The Meaning of Numbers 12:2 Explained

Numbers 12:2

KJV: And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

YLT: and they say, 'Only by Moses hath Jehovah spoken? also by us hath he not spoken?' and Jehovah heareth.

Darby: And they said, Has Jehovah indeed spoken only to Moses? has he not spoken also to us? And Jehovah heard it.

ASV: And they said, Hath Jehovah indeed spoken only with Moses? hath he not spoken also with us? And Jehovah heard it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they said,  Hath the LORD  indeed spoken  only by Moses?  hath he not spoken  also by us? And the LORD  heard  [it]. 

What does Numbers 12:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 12:1-15 - God Protects Moses Against Criticism
This Ethiopian wife may have been Zipporah, or some other woman whom Moses married after his first wife's death. That Moses, the great lawgiver and leader, who could rule a turbulent multitude and face the great king of Egypt, should take the taunts of his brother and sister so quietly, indicates how deep and far-reaching had been the transformation of his character. Compare Exodus 2:12, etc. "Fret not thyself because of evildoers"¦. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him," Psalms 37:1-40.
When we hand our cause over to God He comes down, Numbers 12:5. He rebukes the enemy and avenger. Be faithful to Him and you may reckon on His faithfulness to you! That commendation of faithfulness, which Moses received, may be won by all! See Mark 13:34.
Our intercession may bring pardon and healing; but sin leaves its mark, Numbers 12:15. You are shut out of the enjoyment of the camp, and the march is delayed. Ponder James 3:5-6. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 12

1  God rebukes the sedition of Miriam and Aaron
11  Miriam's leprosy is healed at the prayer of Moses
14  God commands her to be shut out of the host
16  The people encamp in the desert of Paran

What do the individual words in Numbers 12:2 mean?

So they said only indeed through Moses Has spoken Yahweh not also through us Has He spoken and heard [it] Yahweh
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ הֲרַ֤ק אַךְ־ בְּמֹשֶׁה֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר ؟ יְהוָ֔ה הֲלֹ֖א גַּם־ בָּ֣נוּ ؟ דִבֵּ֑ר וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע יְהוָֽה

וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ  So  they  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הֲרַ֤ק  only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רַק  
Sense: only, altogether, surely.
אַךְ־  indeed 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
בְּמֹשֶׁה֙  through  Moses 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
דִּבֶּ֣ר  Has  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
؟ יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
גַּם־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
בָּ֣נוּ  through  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
؟ דִבֵּ֑ר  Has  He  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע  and  heard  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.