Numbers 27:14
New International Version
for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

New Living Translation
for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin. When the people of Israel rebelled, you failed to demonstrate my holiness to them at the waters.” (These are the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

English Standard Version
because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Berean Standard Bible
for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

King James Bible
For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

New King James Version
For in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to hallow Me at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah, at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)

New American Standard Bible
for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

NASB 1995
for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

NASB 1977
for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Legacy Standard Bible
for in the wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat Me as holy before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Amplified Bible
because in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat me as holy [by following My instruction] before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah in Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)

Christian Standard Bible
When the community quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against my command to demonstrate my holiness in their sight at the waters.” Those were the Waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the community quarreled in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight at the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.

American Standard Version
because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Contemporary English Version
because both of you disobeyed me at Meribah near the town of Kadesh in the Zin Desert. When the Israelites insulted me there, you didn't believe in my holy power."

English Revised Version
because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You both rebelled against my command in the Desert of Zin. You didn't show the people how holy I am when they were complaining at the oasis." (This was the oasis of Meribah at Kadesh in the Desert of Zin.)

Good News Translation
because both of you rebelled against my command in the wilderness of Zin. When the whole community complained against me at Meribah, you refused to acknowledge my holy power before them." (Meribah is the spring at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

International Standard Version
because in the wilderness of Zin, when the community rebelled, you rebelled against my command to treat me as holy before their eyes in regards to the Meribah Springs in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin."

Majority Standard Bible
for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

NET Bible
For in the wilderness of Zin when the community rebelled against me, you rebelled against my command to show me as holy before their eyes over the water--the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin."

New Heart English Bible
because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes." (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Webster's Bible Translation
For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

World English Bible
because in the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, to honor me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
because you provoked My mouth in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation—to sanctify Me at the waters before their eyes”; they [are] the waters of Meribah, in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.

Young's Literal Translation
because ye provoked My mouth in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the company -- to sanctify Me at the waters before their eyes;' they are waters of Meribah, in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.

Smith's Literal Translation
As ye rebelled against my mouth in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the assembly to consecrate me at the waters before their eyes, these the Waters of Strife, of Kadish of the desert of Zin.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because you offended me in the desert of Sin in the contradiction of the multitude, neither would you sanctify me before them at the waters. These are the waters of contradiction in Cades of the desert of Sin.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For you offended me in the desert of Sin at the Contradiction of the multitude; neither were you willing to sanctify me in their sight over the waters. These are the Waters of Contradiction at Kadesh in the desert of Sin.”

New American Bible
For in the rebellion of the community in the wilderness of Zin you both rebelled against my order to acknowledge my holiness before them by means of the water. (These were the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

New Revised Standard Version
because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled with me. You did not show my holiness before their eyes at the waters.” (These are the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Because you rebelled against my commandment in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, and you did not sanctify me before their eyes; that is, the waters of Mesotha, at Rakim in the wilderness of Zin.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because you provoked the Word of my mouth in the wilderness of Tsin in the strife of the assembly, and you did not sanctify me at the water in their sight; those are the waters of strife of Raqem in the wilderness of Tsin.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
because ye rebelled against My commandment in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify Me at the waters before their eyes.'--These are the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.--

Brenton Septuagint Translation
because ye transgressed my commandment in the wilderness of Sin, when the congregation resisted and refused to sanctify me; ye sanctified me not at the water before them. This is the water of Strife in Cades in the wilderness of Sin.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses Requests a Successor
13After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was; 14for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin. 15So Moses appealed to the LORD,…

Cross References
Numbers 20:12
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

Deuteronomy 32:51-52
For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence. / Although you shall see from a distance the land that I am giving the Israelites, you shall not enter it.”

Psalm 106:32-33
At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them. / For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips.

Exodus 17:6-7
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. / He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

Deuteronomy 1:37
The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land.

Deuteronomy 3:26
But the LORD was angry with me on account of you, and He would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said to me. “Do not speak to Me again about this matter.

Deuteronomy 4:21
The LORD, however, was angry with me on account of you, and He swore that I would not cross the Jordan to enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Deuteronomy 34:4
And the LORD said to him, “This is the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.”

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? ...

1 Corinthians 10:4
and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Deuteronomy 32:48-52
On that same day the LORD said to Moses, / “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites as their own possession. / And there on the mountain that you climb, you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. ...

Numbers 20:24
“Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.

Numbers 20:10-11
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” / Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.

Numbers 20:13
These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD, and He showed His holiness among them.

Numbers 20:8
“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.”


Treasury of Scripture

For you rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

Jump to Previous
Angry Command Commandment Community Congregation Desert Disobeyed Eyes Hallowing Holy Kadesh Meribah Mer'ibah Meribath-Kadesh Provoked Rebelled Sanctify Strife Treat Waste Water Waters Wilderness Word Zin
Jump to Next
Angry Command Commandment Community Congregation Desert Disobeyed Eyes Hallowing Holy Kadesh Meribah Mer'ibah Meribath-Kadesh Provoked Rebelled Sanctify Strife Treat Waste Water Waters Wilderness Word Zin
Numbers 27
1. The daughters of Zelophehad ask for an inheritance
6. The law of inheritances
12. Moses, being told of his death, asks for a successor
18. Joshua is appointed to succeed him














For when the congregation contended
This phrase refers to a specific incident in the history of Israel, where the people of Israel, often referred to as the "congregation," expressed their dissatisfaction and lack of faith. The Hebrew root for "contended" is "רִיב" (riv), which means to strive or quarrel. This reflects a recurring theme in the wilderness journey, where the Israelites frequently challenged Moses and, by extension, God. This contention is a reminder of human nature's tendency to doubt and rebel against divine guidance, highlighting the need for faith and trust in God's plan.

in the Wilderness of Zin
The Wilderness of Zin is a geographical location that played a significant role in the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. It is a desert region, symbolizing a place of testing and trial. Historically and archaeologically, the Wilderness of Zin is identified with the Negev desert in modern-day Israel. This setting underscores the harsh conditions the Israelites faced and serves as a metaphor for the spiritual dryness and challenges believers may encounter in their faith journey.

both of you rebelled against My command
This phrase addresses Moses and Aaron, who were leaders of the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "rebelled" is "מָרָה" (marah), meaning to be contentious or disobedient. Despite their leadership roles, Moses and Aaron failed to uphold God's command at a critical moment, demonstrating that even the most faithful can falter. This serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of obedience and the consequences of failing to honor God's instructions.

to show My holiness in their sight
God's holiness is a central theme throughout the Bible, representing His purity, separateness, and divine nature. The Hebrew word for "holiness" is "קֹדֶשׁ" (qodesh), which signifies something sacred or set apart. In this context, God intended to demonstrate His holiness through Moses and Aaron's actions, but their failure to do so resulted in a missed opportunity to glorify God before the people. This emphasizes the responsibility of believers to reflect God's holiness in their lives.

at the waters
This refers to the waters of Meribah, where Moses struck the rock to bring forth water for the Israelites, contrary to God's command to speak to the rock. The incident at the waters is a pivotal moment that illustrates the consequences of disobedience. Water, often a symbol of life and sustenance, here becomes a symbol of lost opportunity and divine judgment. It serves as a reminder of the importance of following God's instructions precisely and the impact of our actions on our witness to others.

(14) To sanctify me . . . --See Numbers 20:12-13, where the same expression is used.

Verse 14. - For ye rebelled against my commandment. Rather, "as ye rebelled." The same word, כַּאֲשֶׁר, quomodo, is used here as in the previous clause. That is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. These words have all the appearance of an explanatory gloss intended to make the reference more plain to the reader or hearer. It is impossible to suppose that they formed part of the Divine message; nor does it seem probable that Moses would have added them to the narrative as it stands, because, in view of Numbers 20:13, no necessity for explanation existed. It is quite possible that both Numbers 20:13 and the present clause are subsequent additions to the text intended to clear up an obvious confusion between the "strife" at Rephidim (Exodus 17:7) and that at Kadesh.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
for
כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

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

contended
בִּמְרִיבַת֙ (bim·rî·ḇaṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4808: Strife, contention

in the Wilderness
בְּמִדְבַּר־ (bə·miḏ·bar-)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

of Zin,
צִ֗ן (ṣin)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6790: Zin -- a desert area which included Kadesh-barnea

both of you rebelled
מְרִיתֶ֨ם (mə·rî·ṯem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 4784: To be contentious or rebellious

against My command
פִּ֜י (pî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

to show My holiness
לְהַקְדִּישֵׁ֥נִי (lə·haq·dî·šê·nî)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated

in their sight
לְעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם (lə·‘ê·nê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

regarding the waters.”
בַמַּ֖יִם (ḇam·ma·yim)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

Those
הֵ֛ם (hêm)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

were the waters
מֵֽי־ (mê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

of Meribah
מְרִיבַ֥ת (mə·rî·ḇaṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4809: Meribah -- 'place of strife', two places in the desert

in Kadesh,
קָדֵ֖שׁ (qā·ḏêš)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6946: Kadesh -- 'sacred', a place in the desert

in the Wilderness
מִדְבַּר־ (miḏ·bar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

of Zin.
צִֽן׃ (ṣin)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6790: Zin -- a desert area which included Kadesh-barnea


Links
Numbers 27:14 NIV
Numbers 27:14 NLT
Numbers 27:14 ESV
Numbers 27:14 NASB
Numbers 27:14 KJV

Numbers 27:14 BibleApps.com
Numbers 27:14 Biblia Paralela
Numbers 27:14 Chinese Bible
Numbers 27:14 French Bible
Numbers 27:14 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Numbers 27:14 Because you rebelled against my word (Nu Num.)
Numbers 27:13
Top of Page
Top of Page