Numbers 9:22
New International Version
Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out.

New Living Translation
Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on.

English Standard Version
Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out.

Berean Standard Bible
Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle; but when it was lifted, they would set out.

King James Bible
Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

New King James Version
Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey.

New American Standard Bible
Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out.

NASB 1995
Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out.

NASB 1977
Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out.

Legacy Standard Bible
Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud lingered over the tabernacle, dwelling above it, the sons of Israel remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they did set out.

Amplified Bible
Whether it was two days or a month or a year that the cloud [of the LORD’S presence] lingered over the tabernacle, staying above it, the Israelites remained camped and did not set out; but when it was lifted, they set out.

Christian Standard Bible
Whether it was two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Whether it was two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle. But when it was lifted, they set out.

American Standard Version
Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

English Revised Version
Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whether it was two days, a month, or a year, as long as the [column of] smoke stayed over the tent, the Israelites would stay in the same place and not break camp. But when the smoke moved, they would break camp.

Good News Translation
Whether it was two days, a month, a year, or longer, as long as the cloud remained over the Tent, they did not move on; but when it lifted, they moved.

International Standard Version
Whether for two days, a month, or for longer periods, whenever the cloud would remain above the tent, the Israelis would remain in camp, not traveling. But whenever it ascended, then they would travel.

Majority Standard Bible
Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle; but when it was lifted, they would set out.

NET Bible
Whether it was for two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud prolonged its stay over the tabernacle, the Israelites remained camped without traveling; but when it was taken up, they traveled on.

New Heart English Bible
Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained camped, and did not travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled.

Webster's Bible Translation
Or whether it was two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining upon it, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

World English Bible
Whether it was two days, or a month, or a year that the cloud stayed on the tabernacle, remaining on it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and didn’t travel; but when it was taken up, they traveled.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Whether two days, or a month, or days, in the cloud prolonging itself over the Dwelling Place, to dwell over it, the sons of Israel encamp and do not journey; and in its being lifted up they journey.

Young's Literal Translation
Whether two days, or a month, or days, in the cloud prolonging itself over the tabernacle, to tabernacle over it, the sons of Israel encamp, and journey not; and in its being lifted up they journey;

Smith's Literal Translation
Or days, or a month, or days, in the prolonging of the cloud upon the dwelling to dwell upon it, the sons of Israel shall encamp, and they shall not remove; and in its going up they shall remove.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But if it remained over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a longer time, the children of Israel remained in the same place, and marched not: but immediately as soon as it departed, they removed the camp.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, whether it remained over the tabernacle for two days, or one month, or a longer time, the sons of Israel remained in the same place, and they did not set out. Then, as soon as it withdrew, they moved the camp.

New American Bible
Whether the cloud lingered over the tabernacle for two days or for a month or longer, the Israelites remained in camp and did not break camp; but when it lifted, they broke camp.

New Revised Standard Version
Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And whether it was a few days or months or a year, as long as the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, resting thereon, the children of Israel remained in their tents and journeyed not; but when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Or days or months or time to time, however long the cloud was remaining on the Tabernacle, so the children of Israel remained and they did not pick up, and whenever the cloud went up, they picked up.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
When the cloud continues a full month overshadowing the tabernacle, the children of Israel shall encamp, and shall not depart.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cloud Above the Tabernacle
21Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they would set out. Whether it was by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up, they would set out. 22Whether the cloud lingered for two days, a month, or longer, the Israelites camped and did not set out as long as the cloud remained over the tabernacle; but when it was lifted, they would set out. 23They camped at the LORD’s command, and they set out at the LORD’s command; they carried out the LORD’s charge according to His command through Moses.…

Cross References
Exodus 40:36-38
Whenever the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out through all the stages of their journey. / If the cloud was not lifted, they would not set out until the day it was taken up. / For the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel through all their journeys.

Nehemiah 9:19
You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.

Psalm 78:14
He led them with a cloud by day and with a light of fire all night.

Psalm 105:39
He spread a cloud as a covering and a fire to light up the night.

Exodus 13:21-22
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. / Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

Deuteronomy 1:33
who went before you on the journey, in the fire by night and in the cloud by day, to seek out a place for you to camp and to show you the road to travel.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea. / They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

Exodus 14:19-20
And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them, / so that it came between the camps of Egypt and Israel. The cloud was there in the darkness, but it lit up the night. So all night long neither camp went near the other.

Exodus 33:9-10
As Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance, and the LORD would speak with Moses. / When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up and worship, each one at the entrance to his own tent.

Isaiah 4:5
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and a glowing flame of fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy,

Exodus 16:10
And as Aaron was speaking to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the desert, and there in a cloud the glory of the LORD appeared.

Exodus 24:16-18
and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered it, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. / And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountaintop in the eyes of the Israelites. / Moses entered the cloud as he went up on the mountain, and he remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Numbers 10:11-12
On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony, / and the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai, traveling from place to place until the cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran.

Numbers 14:14
And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have already heard that You, O LORD, are in the midst of this people, that You, O LORD, have been seen face to face, that Your cloud stands over them, and that You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Numbers 16:42
But when the congregation gathered against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the Tent of Meeting, and suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared.


Treasury of Scripture

Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried on the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel stayed in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

abode

Numbers 9:17
And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.

Numbers 1:54
And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

Numbers 8:20
And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.

Jump to Previous
Abiding Abode Camped Children Cloud Continued Encamped Forward House Israel Israelites Journey Journeyed Lingered Month Moving Remaining Rest Staying Tabernacle Tarried Tents Thereon Time Travel Traveled Waiting Whenever Year
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Abiding Abode Camped Children Cloud Continued Encamped Forward House Israel Israelites Journey Journeyed Lingered Month Moving Remaining Rest Staying Tabernacle Tarried Tents Thereon Time Travel Traveled Waiting Whenever Year
Numbers 9
1. The Passover is again commanded
6. A second Passover for the unclean or absent
15. The cloud directs the removals and encampments of the Israelites














Whether the cloud lingered
The "cloud" here is a manifestation of God's presence, often referred to as the Shekinah glory. In Hebrew, the word for cloud is "עָנָן" (anan), which signifies a covering or a veil. This cloud was not just a meteorological phenomenon but a divine guide. The lingering of the cloud symbolizes God's timing and sovereignty. It teaches the Israelites, and us, the importance of waiting on God's timing rather than our own. The cloud's presence was a constant reminder of God's protection and guidance.

over the tabernacle
The "tabernacle" was the portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites, known in Hebrew as "מִשְׁכָּן" (mishkan), meaning "dwelling place." It was central to the Israelite camp and their worship, symbolizing God's presence among His people. The tabernacle was meticulously constructed according to divine specifications, emphasizing the holiness and order of God. The cloud's position over the tabernacle signifies God's direct involvement and leadership in the life of the community.

for two days, a month, or a year
This phrase highlights the unpredictability and variability of God's guidance. The Hebrew terms for time periods here emphasize the need for patience and trust in God's plan. Whether short or long, the duration was determined by God, teaching the Israelites to rely on His wisdom rather than their own understanding. This variability also underscores the lesson of obedience and readiness to move at God's command, regardless of human plans or desires.

the Israelites camped and did not set out
The Israelites' obedience to the cloud's movement is a testament to their faith and trust in God's leadership. The Hebrew word for "camped" is "חָנָה" (chanah), which means to pitch a tent or to rest. This action required submission and patience, virtues that are essential in the life of faith. The Israelites' willingness to remain stationary until God directed otherwise is a powerful example of surrendering personal agendas to divine will.

but when it was lifted, they would set out
The lifting of the cloud signaled the time to move, representing a new phase or journey in the Israelites' pilgrimage. The Hebrew verb "נָסַע" (nasa) means to pull up, as in pulling up tent pegs, indicating readiness and action. This movement was not arbitrary but divinely orchestrated, teaching the importance of being attuned to God's signals and prepared to act in faith. The Israelites' journey was a physical manifestation of spiritual obedience, reflecting a life led by God's direction.

(22) Or a year.--Literally, days (comp. Genesis 4:3; Genesis 40:4, and Notes). If the rendering of the Authorised Version, "a year," is correct, as it probably is, it will follow that these words could not have been written until after the first arrival at Kadesh (Numbers 13:26), and probably not until after the end of the wanderings in the wilderness. The elaborate manner in which the statement is made and repeated in almost identical terms shows the great importance which the writer ascribed to the Divine guardianship which was exercised over the Israelites, and to their submission to the miraculous guidance which was given to them.

Verse 22. - Or a year. Rather, "days" (yamin): an undefined period (Genesis 4:3; Genesis 40:4), often equivalent to a year (Leviticus 25:29). It is not known whether or on what occasion the Israelites actually remained in camp for a year. But it is evident that this passage must have been written after the wanderings were over, because it is a kind of retrospect of the whole period as regards one important feature of it. It may of course have been added here by the hand of Moses on the eve of entry upon the promised land: or it may have been added by a later hand, perhaps that of Ezra when he revised these books (see the Introduction).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Whether
אֽוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

[the cloud] lingered
בְּהַאֲרִ֨יךְ (bə·ha·’ă·rîḵ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 748: To be, long

for two days,
יֹמַ֜יִם (yō·ma·yim)
Noun - md
Strong's 3117: A day

a month,
חֹ֣דֶשׁ (ḥō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month

or longer,
אוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

the Israelites
בְנֵֽי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

camped
יַחֲנ֥וּ (ya·ḥă·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2583: To incline, to decline, to pitch a, tent, gen, to encamp

and did not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

set out
יִסָּ֑עוּ (yis·sā·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey

as long as the cloud
הֶעָנָ֤ן (he·‘ā·nān)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6051: A cloud, the nimbus, thunder-cloud

remained
לִשְׁכֹּ֣ן (liš·kōn)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7931: To settle down, abide, dwell

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

the tabernacle;
הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ (ham·miš·kān)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4908: A residence, the Tabernacle

but when it was lifted,
וּבְהֵעָלֹת֖וֹ (ū·ḇə·hê·‘ā·lō·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

they would set out.
יִסָּֽעוּ׃ (yis·sā·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5265: To pull up, the tent-pins, start on a, journey


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OT Law: Numbers 9:22 Whether it was two days (Nu Num.)
Numbers 9:21
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