The Meaning of Numbers 12:15 Explained

Numbers 12:15

KJV: And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

YLT: And Miriam is shut out at the outside of the camp seven days, and the people hath not journeyed till Miriam is gathered;

Darby: And Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days; and the people did not journey till Miriam was received in again.

ASV: And Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Miriam  was shut  out  from the camp  seven  days:  and the people  journeyed  not till Miriam  was brought  in [again]. 

What does Numbers 12:15 Mean?

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 12:15 mean?

So was shut out Miriam of the camp seven days and the people not did journey till was brought in [again] Miriam
וַתִּסָּגֵ֥ר מִרְיָ֛ם מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וְהָעָם֙ לֹ֣א נָסַ֔ע עַד־ הֵאָסֵ֖ף מִרְיָֽם

וַתִּסָּגֵ֥ר  So  was  shut  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: סָגוּר 
Sense: to shut, close.
מִרְיָ֛ם  Miriam 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִרְיָם  
Sense: elder sister of Moses and Aaron.
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה  the  camp 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
שִׁבְעַ֣ת  seven 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
יָמִ֑ים  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וְהָעָם֙  and  the  people 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
נָסַ֔ע  did  journey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.
עַד־  till 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הֵאָסֵ֖ף  was  brought  in  [again] 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
מִרְיָֽם  Miriam 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִרְיָם  
Sense: elder sister of Moses and Aaron.