Numbers 11:25

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

And the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to them, and he took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but did not do so again.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֵּ֨רֶד יְהוָ֥ה ׀ בֶּעָנָן֮ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָיו֒ וַיָּ֗אצֶל מִן־הָר֙וּחַ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלָ֔יו וַיִּתֵּ֕ן עַל־שִׁבְעִ֥ים אִ֖ישׁ הַזְּקֵנִ֑ים וַיְהִ֗י כְּנ֤וֹחַ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ הָר֔וּחַ וַיִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ וְלֹ֥א יָסָֽפוּ׃

Transliteration

And yēred YHWH in-the-ʿānān and yədabbēr to-him, and yāʾṣel from-the-rûaḥ which upon-him and yittēn upon-seventy ʾîš the-zəqēnîm; and yəhî when-kənôaḥ upon-them the-rûaḥ and yitnabbəʾû and not yāsāpû.

Grammar Details

• *yēred*: qal imperfect third person masculine singular with waw consecutive - and he came down
• *YHWH*: proper noun - divine name
• *ʿānān*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the cloud
• *yədabbēr*: piel imperfect third person masculine singular with waw consecutive - and he spoke
• *yāʾṣel*: qal imperfect third person masculine singular with waw consecutive - and he took/reserved
• *rûaḥ*: feminine singular noun with definite article - the spirit
• *yittēn*: qal imperfect third person masculine singular with waw consecutive - and he gave
• *ʾîš*: masculine singular noun - men
• *zəqēnîm*: masculine plural adjective with definite article - the elders
• *yəhî*: qal imperfect third person masculine singular with waw consecutive - and it came to pass
• *kənôaḥ*: qal infinitive construct - as rested
• *yitnabbəʾû*: hitpael imperfect third person masculine plural with waw consecutive - and they prophesied
• *yāsāpû*: qal perfect third person common plural - they continued/did not cease

Word Meanings

• *yāʾṣel*: took away/withdrew/separated/reserved
• *rûaḥ*: spirit/breath/wind
• *yāsāpû*: they continued/ceased/added

Referenced Verses

• Num 11:17 : 17 Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take part of the Spirit that is on you, and will put it on them, and they will bear some of the burden of the people with you, so that you do not bear it all by yourself.
• Num 12:5 : 5 And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent; he then called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.
• 1 Sam 10:10 : 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied among them.
• 1 Sam 19:20-24 : 20 So Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw a company of prophets prophesying with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came upon Saul’s messengers, and they also prophesied. 21 When it was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they prophesied too. So Saul sent messengers a third time, but they also prophesied. 22 Finally Saul himself went to Ramah. When he arrived at the large cistern that is in Secu, he asked,“Where are Samuel and David?” They said,“At Naioth in Ramah.” 23 So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 He even stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He lay there naked all that day and night.(For that reason it is asked,“Is Saul also among the prophets?”)
• 2 Kgs 2:15 : 15 When the members of the prophetic guild in Jericho, who were standing at a distance, saw him do this, they said,“The spirit that energized Elijah rests upon Elisha.” They went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him.
• Ps 99:7 : 7 He spoke to them from a pillar of cloud; they obeyed his regulations and the ordinance he gave them.
• Jer 36:5-6 : 5 Then Jeremiah told Baruch,“I am no longer allowed to go into the LORD’s temple. 6 So you go there the next time all the people of Judah come in from their towns to fast in the LORD’s temple. Read out loud where all of them can hear you what I told you the LORD said, which you wrote in the scroll.
• Joel 2:28-29 : 28 An Outpouring of the Spirit(3:1) After all of this I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your elderly will have prophetic dreams; your young men will see visions. 29 Even on male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
• Luke 9:34-35 : 34 As he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came from the cloud, saying,“This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!”
• Acts 2:17-18 : 17 ‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says,‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
• Acts 11:28 : 28 One of them, named Agabus, got up and predicted by the Spirit that a severe famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world.(This took place during the reign of Claudius.)
• Acts 21:9-9 : 9 (He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.) 10 While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said,“The Holy Spirit says this:‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
• 1 Cor 11:4-5 : 4 Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head. 5 But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is one and the same thing as having a shaved head.
• 1 Cor 14:1-3 : 1 Prophecy and Tongues Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.
• 1 Cor 14:32 : 32 Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
• Jas 1:17 : 17 All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.
• 2 Pet 1:21 : 21 for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
• 1 Sam 10:5-6 : 5 Afterward you will go to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine officials. When you enter the town, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They will have harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. 6 Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.
• Exod 34:5 : 5 The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the LORD by name.
• Exod 40:38 : 38 For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, but fire would be on it at night, in plain view of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.