The Meaning of Numbers 14:14 Explained

Numbers 14:14

KJV: And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

YLT: and they have said it unto the inhabitant of this land, they have heard that Thou, Jehovah, art in the midst of this people, that eye to eye Thou art seen -- O Jehovah, and Thy cloud is standing over them, -- and in a pillar of cloud Thou art going before them by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.

Darby: and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land, who have heard that thou, Jehovah, art in the midst of this people, that thou, Jehovah, lettest thyself be seen eye to eye, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night;

ASV: and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that thou Jehovah art in the midst of this people; for thou Jehovah art seen face to face, and thy cloud standeth over them, and thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they will tell  [it] to the inhabitants  of this land:  [for] they have heard  that thou LORD  [art] among  this people,  that thou LORD  art seen  face  to face,  and [that] thy cloud  standeth  over them, and [that] thou goest  before  them, by day time  in a pillar  of a cloud,  and in a pillar  of fire  by night. 

What does Numbers 14:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 14:13-25 - Pardon By Moses' Intercession
Moses was free from selfish ambition. His one thought was for the glory of God. When for a moment the suggestion presented itself to his mind that his own seed should take the place of this rebellious race he instantly dismissed it. It was not to be entertained for a moment, lest the Egyptians make capital of it. He had no desire to be the ancestor of a great nation, if it would tarnish the divine honor. He would rather be consigned to oblivion himself than that one jewel in the glorious galaxy of God's glory should be bedimmed.
There were three arguments in his intercession: God's reputation, God's consistency with Himself and God's mercy. Methinks I hear the voice of the Supreme Mediator these pleadings! His prayer was heard, but the generation that believed not could not enter the land. You may escape Egypt and yet miss Canaan. See Hebrews 3:12-19. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Numbers 14:14 mean?

And they will tell [it] to the inhabitants of land This they have heard that You [are] Yahweh among people this that face to face are seen You Yahweh and Your cloud stands above them and in a pillar of a cloud go before them by day and in pillar of fire by night
וְאָמְר֗וּ אֶל־ יוֹשֵׁב֮ הָאָ֣רֶץ הַזֹּאת֒ שָֽׁמְעוּ֙ כִּֽי־ אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֔ה בְּקֶ֖רֶב הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־ עַ֨יִן בְּעַ֜יִן נִרְאָ֣ה ׀ אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֗ה וַעֲנָֽנְךָ֙ עֹמֵ֣ד עֲלֵהֶ֔ם וּבְעַמֻּ֣ד עָנָ֗ן הֹלֵ֤ךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וּבְעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ לָֽיְלָה

וְאָמְר֗וּ  And  they  will  tell  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יוֹשֵׁב֮  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
הָאָ֣רֶץ  of  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הַזֹּאת֒  This 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
שָֽׁמְעוּ֙  they  have  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אַתָּ֣ה  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הָעָ֣ם  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַזֶּ֑ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עַ֨יִן  face 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
בְּעַ֜יִן  to  face 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
נִרְאָ֣ה ׀  are  seen 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַעֲנָֽנְךָ֙  and  Your  cloud 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
עֹמֵ֣ד  stands 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
עֲלֵהֶ֔ם  above  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וּבְעַמֻּ֣ד  and  in  a  pillar 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עַמּוּד  
Sense: pillar, column.
עָנָ֗ן  of  a  cloud 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
הֹלֵ֤ךְ  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
לִפְנֵיהֶם֙  before  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
יוֹמָ֔ם  by  day 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יׄומָם  
Sense: by day, in the daytime subst.
וּבְעַמּ֥וּד  and  in  pillar 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עַמּוּד  
Sense: pillar, column.
אֵ֖שׁ  of  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
לָֽיְלָה  by  night 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.