The Meaning of Numbers 12:6 Explained

Numbers 12:6

KJV: And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

YLT: And He saith, 'Hear, I pray you, My words: If your prophet is of Jehovah -- in an appearance unto him I make Myself known; in a dream I speak with him;

Darby: And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I Jehovah will make myself known to him in a vision, I will speak to him in a dream.

ASV: And he said, Hear now my words: if there be a prophet among you, I Jehovah will make myself known unto him in a vision, I will speak with him in a dream.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he said,  Hear  now my words:  If there be a prophet  among you, [I] the LORD  will make myself known  unto him in a vision,  [and] will speak  unto him in a dream. 

What does Numbers 12:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 12:1-15 - God Protects Moses Against Criticism
This Ethiopian wife may have been Zipporah, or some other woman whom Moses married after his first wife's death. That Moses, the great lawgiver and leader, who could rule a turbulent multitude and face the great king of Egypt, should take the taunts of his brother and sister so quietly, indicates how deep and far-reaching had been the transformation of his character. Compare Exodus 2:12, etc. "Fret not thyself because of evildoers"¦. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him," Psalms 37:1-40.
When we hand our cause over to God He comes down, Numbers 12:5. He rebukes the enemy and avenger. Be faithful to Him and you may reckon on His faithfulness to you! That commendation of faithfulness, which Moses received, may be won by all! See Mark 13:34.
Our intercession may bring pardon and healing; but sin leaves its mark, Numbers 12:15. You are shut out of the enjoyment of the camp, and the march is delayed. Ponder James 3:5-6. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 12

1  God rebukes the sedition of Miriam and Aaron
11  Miriam's leprosy is healed at the prayer of Moses
14  God commands her to be shut out of the host
16  The people encamp in the desert of Paran

What do the individual words in Numbers 12:6 mean?

And He said Hear now My words if there is a prophet among you [I] Yahweh in a vision to him make Myself known in a dream I speak to him
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁמְעוּ־ נָ֣א דְבָרָ֑י אִם־ יִֽהְיֶה֙ נְבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם יְהוָ֗ה בַּמַּרְאָה֙ אֵלָ֣יו אֶתְוַדָּ֔ע בַּחֲל֖וֹם אֲדַבֶּר־ בּֽוֹ

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר  And  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שִׁמְעוּ־  Hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
נָ֣א  now 
Parse: Interjection
Root: נָא  
Sense: I (we) pray, now, please.
דְבָרָ֑י  My  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יִֽהְיֶה֙  there  is 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
נְבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם  a  prophet  among  you 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
יְהוָ֗ה  [I]  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בַּמַּרְאָה֙  in  a  vision 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַרְאָה 
Sense: vision.
אֵלָ֣יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֶתְוַדָּ֔ע  make  Myself  known 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
בַּחֲל֖וֹם  in  a  dream 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֲלֹום  
Sense: dream.
אֲדַבֶּר־  I  speak 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
בּֽוֹ  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular