Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Parallel translations
- WEB “Let Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,
- BSB “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint 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 16:22And 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?
- Heb 12:9Furthermore 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?
- Jer 3:15And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
- Deut 31:14And 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.
- 1 Pet 5:2–4Feed 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;
- 1 Sam 12:13Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.
- Acts 20:28Take 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.
- Matt 9:38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
- John 10:11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
- Ezek 37:24And 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.
- Ezek 34:23And 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.
- Jer 23:4–5And 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.
- 1 Kgs 5:5And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
- Ezek 34:11–16For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, 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
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