Numbers 14:28
Numbers 14:28 in Multiple Translations
So tell them: As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you exactly as I heard you say.
Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
Say unto them, As I live, saith Jehovah, surely as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:
Say to them, By my life, says the Lord, as certainly as your words have come to my ears, so certainly will I do this to you:
Go and tell them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, I'll do just what I heard you say you wanted, believe me!
Tell them, As I liue (saith the Lord) I wil surely do vnto you, euen as ye haue spoken in mine eares.
say unto them, I live — an affirmation of Jehovah — if, as ye have spoken in Mine ears — so I do not to you;
Tell them, ‘As I live, says the LORD, surely as you have spoken in my ears, so I will do to you.
Say to them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in my ears, so will I do to you:
Say therefore to them: As I live, saith the Lord: According as you have spoken in my hearing, so will I do to you.
So now tell them this: ‘Just as certainly as I, Yahweh, live, I will do exactly what you said would happen.
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 14:28
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Numbers 14:28 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֱמֹ֣ר
אֲלֵ/הֶ֗ם
חַי
אָ֨נִי֙
נְאֻם
יְהוָ֔ה
אִם
לֹ֕א
כַּ/אֲשֶׁ֥ר
דִּבַּרְתֶּ֖ם
בְּ/אָזְנָ֑/י
כֵּ֖ן
אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה
לָ/כֶֽם
אֱמֹ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
אֲלֵ/הֶ֗ם
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep | Suff
חַי
chay
H2416
alive
Adj
אָ֨נִי֙
ʼănîy
H589
I
Pron
נְאֻם
nᵉʼum
H5002
utterance
N-ms
יְהוָ֔ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
אִם
ʼim
H518
if
Conj
לֹ֕א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
כַּ/אֲשֶׁ֥ר
ʼăsher
H834
which
Prep | Rel
דִּבַּרְתֶּ֖ם
dâbar
H1696
to speak
V-Piel-Perf-2mp
בְּ/אָזְנָ֑/י
ʼôzen
H241
ear
Prep | N-fd | Suff
כֵּ֖ן
kên
H3651
right
Part
אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
לָ/כֶֽם
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 14:28
אֱמֹ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
אֲלֵ/הֶ֗ם
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
חַי
chay
H2416
"alive"
Adj
In the Bible, this word means life or being alive. It can refer to physical life, like in Genesis 1:20, or spiritual life, like in Psalm 30:5.
Definition: adj 1) living, alive 1a) green (of vegetation) 1b) flowing, fresh (of water) 1c) lively, active (of man) 1d) reviving (of the springtime) Aramaic equivalent: chay (חַי "living" H2417)
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop. See also: Genesis 1:20; Deuteronomy 4:9; 2 Kings 5:16.
אָ֨נִי֙
ʼănîy
H589
"I"
Pron
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Definition: I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Usage: Occurs in 803 OT verses. KJV: I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who. See also: Genesis 6:17; Leviticus 19:36; 1 Samuel 25:24.
נְאֻם
nᵉʼum
H5002
"utterance"
N-ms
This word refers to an utterance or declaration from God, often through a prophet. It is used in the Bible to describe a revelation or message from God, like in Exodus or Numbers.
Definition: 1) (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet) 1a) utterance, declaration, revelation (of prophet in ecstatic state) 1b) utterance, declaration (elsewhere always preceding divine name)
Usage: Occurs in 358 OT verses. KJV: (hath) said, saith. See also: Genesis 22:16; Jeremiah 22:16; Psalms 36:2.
יְהוָ֔ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
אִם
ʼim
H518
"if"
Conj
This Hebrew word is used to express conditions or questions, like if or whether. It can also be used to make oaths or express wishes, as in Oh that! It appears in various forms in the KJV, including if, though, and when.
Definition: : if/whether_or/though 1) if 1a) conditional clauses 1a1) of possible situations 1a2) of impossible situations 1b) oath contexts 1b1) no, not 1c) if...if, whether...or, whether...or...or 1d) when, whenever 1e) since 1f) interrogative particle 1g) but rather
Usage: Occurs in 931 OT verses. KJV: (and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), though, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] unless, [phrase] verily, when, whereas, whether, while, [phrase] yet. See also: Genesis 4:7; Exodus 22:3; Leviticus 27:27.
לֹ֕א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
כַּ/אֲשֶׁ֥ר
ʼăsher
H834
"which"
Prep | Rel
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Definition: A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when
Usage: Occurs in 4440 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 31:16.
דִּבַּרְתֶּ֖ם
dâbar
H1696
"to speak"
V-Piel-Perf-2mp
To speak or communicate, like God speaking to Moses in Exodus or a king commanding his people. It can also mean to promise or warn someone.
Definition: : speak/tell/command 1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal) to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual) to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael) to speak 1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
Usage: Occurs in 1049 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work. See also: Genesis 8:15; Exodus 12:25; Leviticus 23:9.
בְּ/אָזְנָ֑/י
ʼôzen
H241
"ear"
Prep | N-fd | Suff
The Hebrew word for ear, referring to the body part or the ability to hear, is used in various contexts, including listening to God's voice in Psalm 40:6. It can also mean to uncover or reveal something, as in 1 Samuel 20:2.
Definition: : ear 1) ear, as part of the body 2) ear, as organ of hearing 3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation
Usage: Occurs in 179 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] advertise, audience, [phrase] displease, ear, hearing, [phrase] show. See also: Genesis 20:8; Psalms 40:7; Psalms 10:17.
כֵּ֖ן
kên
H3651
"right"
Part
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable
Usage: Occurs in 737 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, [phrase] there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:7; Exodus 37:19; Judges 7:17.
אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Qal-Imperf-1cs
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
לָ/כֶֽם
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Numbers 14:28
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Numbers 14:28 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Numbers 14:28
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 14:28
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 14:28
- Trapp's Commentary on Numbers 14:28
- Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 14:28
- Cambridge Bible on Numbers 14:28
- Sermons on Numbers 14:28
Context — God’s Forgiveness and Judgment
26Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,
27“How long will this wicked congregation grumble against Me? I have heard the complaints that the Israelites are making against Me.
28So tell them: As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you exactly as I heard you say.
29Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me. 30Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 14:21 | “Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the LORD, |
| 2 | Hebrews 3:17 | And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? |
| 3 | Numbers 14:2 | All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! |
| 4 | Numbers 26:64–65 | Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. |
| 5 | Numbers 14:23 | not one will ever see the land that I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have treated Me with contempt will see it. |
| 6 | Psalms 90:8–9 | You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence. For all our days decline in Your fury; we finish our years with a sigh. |
| 7 | Numbers 32:11 | ‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— |
| 8 | Deuteronomy 1:35 | “Not one of the men of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your fathers, |
Numbers 14:28 Summary
[This verse means that God is promising to do to the Israelites exactly what they have said, because they have chosen to rebel against Him. In simple terms, God is saying that our choices have consequences, and if we choose to doubt or disobey Him, we will face the results of those choices, as seen in Galatians 6:7-8. This verse teaches us to trust God and obey Him, even when things seem uncertain, because He is a God of justice and righteousness, as stated in Psalm 89:14. By trusting God, we can avoid the mistakes of the Israelites and instead follow Him in obedience and faith, as encouraged in Joshua 24:15 and Proverbs 3:5-6.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when God says 'As surely as I live' in Numbers 14:28?
This phrase is an oath that God uses to emphasize the certainty of His promise, similar to what we see in Deuteronomy 32:40, where God swears by His own life to guarantee the fulfillment of His word.
Is God being harsh or unfair in Numbers 14:28?
God is simply responding to the Israelites' rebellion and lack of trust, as seen in their grumbling against Him in Numbers 14:27, and is giving them exactly what they have chosen, much like what is described in Proverbs 14:14, where the backslider gets filled with his own ways.
