The Meaning of Numbers 9:22 Explained

Numbers 9:22

KJV: Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

YLT: Whether two days, or a month, or days, in the cloud prolonging itself over the tabernacle, to tabernacle over it, the sons of Israel encamp, and journey not; and in its being lifted up they journey;

Darby: or two days, or a month, or many days, when the cloud was long upon the tabernacle, dwelling upon it, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

ASV: Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Or [whether it were] two days,  or a month,  or a year,  that the cloud  tarried  upon the tabernacle,  remaining  thereon, the children  of Israel  abode  in their tents, and journeyed  not: but when it was taken up,  they journeyed. 

What does Numbers 9:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 9:15-23 - The Cloud Upon The Tabernacle
We cannot decide on the shape of this cloud; whether it was a great cumulus, or spread out over the camp like an umbrella, so as to shelter the people from the sun glare. As the night fell, the shekinah-fire, that burned at its heart, became apparent. But whether it sheltered by day or illumined by night, it was always the symbol of the divine presence. All this prefigured the guidance and shelter that are afforded to His people by our Lord. Compare John 8:12.
Friends may urge you to change your sphere. The scarcity of your resources and the pressure of your foes may appear to force a move. A nameless fear may suggest that you will never hold your ground. But so long as the cloud doesn't move, you must tarry where you are. Where the cloud broods, the manna falls. "My soul, wait thou only upon God!" Never go in front of God, nor lag behind, nor hesitate to strike your tent, if He leads on. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 9

1  The Passover is again commanded
6  A second Passover for the unclean or absent
15  The cloud directs the removals and encampments of the Israelites

What do the individual words in Numbers 9:22 mean?

Whether [it was] two days or a month a year that remained the cloud above the tabernacle remained thereon camped the sons of Israel and not did journey but when it was taken up they would journey
אֽוֹ־ יֹמַ֜יִם אוֹ־ חֹ֣דֶשׁ יָמִ֗ים בְּהַאֲרִ֨יךְ הֶעָנָ֤ן עַל־ הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ לִשְׁכֹּ֣ן עָלָ֔יו יַחֲנ֥וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְלֹ֣א יִסָּ֑עוּ וּבְהֵעָלֹת֖וֹ יִסָּֽעוּ

אֽוֹ־  Whether  [it  was] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אֹו 
Sense: or, rather.
יֹמַ֜יִם  two  days 
Parse: Noun, md
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
חֹ֣דֶשׁ  a  month 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
יָמִ֗ים  a  year 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
בְּהַאֲרִ֨יךְ  that  remained 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: אָרַךְ 
Sense: to be long, prolong.
הֶעָנָ֤ן  the  cloud 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
עַל־  above 
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.
הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁכָּן  
Sense: dwelling place, tabernacle.
לִשְׁכֹּ֣ן  remained 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
עָלָ֔יו  thereon 
Parse: Preposition, 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.
יַחֲנ֥וּ  camped 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָנָה  
Sense: to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against.
בְנֵֽי־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  of  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.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִסָּ֑עוּ  did  journey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.
וּבְהֵעָלֹת֖וֹ  but  when  it  was  taken  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
יִסָּֽעוּ  they  would  journey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.