Numbers 14:2
New International Version
All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!

New Living Translation
Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained.

English Standard Version
And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

Berean Standard Bible
All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

King James Bible
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

New King James Version
And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!

New American Standard Bible
And all the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the entire congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or even if we had died in this wilderness!

NASB 1995
All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

NASB 1977
And all the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

Legacy Standard Bible
And all the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

Amplified Bible
All the Israelites murmured [in discontent] against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Oh that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or that we had died in this wilderness!

Christian Standard Bible
All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All the Israelites complained about Moses and Aaron, and the whole community told them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

American Standard Version
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would that we had died in this wilderness!

Contemporary English Version
and complained to Moses and Aaron, "We wish we had died in Egypt or somewhere out here in the desert!

English Revised Version
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They complained to Moses and Aaron, "If only we had died in Egypt or this desert!

Good News Translation
They complained against Moses and Aaron, and said, "It would have been better to die in Egypt or even here in the wilderness!

International Standard Version
All the Israelis complained against Moses and Aaron. Then the entire assembly responded, "We wish that we had died in Egypt or in this wilderness.

Majority Standard Bible
All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, ?If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!

NET Bible
And all the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, "If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had perished in this wilderness!

New Heart English Bible
All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt, or would that we had died in this wilderness.

Webster's Bible Translation
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said to them, O that we had died in the land of Egypt! or O that we had died in this wilderness!

World English Bible
All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “We wish that we had died in the land of Egypt, or that we had died in this wilderness!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and all the sons of Israel murmur against Moses and against Aaron, and all the congregation says to them, “O that we had died in the land of Egypt, or in this wilderness, O that we had died!

Young's Literal Translation
and all the sons of Israel murmur against Moses, and against Aaron, and all the company say unto them, 'O that we had died in the land of Egypt, or in this wilderness, O that we had died!

Smith's Literal Translation
And all the children of Israel will murmur against Moses, and against Aaron; and all the assembly will say to them, Would we died in the land of Egypt! or in this desert would that we died!
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And all the sons of Israel were murmuring against Moses and Aaron, saying:

New American Bible
All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, the whole community saying to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt,” or “If only we would die here in the wilderness!

New Revised Standard Version
And all the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron; the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, Would God we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God that we had died in this wilderness!

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And all of the children of Israel complained against Moshe and against Ahron, and the whole assembly said to them: “Oh, that we had died in the land of Egypt or in this wilderness! Oh that we were dead!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron; and the whole congregation said unto them: 'Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would we had died in this wilderness!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron; and all the congregation said to them,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Rebel
1Then the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”…

Cross References
Exodus 16:2-3
And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. / “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

Exodus 17:3
But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

Deuteronomy 1:27
You grumbled in your tents and said, “Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated.

Psalm 106:25
They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the voice of the LORD.

1 Corinthians 10:10
And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

Hebrews 3:16-19
For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...

Exodus 14:11-12
They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? / Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Deuteronomy 9:23
And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.

Psalm 78:19-20
They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness? / When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”

Psalm 95:8-11
do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. / For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.” ...

1 Corinthians 10:5-6
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. / These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.

Exodus 15:24
So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”

Exodus 16:7-9
and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. For who are we, that you should grumble against us?” / And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.” / Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole congregation of Israel, ‘Come before the LORD, for He has heard your grumbling.’”

Exodus 16:12
“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’”

Exodus 17:2
So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?”


Treasury of Scripture

And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said to them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

murmured

Numbers 16:41
But 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 15:24
And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

Exodus 16:2,3
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: …

would

Numbers 14:28,29
Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: …

Numbers 11:15
And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

1 Kings 19:4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

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Aaron Assembly Children Company Congregation Crying Death Desert Died Egypt Israel Israelites Waste Whole Wilderness
Numbers 14
1. The people murmur at the news
6. Joshua and Caleb labor to still them
11. God threatens them
13. Moses intercedes with God, and obtains pardon
26. The Murmurers are debarred from entering into the land
36. The men who raised the evil report die by a plague
40. The people that would invade the land against the will of God are smitten














All the Israelites
This phrase emphasizes the collective nature of the rebellion. The Hebrew word for "Israelites" is "בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" (B'nei Yisrael), meaning "children of Israel." This highlights their identity as descendants of Jacob, who was renamed Israel. The use of "all" underscores the widespread discontent and lack of faith among the people, reflecting a communal failure to trust in God's promises.

grumbled against
The Hebrew root for "grumbled" is "לון" (lun), which conveys a sense of complaining or murmuring. This is not merely a casual complaint but a deep-seated dissatisfaction and rebellion against divinely appointed leadership. Historically, grumbling against leaders like Moses and Aaron was tantamount to grumbling against God Himself, as they were His chosen representatives.

Moses and Aaron
Moses and Aaron were the appointed leaders of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses, as the prophet and lawgiver, and Aaron, as the high priest, held significant spiritual and political authority. Their leadership was divinely sanctioned, and opposition to them was seen as opposition to God's will.

the whole congregation
This phrase indicates that the discontent was not limited to a small faction but involved the entire assembly of Israel. The Hebrew word "עֵדָה" (edah) for "congregation" suggests a formal gathering, emphasizing the unity in their rebellion. This collective action highlights the severity of their lack of faith and trust in God's plan.

said to them
The act of speaking to Moses and Aaron signifies a direct challenge to their authority. In the ancient Near Eastern context, addressing leaders in such a manner was a bold and rebellious act, indicating a breakdown in the social and spiritual order established by God.

If only we had died in the land of Egypt
This statement reflects a profound despair and lack of faith. The Israelites longed for the familiarity of Egypt, despite their bondage there. The Hebrew word for "died" is "מָוֶת" (mavet), which underscores the finality and hopelessness they felt. Their desire to return to Egypt symbolizes a rejection of God's deliverance and promises.

or if only we had died in this wilderness
The wilderness was a place of testing and reliance on God. By expressing a wish to die there, the Israelites demonstrated a failure to trust in God's provision and plan for their future. The wilderness journey was meant to prepare them for the Promised Land, but their lack of faith led them to see it as a place of death rather than transformation.

XIV.

(2) And all the children of Israel murmured.--When the people murmured in like manner in the wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16:2-3) against Moses and Aaron because they had brought them forth into the wilderness, Moses assured them that at even they should know that it was Jehovah Himself who had brought them out from the land of Egypt (Ibid, Numbers 14:6). On the present occasion their murmuring was not against Moses and Aaron only, but they openly rebelled against Jehovah Himself, to whom they ascribed, in the way of reproach, their exodus from the land of Egypt.

Verse 2. - Murmured against Moses and against Aaron; whom they probably suspected and accused of seeking their own personal ends. Here we may see the true reason why Joshua had not been put forward to advocate an immediate advance. The Septuagint has διεγόγγυζον (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:10). Would God we had died. לוּ־מָתְנוּ. Septuagint, ὄφελον ἀπεθάνομεν. The A.V. is unnecessarily strong.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כֹּ֖ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the Israelites
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

grumbled
וַיִּלֹּ֙נוּ֙ (way·yil·lō·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3885: To stop, to stay permanently, to be obstinate

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֣ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

and Aaron,
אַהֲרֹ֔ן (’a·hă·rōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

and the whole
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

congregation
הָעֵדָ֗ה (hā·‘ê·ḏāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5712: A stated assemblage

said
וַֽיֹּאמְר֨וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to them,
אֲלֵהֶ֜ם (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“If only
לוּ־ (lū-)
Preposition
Strong's 3863: If, would that!

we had died
מַ֙תְנוּ֙ (maṯ·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

in the land
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Egypt,
מִצְרַ֔יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

or
א֛וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

if only
לוּ־ (lū-)
Preposition
Strong's 3863: If, would that!

we had died
מָֽתְנוּ׃ (mā·ṯə·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

in this
הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

wilderness!
בַּמִּדְבָּ֥ר (bam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech


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OT Law: Numbers 14:2 All the children of Israel murmured against (Nu Num.)
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