The Meaning of Numbers 27:16 Explained

Numbers 27:16

KJV: Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

YLT: Jehovah -- God of the spirits of all flesh -- appoint a man over the company,

Darby: Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the assembly,

ASV: Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let the LORD,  the God  of the spirits  of all flesh,  set  a man  over the congregation, 

What does Numbers 27:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 27:1-23 - Joshua Appointed Moses' Successor
Up to the last Moses was faithful as a servant to Him that had appointed him in all his house, Hebrews 3:2. Notice that he did not attempt to legislate for these young girls, who pleaded for a possession in their father's right; but he brought their case before God. It was ever "as the Lord commanded Moses," Numbers 27:11; Numbers 22:1-41. And when he was bidden to ascend the mountain and die his main anxiety was to secure a successor to shepherd the people. Notice that expressive phrase, "the God of the spirits of all flesh!" See Hebrews 12:9.
The great Lawgiver may bring the people to the borders of the land of rest, but there he must resign his charge. The law, with its demands for an obedience which we cannot give, cannot bring the soul to rest. That is the prerogative of Joshua-Jesus, Hebrews 4:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 27

1  The daughters of Zelophehad ask for an inheritance
6  The law of inheritances
12  Moses, being told of his death, asks for a successor
18  Joshua is appointed to succeed him

What do the individual words in Numbers 27:16 mean?

let set Yahweh the God of the spirits of all flesh a man over the congregation
יִפְקֹ֣ד יְהוָ֔ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָרוּחֹ֖ת לְכָל־ בָּשָׂ֑ר אִ֖ישׁ עַל־ הָעֵדָֽה

יִפְקֹ֣ד  let  set 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהֵ֥י  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
הָרוּחֹ֖ת  of  the  spirits 
Parse: Article, Noun, common plural
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
לְכָל־  of  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
בָּשָׂ֑ר  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
אִ֖ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
עַל־  over 
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.
הָעֵדָֽה  the  congregation 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.