Meanwhile, the rabble among them had a strong craving for other food, and again the Israelites wept and said, “Who will feed us meat?
Parallel translations
- WEB The 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?
- KJV 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?
- NKJV Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat?
- NASB Now the rabble who were among them had greedy cravings; and the sons of Israel also wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat?
- NLT Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. “Oh, for some meat!” they exclaimed.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The mixed multitude craves meat, and Israel joins in weeping for it. Misplaced appetite leads the whole community into discontent with God's provision.
Overview
A non-Israelite element traveling with the people stirs up craving, and Israel echoes the complaint. The longing for "meat" exposes a deeper rejection of God's gracious daily care. Scripture often uses craving and the belly as images of a heart that prefers self-gratification over trust in God (Phil. 3:19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Cor 10:6These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
- Exod 12:38And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with great droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.
- Ps 106:14They craved intensely in the wilderness and tested God in the desert.
- Ps 78:18–20They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved.
- Neh 13:3As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.
- 1 Cor 15:33Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
- Lev 24:10–11Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite.
- Rom 13:14Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
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Christ at the center
In the wilderness Christ is the water from the rock, the bronze serpent lifted up that the dying might look and live (John 3:14), and the star and scepter that Balaam saw rising out of Jacob.
How Numbers 11:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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