And Moses said to them, “Stand still, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Moses answered them, “Wait, that I may hear what Yahweh will command concerning you.”
- KJV And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.
- BSB “Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you,” Moses replied.
- NASB Moses then said to them, “Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you.”
- NLT Moses answered, “Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the Lord.”
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 tells them to wait while he seeks God's word on the matter. He refuses to answer on his own authority.
Overview
Rather than improvise, Moses waits to hear from God before deciding. This humble dependence on divine instruction models godly leadership that does not presume but seeks the Lord's will, trusting that God's word settles every question.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Ps 85:8I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly.
- Num 27:5Moses brought their cause before Yahweh.
- Ps 25:14The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.
- Heb 3:5–6Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken,
- Ezek 2:7You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious.
- Ezek 3:17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me.
- John 17:8for the words which you have given me I have given to them, and they received them, and knew for sure that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.
- John 7:17If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
- Exod 14:13Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again.
- Acts 20:27for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
- 1 Cor 11:23For I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread.
- 2 Chr 20:17You will not need to fight this battle. Set yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Go out against them tomorrow, for Yahweh is with you.’”
- 1 Cor 4:4For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
- Exod 18:15Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God.
- Prov 3:5–6Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
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 9:8 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.