The Meaning of Numbers 11:22 Explained

Numbers 11:22

KJV: Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

YLT: Is flock and herd slaughtered for them, that one hath found for them? -- are all the fishes of the sea gathered for them -- that one hath found for them?'

Darby: Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered for them, to suffice them?

ASV: Shall flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Shall the flocks  and the herds  be slain  for them, to suffice  them? or shall all the fish  of the sea  be gathered together  for them, to suffice  them? 

What does Numbers 11:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 11:16-25 - God's Spirit Upon The Seventy
God's considerateness for His overwrought servant was very tender. He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. He does not chide, nor keep His anger forever. The remedy for the situation was provided in the appointment and enduement of the seventy elders, who became the germ of the Sanhedrin.
Moses' depression led to unbelief. It seemed impossible to suppose that God could provide a table in the wilderness of such magnitude that in it the whole host could participate. Unbelief says, Can God? Faith answers, God can! See Psalms 78:19. Child of God! God's hand is not waxed short, that it cannot reach to you. Even if we believe not, He remains faithful, 2 Timothy 2:13. This equipment of the elders, Numbers 11:25, reminds us that we, too, need to receive the Holy Spirit, first for our sanctification in character, and then for our service and office. This is the special characteristic of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4. [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 11:22 mean?

Flocks and herds shall be slaughtered for them and to provide enough for them Or - all the fish of the sea shall be gathered together them -
הֲצֹ֧אן וּבָקָ֛ר יִשָּׁחֵ֥ט לָהֶ֖ם וּמָצָ֣א לָהֶ֑ם ؟ אִ֣ם אֶֽת־ כָּל־ דְּגֵ֥י הַיָּ֛ם יֵאָסֵ֥ף ؟ לָהֶֽם פ

הֲצֹ֧אן  Flocks 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
וּבָקָ֛ר  and  herds 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּקָר  
Sense: cattle, herd, oxen, ox.
יִשָּׁחֵ֥ט  shall  be  slaughtered 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַט 
Sense: to kill, slaughter, beat.
לָהֶ֖ם  for  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
וּמָצָ֣א  and  to  provide  enough  for 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
דְּגֵ֥י  the  fish 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: דָּאג 
Sense: fish.
הַיָּ֛ם  of  the  sea 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
יֵאָסֵ֥ף  shall  be  gathered  together 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation