The Meaning of Numbers 11:14 Explained

Numbers 11:14

KJV: I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

YLT: I am not able -- I alone -- to bear all this people, for it is too heavy for me;

Darby: I am not able to bear all this people alone, for it is too heavy for me.

ASV: I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I am not able  to bear  all this people  alone,  because [it is] too heavy  for me. 

What does Numbers 11:14 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 11:14 mean?

Not am able I alone to bear - all people this because the [burden is] too heavy for me
לֹֽא־ אוּכַ֤ל אָנֹכִי֙ לְבַדִּ֔י לָשֵׂ֖את אֶת־ כָּל־ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּ֥י כָבֵ֖ד מִמֶּֽנִּי

אוּכַ֤ל  am  able 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
לְבַדִּ֔י  alone 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
לָשֵׂ֖את  to  bear 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
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.
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.
כִּ֥י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
כָבֵ֖ד  the  [burden  is]  too  heavy 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: heavy, great.
מִמֶּֽנִּי  for  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.