The Meaning of Numbers 12:1 Explained

Numbers 12:1

KJV: And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

YLT: And Miriam speaketh -- Aaron also -- against Moses concerning the circumstance of the Cushite woman whom he had taken: for a Cushite woman he had taken;

Darby: And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had taken; for he had taken a Cushite as wife.

ASV: And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Miriam  and Aaron  spake  against Moses  because of  the Ethiopian  woman  whom he had married:  for he had married  an Ethiopian  woman. 

What does Numbers 12:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Kibroth-hattaavah
i.e. graves of lust. Numbers 33:17

Context Summary

Numbers 12:1-15 - God Protects Moses Against Criticism
This Ethiopian wife may have been Zipporah, or some other woman whom Moses married after his first wife's death. That Moses, the great lawgiver and leader, who could rule a turbulent multitude and face the great king of Egypt, should take the taunts of his brother and sister so quietly, indicates how deep and far-reaching had been the transformation of his character. Compare Exodus 2:12, etc. "Fret not thyself because of evildoers"¦. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him," Psalms 37:1-40.
When we hand our cause over to God He comes down, Numbers 12:5. He rebukes the enemy and avenger. Be faithful to Him and you may reckon on His faithfulness to you! That commendation of faithfulness, which Moses received, may be won by all! See Mark 13:34.
Our intercession may bring pardon and healing; but sin leaves its mark, Numbers 12:15. You are shut out of the enjoyment of the camp, and the march is delayed. Ponder James 3:5-6. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 12

1  God rebukes the sedition of Miriam and Aaron
11  Miriam's leprosy is healed at the prayer of Moses
14  God commands her to be shut out of the host
16  The people encamp in the desert of Paran

What do the individual words in Numbers 12:1 mean?

And spoke Miriam and Aaron against Moses upon because of the woman Ethiopianess whom he had married for an woman Ethiopianess he had married
וַתְּדַבֵּ֨ר מִרְיָ֤ם וְאַהֲרֹן֙ בְּמֹשֶׁ֔ה עַל־ אֹד֛וֹת הָאִשָּׁ֥ה הַכֻּשִׁ֖ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָקָ֑ח כִּֽי־ אִשָּׁ֥ה כֻשִׁ֖ית לָקָֽח

וַתְּדַבֵּ֨ר  And  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
מִרְיָ֤ם  Miriam 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִרְיָם  
Sense: elder sister of Moses and Aaron.
וְאַהֲרֹן֙  and  Aaron 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַהֲרֹון  
Sense: brother of Moses, a Levite and the first high priest.
בְּמֹשֶׁ֔ה  against  Moses 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אֹד֛וֹת  because 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: אֹדֹות  
Sense: cause.
הָאִשָּׁ֥ה  of  the  woman 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
הַכֻּשִׁ֖ית  Ethiopianess 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: כּוּשִׁי  
Sense: one of the descendants of Cush the grandson of Noah through Ham and a member of that nation or people.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לָקָ֑ח  he  had  married 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אִשָּׁ֥ה  an  woman 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
כֻשִׁ֖ית  Ethiopianess 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: כּוּשִׁי  
Sense: one of the descendants of Cush the grandson of Noah through Ham and a member of that nation or people.
לָקָֽח  he  had  married 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.