Numbers 32:24

32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.

KJV

Build cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth.”

Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.

Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which has proceeded out of your mouth.

32:25 And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth.

What does Numbers 32:24 mean?

Numbers 32:24 is a verse in the book of Numbers, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include בָּנָה (bânâh), עִיר (ʻîyr), טַף (ṭaph). It connects to 14 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Buildבָּנָהbânâh/baw-naw'/H1129to build (literally and figuratively)

you

citiesעִירʻîyr/eer/H5892a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

for

your

little

ones,טַףṭaph/taf/H2945a family (mostly used collectively in the singular)

and

foldsגְּדֵרָהgᵉdêrâh/ghed-ay-raw'/H1448enclosure (especially for flocks)

for

your

sheep;צֹנֵאtsônêʼ/tso-nay'/H6792a flock

and

doעָשָׂהʻâsâh/aw-saw'/H6213to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

that

which

hath

proceededיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.

out

your

mouth.פֶּהpeh/peh/H6310the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to

Commentary on Numbers 32:24

HENRY_FULL · Numbers 32:22–24

i> 1452.) 12 And the Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered. 14 For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Here, 1. God tells Moses of his fault, his speaking unadvisedly with his lips at the waters of strife, where he did not express, so carefully as he ought to have done, a regard to the honour both of God and Israel, v. 14 . Though Moses was a servant of the Lord, a faithful servant, yet once he rebelled against God's commandment, and failed in his duty; and though a very honourable servant, and highly favoured, yet he shall hear of his miscarriage, and all the world shall hear of it too, again and again; for God will show his displeasure against sin, even in those that are nearest and dearest to him. Those that are in reputation for wisdom and honour have need to be constantly careful of their words and ways, lest at any time they say or do that which may be a diminution to their comfort, or to their credit, or both, a great while after. 2. He tells Moses of his death. His death was the punishment of his sin, and yet notice is given him of it in such a manner as might best serve to sweeten and mollify the sentence, and reconcile him to it. (1.) Moses must die, but he shall first have the satisfaction of seeing the land of promise, v. 12 . God did not intend with this sight of Canaan to tantalize him, or upbraid him with his folly in doing that which cut him short of it, nor had it any impression of that kind upon him, but God appointed it and Moses accepted it as a favour, his sight (we have reason to think) being wonderfully strengthened and enlarged to take such a full and distinct view of it as did abundantly gratify his innocent curiosity. This sight of Canaan signified his believing prospect of the better country, that is, the heavenly, which is very comfortable to dying saints. (2.) Moses must die, but death does not cut him off; it only gathers him to his people, brings him to rest with the holy patriarchs that had gone before him. Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, were his people, the people of his choice and love, and to them death gathered him. (3.) Moses must die, but only as Aaron died before him, v. 13 . And Moses had seen how easily and cheerfully Aaron had put off the priesthood first and then the body; let not Moses therefore be afraid of dying; it was but to be gathered to his people, as Aaron was gathered. Thus the death of our near and dear relations should be improved by us, [1.] As an engagement to us to think often of dying. We are not better than our fathers or brethren; if they are gone, we are going; if they are gathered already, we must be gathered very shortly. [2.] As an encouragement to us to think of death without terror, and even to please ourselves with the thoughts of it. It is but to die as such and such died, if we live as they lived; and their end was peace, they finished their course with joy; why then should we fear any evil in that melancholy valley? Joshua Named as Moses's Successor. (

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Numbers 16:22

And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

Deuteronomy 31:14

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

1 Samuel 12:13

Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.

1 Kings 5:5

And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name. purpose: Heb. say

Jeremiah 3:15

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Jeremiah 23:4

And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 23:5

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Ezekiel 34:11

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

Ezekiel 34:23

And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

Ezekiel 37:24

And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

Matthew 9:38

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Hebrews 12:9

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

1 Peter 5:2

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; which: or, as much as in you is

Topics

Gad, the Tribe Of Reuben, the Tribe Of Tribes of Israel, the

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Numbers 32:24.

Genesis 10:11

Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, went: or, he went out into Assyria the city: or, the streets of the city

Genesis 11:4

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Numbers 32:16

And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:

Genesis 1:12

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 11:5

And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

Genesis 11:8

So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Genesis 12:5

And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

Genesis 19:12

And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

Frequently asked questions

What does Numbers 32:24 say?

Numbers 32:24 (King James Version) reads: "Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth."

Is Numbers 32:24 in the Old or New Testament?

Numbers 32:24 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Numbers.

Reflect

As you read Numbers 32:24, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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