Numbers 20:3

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And the people strove with Moses, and spake, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיָּ֥רֶב הָעָ֖ם עִם־מֹשֶׁ֑ה וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֵאמֹ֔ר וְל֥וּ גָוַ֛עְנוּ בִּגְוַ֥ע אַחֵ֖ינוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה

Transliteration

And-yāreb the-ʿām with-mōšeh and-yōʾmərû lēʾmōr and-lû gāwaʿnû in-the-gəwaʿ of-ʾaḥênû before yəhwâ

Grammar Details

*yāreb*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - contended/quarreled
*ʿām*: masculine singular - people
*yōʾmərû*: waw-consecutive + qal imperfect 3rd plural - and they said
*lēʾmōr*: qal infinitive construct with lamed - saying
*lû*: particle expressing wish - if only/would that
*gāwaʿnû*: qal perfect 1st plural - we had expired/perished
*gəwaʿ*: qal infinitive construct - perishing/expiring
*ʾaḥênû*: masculine plural construct with 1st plural suffix - our brothers
*yəhwâ*: proper noun - the LORD

Word Meanings

*yāreb*: contended/quarreled/strove
*lû*: if only/would that
*gāwaʿ*: expire/perish/die

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Exod 17:2 : 2 Wherefore the people strove with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why strive ye with me? Wherefore do ye tempt Jehovah?
Num 16:31-35 : 31 And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them; 32 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them; for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up. 35 And fire came forth from Jehovah, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.
Num 16:49 : 49 Now they that died by the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides them that died about the matter of Korah.
Num 11:1 : 1 And the people were as murmurers, [speaking] evil in the ears of Jehovah: and when Jehovah heard it, his anger was kindled; and the fire of Jehovah burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp.
Num 11:33-34 : 33 While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the people, and Jehovah smote the people with a very great plague. 34 And the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people that lusted.
Num 14:1-2 : 1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would that we had died in this wilderness!
Num 14:36-37 : 36 And the men, whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up an evil report against the land, 37 even those men that did bring up an evil report of the land, died by the plague before Jehovah.
Job 3:10-11 : 10 Because it shut not up the doors of my [mother's] womb, Nor hid trouble from mine eyes. 11 Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when my mother bare me?
Lam 4:9 : 9 They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.
Exod 16:2-3 : 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness: 3 and the children of Israel said unto them, Would that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Num 14:1-4
4 verses
87%
1And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
2And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would that we had died in this wilderness!
3And wherefore doth Jehovah bring us unto this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be a prey: were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
4And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
Exod 17:2-4
3 verses
82%
2Wherefore the people strove with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why strive ye with me? Wherefore do ye tempt Jehovah?
3And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?
4And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, What shall I do unto this people? They are almost ready to stone me.
Num 20:4-5
2 verses
82%
4And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?
5And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
Exod 16:2-3
2 verses
82%
2And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness:
3and the children of Israel said unto them, Would that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Num 21:4-7
4 verses
79%
4And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
6And Jehovah sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
7And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Jehovah, and against thee; pray unto Jehovah, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
Num 20:2
78%
2And there was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
Exod 14:11-12
2 verses
78%
11And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt?
12Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Exod 20:19
78%
19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Exod 15:24
77%
24And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
Num 17:12
76%
12And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone.
Deut 1:27
75%
27and ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because Jehovah hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
Num 16:41
75%
41But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of Jehovah.
Num 27:15
73%
15And Moses spake unto Jehovah, saying,
Num 11:1
72%
1And the people were as murmurers, [speaking] evil in the ears of Jehovah: and when Jehovah heard it, his anger was kindled; and the fire of Jehovah burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp.
Exod 32:11
72%
11And Moses besought Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, that thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
Num 16:13
72%
13is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but thou must needs make thyself also a prince over us?
Ps 106:32
72%
32They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, So that it went ill with Moses for their sakes;
Num 14:39
72%
39And Moses told these words unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.
Exod 5:21-22
2 verses
72%
21and they said unto them, Jehovah look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
22And Moses returned unto Jehovah, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou dealt ill with this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?
Num 20:15
72%
15how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:
Num 11:10
72%
10And Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.
Heb 3:17
71%
17And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Num 14:11
71%
11And Jehovah said unto Moses, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them?
Exod 16:8
71%
8And Moses said, [This shall be], when Jehovah shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that Jehovah heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against Jehovah.
Num 20:10
70%
10And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?
Num 14:27
70%
27How long [shall I bear] with this evil congregation, that murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.
Num 25:10
70%
10And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
Acts 7:40
70%
40saying unto Aaron, Make us gods that shall go before us: for as for this Moses, who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.
Num 11:20
70%
20but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you; because that ye have rejected Jehovah who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
Num 16:23
70%
23And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 12:2
70%
2And they said, Hath Jehovah indeed spoken only with Moses? hath he not spoken also with us? And Jehovah heard it.
Ps 106:16
70%
16They envied Moses also in the camp, [And] Aaron the saint of Jehovah.
Exod 6:9-10
2 verses
70%
9And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
10And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 20:13
69%
13These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Jehovah, and he was sanctified in them.
Deut 1:34
69%
34And Jehovah heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,