Numbers 27 · Verse 16

Numbers 27:16

Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Numbers 27:16, King James Version

Numbers 27:16 in other translations

BSB“May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
WEB“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
ASVLet Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
YLT‘Jehovah--God of the spirits of all flesh--appoint a man over the company,
DARBYLet Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the assembly,
BBELet the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, put a man at the head of this people,
WebsterLet the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation.

What does Numbers 27:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation--The request was most suitably made to God in this character, as the Author of all the intellectual gifts and moral graces with which men are endowed, and who can raise up qualified persons for the most arduous duties and the most difficult situations.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 The Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh - See the notes on Num 16:22.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Numbers 27:15-23

Envious spirits do not love their successors; but Moses was not one of these. We should concern ourselves, both in our prayers and in our endeavours, for the rising generation, that religion may be maintained and advanced, when we are in our graves. God appoints a successor, even Joshua; who had signalized himself by his courage in fighting Amalek, his humility in ministering to Moses, and his faith and sincerity in…

Read the full comment on Numbers 27:15-23 →

Numbers 27:16 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.

יִפְקֹ֣דyif.Kodlet him appointH6485
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.Hei[the] God ofH430
הָרוּחֹ֖תha.ru.Chotthe spiritsH7307
לְכָל\־le.kholof allH3605
בָּשָׂ֑רba.SarfleshH1320
אִ֖ישׁ'isha manH376
עַל\־'al-overH5921
הָעֵדָֽה\׃ha.'e.Dahthe congregationH5712

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

Cross references for Numbers 27:16

  • Numbers 16:22

    And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

  • Jeremiah 3:15

    And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

  • Hebrews 12:9

    Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

  • Deuteronomy 31:14

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Ezekiel 34:23

    And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

  • Acts 20:28

    Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

  • John 10:11

    I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

  • 1 Samuel 12:13

    Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.

  • 1 Peter 5:2-4

    Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

  • Matthew 9:38

    Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

  • Ezekiel 37:24

    And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

  • Jeremiah 23:4-5

    And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the Lord.{Yehowah elohey haroochoth lechol basar,} "Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh." This address sufficiently proves, that this holy man believed man to be compounded of flesh and spirit, and that these principles are perfectly distinct. Either the materiality of the soul is a human fable, or, if it be a true doctrine, Moses did not pray under the influence of the Divine Spirit. There is a similar form of expression in ch. 16:22: "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh;" and in Job 12:10, "In whose hand is the soul {nephesh} of all living; and the spirit {rooach} of all flesh of man." These seem decisive proofs, among many others, that the Old Testament teaches that there is an immortal spirit in man; for though {rooach} sometimes denotes breath or wind, yet it certainly has not that signification here, nor in the other passages cited.
the God.
16:22; Heb 12:9
set a man.
De 31:14; 1Sa 12:13; 1Ki 5:5; Jer 3:15; 23:4,5; Eze 34:11-16,23
Eze 37:24; Mt 9:38; Joh 10:11; Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:2-4

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

Context

  • Numbers 27:15

    And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying,

  • Numbers 27:16

    Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,

  • Numbers 27:17

    Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

Read all of Numbers 27

Numbers 27:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Ponga Jehová, Dios de los espíritus de toda carne, varón sobre la congregación,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Que l’ Éternel, le Dieu des esprits de toute chair, établisse sur l’assemblée un homme
German
Elberfelder 1871
Es bestelle Jehova, der Gott der Geister alles Fleisches, einen Mann über die Gemeinde,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Provideat Dominus Deus spirituum omnis carnis hominem, qui sit super multitudinem hanc: