“May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
Parallel translations
- WEB “Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
- KJV Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
- NKJV “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
- NASB “May the Lord, the God of the spirits of humanity, appoint a man over the congregation,
- NLT “O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures. Please appoint a new man as leader for the community.
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
Moses asks Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, to appoint a leader over the congregation.
Overview
Addressing God as the One who gives life and breath to all, Moses entrusts the choice of his successor to the Lord rather than presuming to name one himself. He acknowledges that true leadership is God's gift, teaching that the church's shepherds are appointed by the Lord of all life.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Num 16:22But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation?”
- Heb 12:9Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
- Jer 3:15Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
- Deut 31:14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, so that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Pet 5:2–4Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
- 1 Sam 12:13Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.
- Acts 20:28Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
- Matt 9:38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
- John 10:11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
- Ezek 37:24My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances and keep and observe My statutes.
- Ezek 34:23I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd.
- Jer 23:4–5I will raise up shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or dismayed, nor will any go missing, declares the LORD.
- 1 Kgs 5:5So behold, I plan to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God, according to what the LORD said to my father David: ‘I will put your son on your throne in your place, and he will build the house for My Name.’
- Ezek 34:11–16For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 27:16 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.