The Meaning of Numbers 12:3 Explained

Numbers 12:3

KJV: (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

YLT: And the man Moses is very humble, more than any of the men who are on the face of the ground.

Darby: But the man Moses was very meek, above all men that were upon the face of the earth.

ASV: Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

(Now the man  Moses  [was] very  meek,  above all the men  which [were] upon the face  of the earth.  ) 

What does Numbers 12:3 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 12:3 mean?

And the man Moses [was] - humble very more than all men who [were] on the face of the earth -
וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֖ה [ענו] (עָנָ֣יו) מְאֹ֑ד מִכֹּל֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־ פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה ס

וְהָאִ֥ישׁ  And  the  man 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מֹשֶׁ֖ה  Moses  [was] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
[ענו]  - 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
(עָנָ֣יו)  humble 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָנָו 
Sense: poor, humble, afflicted, meek.
מְאֹ֑ד  very 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
מִכֹּל֙  more  than  all 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הָֽאָדָ֔ם  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
אֲשֶׁ֖ר  who  [were] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
פְּנֵ֥י  the  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הָאֲדָמָֽה  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation