The Meaning of Numbers 14:18 Explained

Numbers 14:18

KJV: The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

YLT: Jehovah is slow to anger, and of great kindness; bearing away iniquity and transgression, and not entirely acquitting, charging iniquity of fathers on sons, on a third generation, and on a fourth; --

Darby: Jehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in goodness, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and fourth generation.

ASV: Jehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; and that will by no means clear the guilty , visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  [is] longsuffering,  and of great  mercy,  forgiving  iniquity  and transgression,  and by no means  clearing  [the guilty], visiting  the iniquity  of the fathers  upon the children  unto the third  and fourth  [generation]. 

What does Numbers 14:18 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 14:18 mean?

Yahweh is slow anger and abundant in mercy forgiving iniquity and transgression but by means no He clears [the guilty] visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons to the third and fourth [generation]
יְהוָ֗ה אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֙יִם֙ וְרַב־ חֶ֔סֶד נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֖ן וָפָ֑שַׁע וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֞ד עֲוֺ֤ן אָבוֹת֙ עַל־ בָּנִ֔ים עַל־ שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־ רִבֵּעִֽים

יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶ֤רֶךְ  is  slow 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: אָרֵךְ 
Sense: long (pinions).
אַפַּ֙יִם֙  anger 
Parse: Noun, md
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
וְרַב־  and  abundant  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
חֶ֔סֶד  mercy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
נֹשֵׂ֥א  forgiving 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
עָוֺ֖ן  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
וָפָ֑שַׁע  and  transgression 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּשַׁע  
Sense: transgression, rebellion.
וְנַקֵּה֙  but  by  means 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Infinitive absolute
Root: נָקָה  
Sense: to be empty, be clear, be pure, be free, be innocent, be desolate, be cut off.
לֹ֣א  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יְנַקֶּ֔ה  He  clears  [the  guilty] 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָקָה  
Sense: to be empty, be clear, be pure, be free, be innocent, be desolate, be cut off.
פֹּקֵ֞ד  visiting 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
עֲוֺ֤ן  the  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: עָוֹן  
Sense: perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity.
אָבוֹת֙  of  the  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
בָּנִ֔ים  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים  the  third 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שִׁלֵּשִׁים  
Sense: pertaining to the third, third (generation).
רִבֵּעִֽים  fourth  [generation] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: רִבֵּעַ  
Sense: pertaining to the fourth.