How does this verse relate to the concept of faith and trust in God?
This verse highlights the importance of trusting God, as seen in Hebrews 11:6, where faith is required to please God, and shows that when we choose to doubt or rebel, we face the consequences of our choices, as the Israelites did here.
What can we learn from God's response to the Israelites in this verse?
We can learn that God is a God of justice and righteousness, as stated in Psalm 89:14, and that He will not tolerate rebellion or disobedience, but instead will give us what we have chosen, as seen in this verse and in Galatians 6:7-8, where we reap what we sow.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am grumbling or complaining against God, and how can I repent and trust Him instead?
- How can I apply the principle of trusting God, even when things seem uncertain, as seen in this verse and in Isaiah 40:31?
- What are some promises of God that I can stand on, even when faced with challenges or doubts, such as those found in Romans 8:28 or Philippians 4:13?
- In what ways can I demonstrate my trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, as seen in this verse and in Jeremiah 29:11?
- How can I avoid the mistake of the Israelites, who chose to rebel against God, and instead choose to follow Him in obedience and faith, as encouraged in Joshua 24:15?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 14:28
Say unto them, [as truly as] I live, saith the Lord,.... The form of an oath, as in Numbers 14:21; as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you; what they had wished for, and expressed in the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 14:28
Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Say unto them, As truly as I live - (cf.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 14:28
As you wickedly wished you might have died in the wilderness, , I will bring your imprecations upon your heads.
Trapp's Commentary on Numbers 14:28
Numbers 14:28 Say unto them, [As truly as] I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:Ver. 28. So will I do to you.] God took them at their words: so he may well do our desperate swearers, since the mercy they desire God to show is to damn them. This self-cursing seldom escapeth God’ s visible vengeance: witness those Jews of old, who cried, "His blood be on us," &c., besides many others of late that might be instanced. Mr Perkins tells of certain English soldiers in King Edward VI’ s time, who were cast upon the French shore by a storm, in which stress they went to prayer, that they might be delivered; but one soldier among the rest, instead of praying, cried out, Gallows take thy right, or claim thy due: when he came home he was hanged indeed. So was Sir Gervaise Ellowayes, Lieutenant of the Tower in King James’ time, whose usual word at his playing at cards and dice had been, as he sorrowfully confessed at the gallows, I would I might be hanged if it be not so or so. Looking glass for Malignants.
Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 14:28
(28) As ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do unto you.—The Israelites had exclaimed in their sinful murmuring against God, “Would God we had died in the wilderness” (Numbers 14:2); and God declares in His wrathful displeasure that the judgment which they had thus invoked should be inflicted upon them, and that their carcases should fall in the wilderness.
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 14:28
28. as ye have spoken] i.e. in Numbers 14:2.
Sermons on Numbers 14:28
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Test of Confusion - Part 1 by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal testimony of a man who was struggling with addiction to crack cocaine. The man had a vision of his own funeral, which confirmed his f |
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The Test of Faith by Randy Jones | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the story of the Israelites in the desert after their escape from Egypt. He emphasizes how God allowed them to experience thirst and lack of |
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The Presence of the Lord: "The Lord Is With Us" by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the paramount importance of the Lord's presence among His people, asserting that no amount of prayer can guarantee it unless conditions align with His w |
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Glory - Part 2 by Arthur Blessitt | Arthur Blessitt preaches on the glorious nature of God, emphasizing that His glory will fill the earth as promised in Numbers 14:21 and Habakkuk 2:14. The sermon delves into the va |
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Wicked Men Useful in Their Destruction Only by Jonathan Edwards | Jonathan Edwards preaches on the importance of bringing forth fruit to God, using the analogy of a vine tree to illustrate how unfruitful individuals are like barren trees that are |
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Believe in the Light Lest Darkness Come Upon You by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the supernatural power of God. He highlights the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and the 4, |
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Enter Into His Rest by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher begins by leading the congregation in praise and worship, emphasizing the importance of praising and magnifying the name of Jesus. He encourages the be |