The Meaning of Numbers 21:5 Explained

Numbers 21:5

KJV: And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

YLT: and the people speak against God, and against Moses, 'Why hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to die in a wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water, and our soul hath been weary of this light bread.'

Darby: and the people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why have ye brought us up out of Egypt that we should die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and no water, and our soul loathes this light bread.

ASV: And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the people  spake  against God,  and against Moses,  Wherefore have ye brought us up  out of Egypt  to die  in the wilderness?  for [there is] no bread,  neither [is there any] water;  and our soul  loatheth  this light  bread. 

What does Numbers 21:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 21:1-20 - The Brazen Serpent Journeying To Pisgah
It often falls to our lot to compass the land of Edom! It is bad enough to have to fight the desert tribes, but it is harder to traverse the long circuitous route, which a little kindness on our brother's part might have rendered needless. What discouragement, heart-break and fainting we cause one another!
The story of the brazen serpent was quoted by our Lord to Nicodemus, John 3:14. It exemplifies the law that like cures like. Our Lord came in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, and as such was nailed to the tree, that the progress of sin and death might be arrested. Whosoever directs to Him the look of faith shall have everlasting life.
Near the pole-foot sprang up the brook, Numbers 21:17-18. We are reminded of the connection between the Cross and Pentecost. Spring up, O well of the Holy Spirit, in our hearts, and churches, and schools! The living water is within; summon it! [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 21

1  Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah
4  The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents
7  They repenting are healed by a bronze serpent
10  Various journeys of the Israelites
21  Sihon is overcome
33  And Og

What do the individual words in Numbers 21:5 mean?

And spoke the people against God and against Moses why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness for no [there is] food and no water and our soul loathes bread this worthless
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר הָעָ֗ם בֵּֽאלֹהִים֮ וּבְמֹשֶׁה֒ לָמָ֤ה הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם לָמ֖וּת ؟ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְאֵ֣ין מַ֔יִם וְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּ קָ֔צָה בַּלֶּ֖חֶם הַקְּלֹקֵֽל

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר  And  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
הָעָ֗ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בֵּֽאלֹהִים֮  against  God 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וּבְמֹשֶׁה֒  and  against  Moses 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
לָמָ֤ה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙  have  you  brought  us  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine plural, first person common plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם  out  of  Egypt 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
לָמ֖וּת  to  die 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
؟ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר  in  the  wilderness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
אֵ֥ין  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
לֶ֙חֶם֙  [there  is]  food 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
וְאֵ֣ין  and  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מַ֔יִם  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
וְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּ  and  our  soul 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
קָ֔צָה  loathes 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קוּץ  
Sense: to be grieved, loathe, abhor, feel a loathing or abhorrence or sickening dread.
בַּלֶּ֖חֶם  bread 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לֶחֶם  
Sense: bread, food, grain.
הַקְּלֹקֵֽל  this  worthless 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קְלֹקֵל  
Sense: contemptible, worthless.