The Meaning of Numbers 10:33 Explained

Numbers 10:33

KJV: And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.

YLT: And they journey from the mount of Jehovah a journey of three days; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah is journeying before them the journey of three days, to spy out for them a resting-place;

Darby: And they set forward from the mountain of Jehovah and went three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting-place for them.

ASV: And they set forward from the mount of Jehovah three days journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them three days journey, to seek out a resting-place for them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they departed  from the mount  of the LORD  three  days'  journey:  and the ark  of the covenant  of the LORD  went  before  them in the three  days'  journey,  to search out  a resting place  for them. 

What does Numbers 10:33 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 10:17-36 - "come Thou With Us"
The invitation of Moses to Hobab is one that we may all give to our friends: "We are journeying to the place of which the Lord hath spoken." "We should always be on the alert for those who are not formally united to the Church, and we can always promise that we can do them good. Only good awaits those who travel with their backs to Egypt and their faces toward the Heavenly City. God has prepared for those who love Him such good things as it is beyond words to declare. See 1 Corinthians 2:9.
And how much we may benefit by such companionships! Hobab was probably Moses' brother-in-law, and Jethro having returned to Midian, he was all the more needed to lead Israel to the best routes and the most suitable halting-places, where shade and water could be found. Such a guide would be invaluable. Ministers are such! For Hobab's reward see Judges 1:16; Judges 4:11. Who would not follow where the Ark of the Covenant leads, and rest where the cloud broods? John 10:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 10

1  The use of the silver trumpets
11  The Israelites move from Sinai to Paran
14  The order of their march
29  Hobab is entreated by Moses not to leave them
33  The blessing of Moses at the removing and resting of the ark

What do the individual words in Numbers 10:33 mean?

So they departed from the mountain of Yahweh on a journey of three days and the ark of the covenant of Yahweh went before them for the journey three days to search out for them a resting place
וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵהַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה דֶּ֖רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַאֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית־ יְהוָ֜ה נֹסֵ֣עַ לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים לָת֥וּר לָהֶ֖ם מְנוּחָֽה

וַיִּסְעוּ֙  So  they  departed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.
מֵהַ֣ר  from  the  mountain 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דֶּ֖רֶךְ  on  a  journey 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת  of  three 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
יָמִ֑ים  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וַאֲר֨וֹן  and  the  ark 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֲרֹון  
Sense: chest, ark.
בְּרִית־  of  the  covenant 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
יְהוָ֜ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
נֹסֵ֣עַ  went 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.
לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם  before  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
דֶּ֚רֶךְ  for  the  journey 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת  three 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
יָמִ֔ים  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
לָת֥וּר  to  search  out 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: תּוּר  
Sense: to seek, search out, spy out, explore.
לָהֶ֖ם  for  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
מְנוּחָֽה  a  resting  place 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְנוּחָה 
Sense: resting place, rest.