Numbers 11 · Verse 4

Numbers 11:4

And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
Numbers 11:4, King James Version

Numbers 11:4 in other translations

BSBMeanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat?
WEBThe mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly; and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?
ASVAnd the mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
YLTAnd the rabble who are in its midst have lusted greatly, and the sons of Israel also turn back and weep, and say, ‘Who doth give us flesh?
DARBYAnd the mixed multitude that was among them lusted; and the children of Israel also wept again and said, Who will give us flesh to eat?
BBEAnd the mixed band of people who went with them were overcome by desire: and the children of Israel, weeping again, said, Who will give us flesh for our food?
WebsterAnd the mixed multitude that was among them fell to lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

What does Numbers 11:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting--These consisted of Egyptians. [See on Ex 12:38.] To dream of banquets and plenty of animal food in the desert becomes a disease of the imagination; and to this excitement of the appetite no people are more liable than the natives of Egypt. But the Israelites participated in the same feelings and expressed dissatisfaction with the manna on which they had hitherto been supported, in comparison with the vegetable luxuries with which they had been regaled in Egypt.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 The mixed multitude - האספסף hasaphsuph, the collected or gathered people. Such as came out of Egypt with the Israelites; and are mentioned Exo 12:38. This mongrel people, who had comparatively little of the knowledge of God, feeling the difficulties and fatigues of the journey, were the first to complain; and then we find the children of Israel joined them in their complainings, and made a common cause with these demi-infidels.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 11:4-9
Man, having forsaken his proper rest, feels uneasy and wretched, though prosperous. They were weary of the provision God had made for them, although wholesome food and nourishing. It cost no money or care, and the labour of gathering it was very little indeed; yet they talked of Egypt's cheapness, and the fish they ate there freely; as if that cost them nothing, when they paid dearly for it with hard service! While they lived on manna, they seemed exempt from the curse sin has brought on man, that in the sweat of his face he should eat bread; yet they speak of it with scorn. Peevish, discontented minds will find fault with that which has no fault in it, but that it is too good for them. Those who might be happy, often make themselves miserable by discontent. They could not be satisfied unless they had flesh to eat. It is evidence of the dominion of the carnal mind, when we want to have the delights and satisfaction of sense. We should not indulge in any desire which we cannot in faith turn into prayer, as we cannot when we ask meat for our lust. What is lawful of itself becomes evil, when God does not allot it to us, yet we desire it.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Numbers 11:4 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.

וְהָֽאסַפְסֻף֙ve.ha.saf.Sufand the rabbleH628
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherwhichH834
בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹbe.kir.Bo[was] in midst itsH7130
הִתְאַוּ֖וּhit.'a.Vuthey cravedH183
תַּאֲוָ֑הta.'a.Vaha cravingH8378
וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּvai.ya.Shu.vuand they returnedH7725
וַיִּבְכּ֗וּvai.yiv.Kuand they weptH1058
גַּ֚םgamalsoH1571
בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.Ruand they saidH559
מִ֥יmiwho?H4310
יַאֲכִלֵ֖נוּya.'a.khi.Le.nuwill he cause to eat usH398
בָּשָֽׂר\׃ba.SarmeatH1320

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

Cross references for Numbers 11:4

  • 1 Corinthians 10:6

    Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

  • Exodus 12:38

    And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

  • Psalms 106:14

    But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

  • Psalms 78:18-20

    And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?

  • 1 Corinthians 15:33

    Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

  • Leviticus 24:10-11

    And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)

  • Nehemiah 13:3

    Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

  • Romans 13:14

    But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the mixed.
Ex 12:38; Le 24:10,11; Ne 13:3
fell a lusting. Heb. lusted a lust. the children.
1Co 15:33
wept again. Heb. returned and wept. Who shall.
Ps 78:18-20; 106:14; Ro 13:14; 1Co 10:6

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

Context

  • Numbers 11:3

    And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.

  • Numbers 11:4

    And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?

  • Numbers 11:5

    We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:

Read all of Numbers 11

Numbers 11:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el vulgo que había en medio tuvo un vivo deseo, y volvieron, y aun lloraron los hijos de Israel, y dijeron: ¡Quién nos diera á comer carne!
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et le ramassis de peuple qui était au milieu d’eux s’éprit de convoitise, et les fils d’Israël aussi se mirent encore à pleurer, et dirent: Qui nous fera manger de la chair?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und das Mischvolk, das in ihrer Mitte war, wurde lüstern, und auch die Kinder Israel weinten wiederum und sprachen: Wer wird uns Fleisch zu essen geben?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vulgus quippe promiscuum, quod ascenderat cum eis, flagravit desiderio, sedens et flens, junctis sibi pariter filiis Israël, et ait: Quis dabit nobis ad vescendum carnes?