Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the word which the Lord has commanded:
Parallel translations
- WEB Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded.
- KJV And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.
- BSB Then Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel, “This is what the LORD has commanded:
- NKJV Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the Lord has commanded:
- NLT Then Moses summoned the leaders of the tribes of Israel and told them, “This is what the Lord has commanded:
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 spoke to the tribal leaders God's command concerning vows, introducing laws on the binding nature of solemn promises.
Overview
Turning from the calendar of offerings to a new subject, Moses addressed the heads of the tribes about the seriousness of vows made to God. Their leadership role made them responsible to oversee this matter among the people. The passage underscores that words spoken before God carry weight, a truth Jesus deepened by calling for simple, truthful speech (Matthew 5:33-37).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Num 7:2the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers’ houses, offered. These were the princes of the tribes. These are they who were over those who were counted:
- Deut 1:13–17Take wise men of understanding and well known according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.”
- Num 1:4–16With you there shall be a man of every tribe; everyone head of his fathers’ house.
- Num 34:17–28“These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
- Exod 18:25Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
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 30:1 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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