The Meaning of Numbers 11:12 Explained

Numbers 11:12

KJV: Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?

YLT: I -- have I conceived all this people? I -- have I begotten it, that Thou sayest unto me, Carry it in thy bosom as the nursing father beareth the suckling, unto the ground which Thou hast sworn to its fathers?

Darby: Have I conceived all this people, have I brought them forth, that thou sayest to me, Carry them in thy bosom, as the nursing-father beareth the suckling, unto the land which thou didst swear unto their fathers?

ASV: Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Have I conceived  all this people?  have I begotten  them, that thou shouldest say  unto me, Carry  them in thy bosom,  as a nursing father  beareth  the sucking child,  unto the land  which thou swarest  unto their fathers? 

What does Numbers 11:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 11:1-15 - The Murmuring Flesh-Lovers
We cannot wonder at the people's murmuring. They were unaccustomed to the fatigues of the desert, and had not realized the length of the journey. Let us beware of querulous complaints. See 1 Corinthians 10:10. Let us also guard against familiarity with those who have never known God's regenerating grace. "The mixed multitude" was largely composed of Egyptians, whose evil example spread to the chosen people, Exodus 12:38. When our religious life is low, we tire of angels' food, and our hearts turn back to the world we have left.
Moses' outcry is hardly to be wondered at. He was thoroughly overstrained by the immense demands of his life. But he ought not to have spoken as though the entire weight of the pilgrimage rested on him. His Almighty Friend was bearing and carrying them during "all the days of old." See Isaiah 63:9. We must never look at our responsibilities apart from Him who makes all grace abound, 2 Corinthians 9:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 11

1  The burning at Taberah quenched by Moses' prayer
4  The people crave meat, and loathe manna
10  Moses complains of his charge
16  God promises to divide his burden unto seventy elders,
18  and to give the people meat for a month
21  Moses' faith is staggered
31  Quails are given in wrath at Kibroth Hattaavah

What do the individual words in Numbers 11:12 mean?

Did I conceive - all people this lo did I beget them that You should say to me Carry them in your bosom as carries a guardian - a nursing child to the land which You swore to their fathers
הֶאָנֹכִ֣י הָרִ֗יתִי אֵ֚ת כָּל־ הָעָ֣ם ؟ הַזֶּ֔ה אִם־ אָנֹכִ֖י יְלִדְתִּ֑יהוּ כִּֽי־ תֹאמַ֨ר אֵלַ֜י שָׂאֵ֣הוּ בְחֵיקֶ֗ךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשָּׂ֤א הָאֹמֵן֙ אֶת־ הַיֹּנֵ֔ק עַ֚ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתָּ ؟ לַאֲבֹתָֽיו

הֶאָנֹכִ֣י  Did  I 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
הָרִ֗יתִי  conceive 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: הֹור 
Sense: to conceive, become pregnant, bear, be with child, be conceived, progenitor.
אֵ֚ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָעָ֣ם  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
؟ הַזֶּ֔ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
אִם־  lo 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
אָנֹכִ֖י  did  I 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
יְלִדְתִּ֑יהוּ  beget  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
תֹאמַ֨ר  You  should  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלַ֜י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
שָׂאֵ֣הוּ  Carry  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
בְחֵיקֶ֗ךָ  in  your  bosom 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֹוק 
Sense: bosom, hollow, bottom, midst.
יִשָּׂ֤א  carries 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
הָאֹמֵן֙  a  guardian 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַיֹּנֵ֔ק  a  nursing  child 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָנַק 
Sense: to suckle, nurse, suck.
הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
נִשְׁבַּ֖עְתָּ  You  swore 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: to swear, adjure.
؟ לַאֲבֹתָֽיו  to  their  fathers 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.