The Meaning of Numbers 11:10 Explained

Numbers 11:10

KJV: Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.

YLT: And Moses heareth the people weeping by its families, each at the opening of his tent, and the anger of Jehovah burneth exceedingly, and in the eyes of Moses it is evil.

Darby: And Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every one at the entrance of his tent; and the anger of Jehovah was kindled greatly; it was also evil in the eyes of Moses.

ASV: And Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then Moses  heard  the people  weep  throughout their families,  every man  in the door  of his tent:  and the anger  of the LORD  was kindled  greatly;  Moses  also was displeased. 

What does Numbers 11:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 11:1-15 - The Murmuring Flesh-Lovers
We cannot wonder at the people's murmuring. They were unaccustomed to the fatigues of the desert, and had not realized the length of the journey. Let us beware of querulous complaints. See 1 Corinthians 10:10. Let us also guard against familiarity with those who have never known God's regenerating grace. "The mixed multitude" was largely composed of Egyptians, whose evil example spread to the chosen people, Exodus 12:38. When our religious life is low, we tire of angels' food, and our hearts turn back to the world we have left.
Moses' outcry is hardly to be wondered at. He was thoroughly overstrained by the immense demands of his life. But he ought not to have spoken as though the entire weight of the pilgrimage rested on him. His Almighty Friend was bearing and carrying them during "all the days of old." See Isaiah 63:9. We must never look at our responsibilities apart from Him who makes all grace abound, 2 Corinthians 9:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 11

1  The burning at Taberah quenched by Moses' prayer
4  The people crave meat, and loathe manna
10  Moses complains of his charge
16  God promises to divide his burden unto seventy elders,
18  and to give the people meat for a month
21  Moses' faith is staggered
31  Quails are given in wrath at Kibroth Hattaavah

What do the individual words in Numbers 11:10 mean?

And heard Moses - the people weeping throughout their families everyone at the door of his tent and was aroused the anger of Yahweh greatly and also was displeased
וַיִּשְׁמַ֨ע מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת־ הָעָ֗ם בֹּכֶה֙ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו אִ֖ישׁ לְפֶ֣תַח אָהֳל֑וֹ וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֤ף יְהוָה֙ מְאֹ֔ד וּבְעֵינֵ֥י רָֽע

וַיִּשְׁמַ֨ע  And  heard 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
מֹשֶׁ֜ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָעָ֗ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בֹּכֶה֙  weeping 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּכָה  
Sense: to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears.
לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו  throughout  their  families 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּחָה  
Sense: clan, family.
אִ֖ישׁ  everyone 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
לְפֶ֣תַח  at  the  door 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּתַח  
Sense: opening, doorway, entrance.
אָהֳל֑וֹ  of  his  tent 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
וַיִּֽחַר־  and  was  aroused 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָרָה  
Sense: to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.
אַ֤ף  the  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
יְהוָה֙  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
מְאֹ֔ד  greatly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
וּבְעֵינֵ֥י  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
רָֽע  was  displeased 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.