Numbers 11 · Verse 22

Numbers 11:22

Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?
Numbers 11:22, King James Version

Numbers 11:22 in other translations

BSBIf all our flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?”
WEBShall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?”
ASVShall flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?
YLTIs flock and herd slaughtered for them, that one hath found for them? --are all the fishes of the sea gathered for them--that one hath found for them?'
DARBYShall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered for them, to suffice them?
BBEAre flocks and herds to be put to death for them? or are all the fish in the sea to be got together so that they may be full?
WebsterShall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice for them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered for them, to suffice for them?

What does Numbers 11:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 11:21-23

21-23. Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand ... Shall the flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them?--The great leader, struck with a promise so astonishing as that of suddenly furnishing, in the midst of the desert, more than two millions of people with flesh for a whole month, betrayed an incredulous spirit, surprising in one who had witnessed so many stupendous miracles. But…

Read the full comment on Numbers 11:21-23 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain - There is certainly a considerable measure of weakness and unbelief manifested in the complaints and questions of Moses on this occasion; but his conduct appears at the same time so very simple, honest, and affectionate, that we cannot but admire it, while we wonder that he had not stronger confidence in that God whose miracles he had so often witnessed in Egypt.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 11:16-23

Moses is to choose such as he knew to be elders, that is, wise and experienced men. God promises to qualify them. If they were not found fit for the employ, they should be made fit. Even the discontented people shall be gratified too, that every mouth may be stopped. See here, I. The vanity of all the delights of sense; they will cloy, but they will not satisfy. Spiritual pleasures alone will satisfy and last. As…

Read the full comment on Numbers 11:16-23 →

Numbers 11:22 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הֲצֹ֧אןha.Tzon¿ a flockH6629
וּבָקָ֛רu.va.Karand a herdH1241
יִשָּׁחֵ֥טyi.sha.Chetwill it be slaughteredH7819
לָהֶ֖םla.Hemfor <the> them
וּמָצָ֣אu.ma.Tza'and someone will findH4672
לָהֶ֑םla.Hemfor <the> them
אִ֣ם'imor?H518
אֶֽת\־'et-<obj.>H853
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
דְּגֵ֥יde.Gei[the] fish ofH1709
הַיָּ֛םhai.Yamthe seaH3220
יֵאָסֵ֥ףye.'a.Sefwill it be gatheredH622
לָהֶ֖םla.Hemfor <the> them
וּמָצָ֥אu.ma.Tza'and someone will findH4672
לָהֶֽם\׃\ \פla.Hemfor <the> them

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Numbers 11:22

  • 2 Kings 7:2

    Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

  • Matthew 15:33

    And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?

  • Luke 1:18

    And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

  • Luke 1:34

    Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

  • John 6:6-7

    And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

  • Mark 8:4

    And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

  • Mark 6:37

    He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

  • John 6:9

    There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
There is certainly a considerable measure of weakness and unbelief manifested in these complaints and questions of Moses; but his conduct appears at the same time so very simple, honest, and affectionate, that we cannot but admire it, while we wonder that he had not stronger confidence in that God, whose stupendous miracles he had so often witnessed in Egypt.
2Ki 7:2; Mt 15:33; Mr 6:37; 8:4; Lu 1:18,34; Joh 6:6,7,9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Numbers 11:21

    And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

  • Numbers 11:22

    Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?

  • Numbers 11:23

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

Read all of Numbers 11

Numbers 11:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Se han de degollar para ellos ovejas y bueyes que les basten? ¿ó se juntarán para ellos todos los peces de la mar para que tengan abasto?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Leur égorgera-t-on du menu et du gros bétail, afin qu’il y en ait assez pour eux? ou assemblera-t-on tous les poissons de la mer pour eux, afin qu’il y en ait assez pour eux?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Soll Klein- und Rindvieh für sie geschlachtet werden, daß es für sie ausreiche? Oder sollen alle Fische des Meeres für sie gesammelt werden, daß es für sie ausreiche?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		numquid ovium et boum multitudo cædetur, ut possit sufficere ad cibum? vel omnes pisces maris in unum congregabuntur, ut eos satient?