Numbers 20 · Verse 19

Numbers 20:19

And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.
Numbers 20:19, King James Version

Numbers 20:19 in other translations

BSB“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”
WEBThe children of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway; and if we drink your water, I and my livestock, then I will give its price. Only let me, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.”
ASVAnd the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.
YLTAnd the sons of Israel say unto him, ‘In the highway we go, and if of thy waters we drink--I and my cattle--then I have given their price; only (it is nothing) on my feet I pass over.'
DARBYAnd the children of Israel said to him, We will go by the high way; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then I will pay for it: I will only, without anything else, go through on my feet.
BBEAnd the children of Israel said to him, We will go up by the highway: and if we or our cattle take of your water, we will give you a price for it: only let us go through on our feet, nothing more.
WebsterAnd the children of Israel said to him, We will go by the highway: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.

What does Numbers 20:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it--From the scarcity of water in the warm climates of the East, the practice of levying a tax for the use of the wells is universal; and the jealousy of the natives, in guarding the collected treasures of rain, is often so great that water cannot be procured for money.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 20:14-21

The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel encamped, was through the country of Edom. The ambassadors who were sent returned with a denial. The Edomites feared to receive damage by the Israelites. And had this numerous army been under any other discipline than that of the righteous God himself, there might have been cause for this jealousy. But Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing; and now the hatred…

Read the full comment on Numbers 20:14-21 →

Numbers 20:19 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.

וַיֹּאמְר֨וּvai.yo.me.Ruand they saidH559
אֵלָ֥יו'e.Lavto himH413
בְּנֵֽי\־be.nei-[the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֘לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
בַּֽמְסִלָּ֣הbam.si.Lahon the highwayH4546
נַעֲלֶה֒na.'a.Lehwe will go upH5927
וְאִם\־ve.'im-and ifH518
מֵימֶ֤יךָmei.Mei.khawaters yourH4325
נִשְׁתֶּה֙nish.Tehwe will drinkH8354
אֲנִ֣י'a.NiIH589
וּמִקְנַ֔יu.mik.Naiand livestock myH4735
וְנָתַתִּ֖יve.na.ta.Tiand I will giveH5414
מִכְרָ֑םmikh.Ramprice theirH4377
רַ֥קrakonlyH7535
אֵין\־'ein-there notH369
דָּבָ֖רda.Var[is] a thingH1697
בְּרַגְלַ֥יbe.rag.Laion feet myH7272
אֶֽעֱבֹֽרָה\׃'E.'e.Vo.rahlet me pass throughH5674

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

Cross references for Numbers 20:19

  • Deuteronomy 2:28

    Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet;

  • Deuteronomy 2:6

    Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.

  • Exodus 12:38

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

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
De 2:6,28

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

Context

  • Numbers 20:18

    And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

  • Numbers 20:19

    And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.

  • Numbers 20:20

    And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

Read all of Numbers 20

Numbers 20:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y los hijos de Israel dijeron: Por el camino seguido iremos; y si bebiéremos tus aguas yo y mis ganados, daré el precio de ellas: ciertamente sin hacer otra cosa, pasaré de seguida.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les fils d’Israël lui dirent: Nous monterons par le chemin battu; et si nous buvons de tes eaux, moi et mon bétail, j’en donnerai le prix; seulement, sans autre chose, je passerai avec mes pieds.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Kinder Israel sprachen zu ihm: Auf der Landstraße wollen wir hinaufziehen; und wenn wir von deinem Wasser trinken, ich und mein Vieh, so will ich den Preis dafür geben; mit meinen Füßen will ich durchziehen, weiter nichts.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixeruntque filii Israël: Per tritam gradiemur viam: et si biberimus aquas tuas, nos et pecora nostra, dabimus quod justum est: nulla erit in pretio difficultas, tantum velociter transeamus.