And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:
Parallel translations
- WEB They came near to him, and said, “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones;
- BSB Then the Gadites and Reubenites approached Moses and said, “We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones.
- NKJV Then they came near to him and said: “We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones,
- NASB Then they approached him and said, “We will build sheepfolds for our livestock here and cities for our little ones;
- NLT But they approached Moses and said, “We simply want to build pens for our livestock and fortified towns for our wives and children.
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
Reuben and Gad clarify their intent, offering to build folds for their flocks and cities for their families before joining the conquest. They are not refusing the war but planning their households.
Overview
The tribes step forward to explain themselves, proposing to secure their livestock and little ones first. Their answer reveals that Moses' fear, though reasonable, had not grasped their full intent. The exchange models how honest dialogue can resolve suspicion within God's community, and it sets up a covenant arrangement that balances tribal interest with shared obligation to all Israel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
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 32:16 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.