his glory Acts 13:45 - they 1 Corinthians 4:6 - be puffed 1 Corinthians 4:8 - and I 2 Corinthians 11:1 - Would

Cross-References

Genesis 17:15
God said to Abraham, "I will give Sarai, your wife, a new name. Her new name will be Sarah.

Genesis 20:12
She is my wife, but she is also my sister. She is the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother.

Genesis 22:20
After all these things happened, a message was sent to Abraham. It said, "Your brother Nahor and his wife Milcah have children now.

Genesis 24:15
Before the servant finished praying, a young woman named Rebekah came to the well. She was the daughter of Bethuel. (Bethuel was the son of Milcah and Nahor, Abraham's brother.) Rebekah came to the well with her water jar on her shoulder.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Moses said unto him, enviest thou for my sake?.... Lest his authority should be weakened, and his honour lessened, because they began not to prophesy in his presence, and at the tabernacle, and among the rest of the elders, and so seemed not to have received of the Spirit that was upon him, and to be independent of him:

would God that all the Lord's people were prophets; this is not to he understood in the most absolute sense, as if Moses wished that every individual person among the people of Israel were prophets, as the word may signify a set and order of men, and an office in the church or state, as ministers of the word extraordinary or ordinary; for then there would be none to prophesy to, or to teach and instruct; and so likewise not rulers, or helps and assistants in government, for then there would be none to be governed; but it is to be taken comparatively, and is designed to show how far Moses was from an envious spirit at the gifts of others, that he could wish, if it was the will of God, and consistent with the order of things, that every man had as great or greater gifts than he had, qualifying them for public service and usefulness; such was the modesty and meekness of Moses: there is a sense indeed, in which all the Lord's people, all good men, are and should be prophets, and for which by the grace of the Spirit of God they are qualified; and should act as such, by praying and singing praises, which are sometimes meant by prophesying, and by spiritual conferences in private with one another, building up each other on their most holy faith, and by teaching and instructing all under their care in their families:

[and] that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them; the gifts of it, which are necessary to fit men for public service in church or state, or for private usefulness, 1 Corinthians 12:7.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Occurrences at Kibroth-hattavah.

Numbers 11:4

The mixt multitude - The word in the original resembles our “riff-raff,” and denotes a mob of people scraped together. It refers here to the multitude of strangers (see Exodus 12:38) who had followed the Israelites from Egypt.

Numbers 11:5

The natural dainties of Egypt are set forth in this passage with the fullness and relish which bespeak personal experience.

Numbers 11:6-7

There is nothing at all ... - literally, “Nought at all have we except that our eyes are unto this manna;” i. e. “Nought else have we to expect beside this manna.” On the manna see Exodus 16:15 note; on bdellium see Genesis 2:12 note.

Numbers 11:10

The weeping was general; every family wept (compare Zechariah 12:12), and in a manner public and unconcealed.

Numbers 11:11-15

The complaint and remonstrance of Moses may be compared with that in 1 Kings 19:4 ff; Jonah 4:1-3, and contrasted with the language of Abraham (Genesis 18:23 ff) The meekness of Moses (compare Numbers 12:3) sank under vexation into despair. His language shows us how imperfect and prone to degeneracy are the best saints on earth.

Numbers 11:16

Seventy men of the elders of Israel - Seventy elders had also gone up with Moses to the Lord in the mount Exodus 24:1, Exodus 24:9. Seventy is accordingly the number of colleagues assigned to Moses to share his burden with him. To it, the Jews trace the origin of the Sanhedrim. Subsequent notices Numbers 16:25; Joshua 7:6; Joshua 8:10, Joshua 8:33; Joshua 9:11; Joshua 23:2; Joshua 24:1, Joshua 24:31 so connect the elders with the government of Israel as to point to the fact that the appointment now made was not a merely temporary one, though it would seem to have soon fallen into desuetude. We find no traces of it in the days of the Judges and the Kings.

Elders of the people, and officers over them - In English idiom, “elders and officers of the people.” Both elders and officers appear in Egypt (Exodus 3:16; Exodus 5:6 ff): the former had headed the nation in its efforts after freedom; the latter were the subordinate, though unwilling, agents of Egyptian tyranny. The two classes no doubt were working together; and from those who belonged to either, perhaps from those who were both eiders and officers, the council of Seventy was to be selected.

Numbers 11:17

I will take of the spirit which is upon thee - Render rather separate from the spirit, etc.; i. e. they shall have their portion in the same divine gift which thou hast.

Numbers 11:25

They prophesied - i. e. under the extraordinary impulse of the Holy Spirit they uttered forth the praises of God, or declared His will. Compare the marginal references.

And did not cease - Rather, and added not, i. e. they prophesied at this time only and not afterward. The sign was granted on the occasion of their appointment to accredit them in their office; it was not continued, because their proper function was to be that of governing not prophesying.

Numbers 11:26

Of them that were written - i. e. enrolled among the Seventy. The expression points to a regular appointment duly recorded and permanent.

Numbers 11:29

Enviest thou for my sake? - (Compare Mark 9:38 ff) The other members of the Seventy had been with Moses (compare Numbers 6:16, Numbers 6:24-25) when the gift of prophecy was bestowed on them. They received “of the spirit that was upon him,” and exercised their office visibly through and for him. Eldad and Medad prophesying in the camp seemed to Joshua to be acting independently, and so establishing a separate center of authority.

Numbers 11:31

The southeast wind, which blew from the neighboring Elanitic gulf of the Red Sea, brought the quails Exodus 16:13.

Two cubits high - Better, “two cubits above the face of the ground:” i. e. the quails, wearied with their long flight, flew about breast high, and were easily secured by the people, who spread them all abroad for themselves Numbers 11:32, in order to salt and dry them. The quail habitually flies with the wind, and low.

Numbers 11:32

Ten homers - About 55 bushels. Compare Leviticus 27:16.

Numbers 11:33

Ere it was chewed - Better, ere it was consumed. See Numbers 11:19-20. The surfeit in which the people indulged, as described in Numbers 11:32, disposed them to sickness. God’s wrath, visiting the gluttonous through their gluttony, aggravated natural consequences into a supernatural visitation.

Numbers 11:34, Numbers 11:35

(Kibroth-hattaavah has been identified by Palmer with the extensive remains, graves, etc., at Erweis El Ebeirig, and Hazeroth “enclosures” with Ain Hadherah.)

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 11:29. Enviest thou for my sake? —

Moses, the minister of God,

Rebukes our partial love,

Who envy at the gifts bestow'd

On those we disapprove.

We do not our own spirit know,

Who wish to see suppress'd

The men that Jesu's spirit show,

The men whom God hath bless'd.

Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets —

SHALL we the Spirit's course restrain,

Or quench the heavenly fire?

Let God his messengers ordain,

And whom he will inspire.

Blow as he list, the Spirit's choice

Of instruments we bless;

We will, if Christ be preached, rejoice,

And wish the word success.

Can all be prophets then? are all

Commission'd from above?

No; but whome'er the Lord shall call

We joyfully approve.

O that the Church might all receive

The spirit of prophecy,

And all in Christ accepted live,

And all in Jesus die!

Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures, by

Charles Wesley, M. A., and Presbyter of the Church of England.

Bristol, 1762. 2 vols. 12mo.

These sentiments are the more particularly remarkable as they come from one who was sufficiently bigoted to what was called ecclesiastical orders and regularity.