The Meaning of Numbers 11:17 Explained

Numbers 11:17

KJV: And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

YLT: and I have come down and spoken with thee there, and have kept back of the Spirit which is upon thee, and have put on them, and they have borne with thee some of the burden of the people, and thou dost not bear it thyself alone.

Darby: And I will come down and talk with thee there; and I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, and thou shalt not bear it alone.

ASV: And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I will come down  and talk  with thee there: and I will take  of the spirit  which [is] upon thee, and will put  [it] upon them; and they shall bear  the burden  of the people  with thee, that thou bear  [it] not thyself alone. 

What does Numbers 11:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 11:16-25 - God's Spirit Upon The Seventy
God's considerateness for His overwrought servant was very tender. He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. He does not chide, nor keep His anger forever. The remedy for the situation was provided in the appointment and enduement of the seventy elders, who became the germ of the Sanhedrin.
Moses' depression led to unbelief. It seemed impossible to suppose that God could provide a table in the wilderness of such magnitude that in it the whole host could participate. Unbelief says, Can God? Faith answers, God can! See Psalms 78:19. Child of God! God's hand is not waxed short, that it cannot reach to you. Even if we believe not, He remains faithful, 2 Timothy 2:13. This equipment of the elders, Numbers 11:25, reminds us that we, too, need to receive the Holy Spirit, first for our sanctification in character, and then for our service and office. This is the special characteristic of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4. [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 11:17 mean?

And I will come down and talk with you there and I will take of the Spirit that [is] upon you and will put [the same] upon them and they shall bear with you the burden of the people that not may bear [it] you yourself alone
וְיָרַדְתִּ֗י וְדִבַּרְתִּ֣י עִמְּךָ֮ שָׁם֒ וְאָצַלְתִּ֗י מִן־ הָר֛וּחַ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָלֶ֖יךָ וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וְנָשְׂא֤וּ אִתְּךָ֙ בְּמַשָּׂ֣א הָעָ֔ם וְלֹא־ תִשָּׂ֥א אַתָּ֖ה לְבַדֶּֽךָ

וְיָרַדְתִּ֗י  And  I  will  come  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
וְדִבַּרְתִּ֣י  and  talk 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
עִמְּךָ֮  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
וְאָצַלְתִּ֗י  and  I  will  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: אָצַל  
Sense: to lay aside, reserve, withdraw, withhold.
הָר֛וּחַ  the  Spirit 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עָלֶ֖יךָ  upon  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י  and  will  put  [the  same] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם  upon  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וְנָשְׂא֤וּ  and  they  shall  bear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אִתְּךָ֙  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
בְּמַשָּׂ֣א  the  burden 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַשָּׂא 
Sense: load, bearing, tribute, burden, lifting.
הָעָ֔ם  of  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְלֹא־  that  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִשָּׂ֥א  may  bear  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
לְבַדֶּֽךָ  yourself  alone 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.