The Meaning of Numbers 20:21 Explained

Numbers 20:21

KJV: Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

YLT: and Edom refuseth to suffer Israel to pass over through his border, and Israel turneth aside from off him.

Darby: Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory; and Israel turned away from him.

ASV: Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus Edom  refused  to give  Israel  passage  through his border:  wherefore Israel  turned away  from him. 

What does Numbers 20:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 20:14-28 - Edom Refuses Passage Aaron Dies
It was an ungracious act on the part of the Edomites-descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother-to forbid the passage of the chosen people through their territory; and it was never forgotten. It is referred to again and again in the strongest terms by prophet and psalmist. See Deuteronomy 2:4; Deuteronomy 2:8; Deuteronomy 23:7; Amos 1:11; Obadiah 1:10; Obadiah 1:12; Psalms 137:7.
Aaron's death was arranged so as to give him a distant glimpse of the Land which had so long beckoned him onward. But he was not suffered to continue. His death is quoted in evidence of the imperfection of the Aaronic priesthood, in contrast to the indissoluble priesthood of our Lord, Hebrews 7:16.
This is a sad chapter! Moses' failure, Aaron's and Miriam's death, Edom's refusal! But God's purpose moved steadily on. He wrought for His own sake, because of the Covenant. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 20

1  The children of Israel come to Zin, where Miriam dies
2  They murmur for want of water
7  Moses smiting the rock, brings forth water at Meribah
14  Moses at Kadesh desires passage through Edom, which is denied him
22  At Mount Hor Aaron resigns his place to Eleazar, and dies

What do the individual words in Numbers 20:21 mean?

Thus refused Edom to give - Israel passage through his territory so turned away Israel from him -
וַיְמָאֵ֣ן ׀ אֱד֗וֹם נְתֹן֙ אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עֲבֹ֖ר בִּגְבֻל֑וֹ וַיֵּ֥ט יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מֵעָלָֽיו פ

וַיְמָאֵ֣ן ׀  Thus  refused 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָאַן  
Sense: (Piel) to refuse.
אֱד֗וֹם  Edom 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱדֹום 
Sense: Edom.
נְתֹן֙  to  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
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.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
עֲבֹ֖ר  passage 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בִּגְבֻל֑וֹ  through  his  territory 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
וַיֵּ֥ט  so  turned  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטָה 
Sense: to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
מֵעָלָֽיו  from  him 
Parse: Preposition-m, third person masculine singular
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.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation