Numbers 12 · Verse 3

Numbers 12:3

(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Numbers 12:3, King James Version

Numbers 12:3 in other translations

BSBNow Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.
WEBNow the man Moses was very humble, more than all the men who were on the surface of the earth.
ASVNow the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.
YLTAnd the man Moses is very humble, more than any of the men who are on the face of the ground.
DARBYBut the man Moses was very meek, above all men that were upon the face of the earth.
BBENow the man Moses was more gentle than any other man on earth.
Webster(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men who were upon the face of the earth.)

What does Numbers 12:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. the man Moses was very meek--(Ex 14:13; 32:12, 13; Nu 14:13; 21:7; De 9:18). This observation might have been made to account for Moses taking no notice of their angry reproaches and for God's interposing so speedily for the vindication of His servant's cause. The circumstance of Moses recording an eulogium on a distinguishing excellence of his own character is not without a parallel among the sacred writers, when forced to it by the insolence and contempt of opponents (2Co 11:5; 12:11, 12). But it is not improbable that, as this verse appears to be a parenthesis, it may have been inserted as a gloss by Ezra or some later prophet. Others, instead of "very meek," suggest "very afflicted," as the proper rendering.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Now the man Moses was very meek - How could Moses, who certainly was as humble and modest as he was meek, write this encomium upon himself? I think the word is not rightly understood; ענו anav, which we translate meek, comes from ענה anah, to act upon, to humble, depress, afflict, and is translated so in many places in the Old Testament; and in this sense it should be understood here: "Now this man Moses was depressed or afflicted more than any man האדמה haadamah, of that land." And why was he so? Because of the great burden he had to bear in the care and government of this people, and because of their ingratitude and rebellion both against God and himself: of this depression and affliction, see the fullest proof in the preceding chapter, Numbers 11 (note). The very power they envied was oppressive to its possessor, and was more than either of their shoulders could sustain.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 12:1-9

The patience of Moses was tried in his own family, as well as by the people. The pretence was, that he had married a foreign wife; but probably their pride was hurt, and their envy stirred up, by his superior authority. Opposition from our near relations, and from religious friends, is most painful. But this is to be looked for, and it will be well if in such circumstances we can preserve the gentleness and meekness…

Read the full comment on Numbers 12:1-9 →

Numbers 12:3 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.

וְהָאִ֥ישׁve.ha.'Ishand the manH376
מֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehMosesH4872
עָנָ֣יוa.nav[was] humbleH6035
מְאֹ֑דme.'OdveryH3966
מִכֹּל֙mi.Kolmore than everyH3605
הָֽאָדָ֔םha.'a.Dam<the> personH120
אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherwhoH834
עַל\־'al-[was] onH5921
פְּנֵ֥יpe.Nei[the] surface ofH6440
הָאֲדָמָֽה\׃\ \סha.'a.da.Mahthe groundH127

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

Cross references for Numbers 12:3

  • Matthew 11:29

    Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

  • James 3:13

    Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

  • Matthew 5:5

    Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:11

    I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:5

    For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

  • Psalms 106:32-33

    They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

  • Numbers 20:10-12

    And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

  • 1 Peter 3:4

    But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:7

    But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

  • Psalms 147:6

    The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

  • Psalms 149:4

    For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

  • James 3:2-3

    For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
very.
Ps 147:6; 149:4; Mt 5:5; 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Th 2:7; Jas 3:13
1Pe 3:4
above.
11:10-15; 20:10-12; Ps 106:32,33; 2Co 11:5; 12:11; Jas 3:2,3

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

Context

  • Numbers 12:2

    And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.

  • Numbers 12:3

    (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

  • Numbers 12:4

    And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.

Read all of Numbers 12

Numbers 12:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y aquel varón Moisés era muy manso, más que todos los hombres que había sobre la tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et cet homme, Moïse, était très doux, plus que tous les hommes qui étaient sur la face de la terre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Der Mann Mose aber war sehr sanftmütig, mehr als alle Menschen, die auf dem Erdboden waren.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		(erat enim Moyses vir mitissimus super omnes homines qui morabantur in terra),