Numbers 21 · Verse 4

Numbers 21:4

And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
Numbers 21:4, King James Version

Numbers 21:4 in other translations

BSBThen they set out from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, in order to bypass the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient on the journey
WEBThey traveled from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. The soul of the people was very discouraged because of the journey.
ASVAnd they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
YLTAnd they journey from mount Hor, the way of the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom, and the soul of the people is short in the way,
DARBYAnd they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to go round the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became impatient on the way;
BBEThen they went on from Mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, going round the land of Edom: and the spirit of the people was overcome with weariness on the way.
WebsterAnd they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

What does Numbers 21:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. they journeyed from mount Hor--On being refused the passage requested, they returned through the Arabah, "the way of the Red Sea," to Elath, at the head of the eastern gulf of the Red Sea, and thence passed up through the mountains to the eastern desert, so as to make the circuit of the land of Edom (Nu 33:41, 42). the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way--Disappointment on finding themselves so near the confines of the promised land without entering it; vexation at the refusal of a passage through Edom and the absence of any divine interposition in their favor; and above all, the necessity of a retrograde journey by a long and circuitous route through the worst parts of a sandy desert and the dread of being plunged into new and unknown difficulties--all this produced a deep depression of spirits. But it was followed, as usually, by a gross outburst of murmuring at the scarcity of water, and of expressions of disgust at the manna.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 21:4-9
The children of Israel were wearied by a long march round the land of Edom. They speak discontentedly of what God had done for them, and distrustfully of what he would do. What will they be pleased with, whom manna will not please? Let not the contempt which some cast on the word of God, make us value it less. It is the bread of life, substantial bread, and will nourish those who by faith feed upon it, to eternal life, whoever may call it light bread. We see the righteous judgment God brought upon them for murmuring. He sent fiery serpents among them, which bit or stung many to death. It is to be feared that they would not have owned the sin, if they had not felt the smart; but they relent under the rod. And God made a wonderful provision for their relief. The Jews themselves say it was not the sight of the brazen serpent that cured; but in looking up to it, they looked up to God as the Lord that healed them. There was much gospel in this. Our Saviour declared, Joh 3:14, 15, that as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up, that whatsoever believeth in him, should not perish. Compare their disease and ours. Sin bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder. Compare the application of their remedy and ours. They looked and lived, and we, if we believe, shall not perish. It is by faith that we look unto Jesus, He 12:2. Whosoever looked, however desperate his case, or feeble his sight, or distant his place, was certainly and perfectly cured. The Lord can relieve us from dangers and distresses, by means which human reason never would have devised. Oh that the venom of the old serpent, inflaming men's passions, and causing them to commit sins which end in their eternal destruction, were as sensibly felt, and the danger as plainly seen, as the Israelites felt pain from the bite of the fiery serpents, and feared the death which followed! Then none would shut their eyes to Christ, or turn from his gospel. Then a crucified Saviour would be so valued, that all things else would be accounted loss for him; then, without delay, and with earnestness and simplicity, all would apply to him in the appointed way, crying, Lord, save us; we perish! Nor would any abuse the freeness of Christ's salvation, while they reckoned the price which it cost him.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Numbers 21:4 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.

וַיִּסְע֞וּvai.yis.'Uand they set outH5265
מֵהֹ֤רme.Horfrom HorH2023
הָהָר֙ha.Harthe mountainH2022
דֶּ֣רֶךְDe.rekh[the] direction ofH1870
יַם\־yam-[the] sea ofH3220
ס֔וּףSufreed[s]H5488
לִסְבֹ֖בlis.Voto go aroundH5437
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֶ֣רֶץ'E.retz[the] land ofH776
אֱד֑וֹם'e.DomEdomH123
וַתִּקְצַ֥רva.tik.Tzarand it became shortH7114
נֶֽפֶשׁ\־ne.fesh-[the] self ofH5315
הָעָ֖םha.'Amthe peopleH5971
בַּדָּֽרֶךְ\׃ba.Da.rekhon the wayH1870

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

Cross references for Numbers 21:4

  • Exodus 6:9

    And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

  • Judges 11:18

    Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.

  • Acts 14:22

    Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

  • Numbers 32:7

    And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord hath given them?

  • Numbers 32:9

    For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the Lord had given them.

  • Numbers 33:41

    And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4

    That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

  • Deuteronomy 1:40

    But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

  • Numbers 20:27

    And Moses did as the Lord commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

  • Numbers 14:25

    (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.

  • Deuteronomy 2:5-8

    Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession. 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. For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing. And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Ezion–gaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

  • Numbers 20:18-23

    And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. 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. And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
mount Hor.
20:22,23,27; 33:41
by the way.
14:25; De 1:40
compass.
20:18-21; De 2:5-8; Jud 11:18
the soul.
32:7,9; Ex 6:9; Ac 14:22; 1Th 3:3,4
discouraged. or, grieved. Heb. shortened.
Ex 6:9

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

Context

  • Numbers 21:3

    And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.

  • Numbers 21:4

    And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

  • Numbers 21:5

    And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

Read all of Numbers 21

Numbers 21:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y partieron del monte de Hor, camino del mar Bermejo, para rodear la tierra de Edom; y abatióse el ánimo del pueblo por el camino.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ils partirent de la montagne de Hor, par le chemin de la mer Rouge, pour faire le tour du pays d’Édom; et le cœur du peuple se découragea en chemin.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und sie brachen auf vom Berge Hor, des Weges zum Schilfmeer, um das Land Edom zu umgehen. Und die Seele des Volkes wurde ungeduldig auf dem Wege;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Profecti sunt autem et de monte Hor, per viam quæ ducit ad mare Rubrum, ut circumirent terram Edom. Et tædere cœpit populum itineris ac laboris: