The Meaning of Numbers 21:20 Explained

Numbers 21:20

KJV: And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.

YLT: and from Bamoth in the valley which is in the field of Moab to the top of Pisgah, which hath looked on the front of the wilderness.

Darby: and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the fields of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looks over the surface of the waste.

ASV: and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh down upon the desert.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And from Bamoth  [in] the valley,  that [is] in the country  of Moab,  to the top  of Pisgah,  which looketh  toward  Jeshimon. 

What does Numbers 21:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 21:1-20 - The Brazen Serpent Journeying To Pisgah
It often falls to our lot to compass the land of Edom! It is bad enough to have to fight the desert tribes, but it is harder to traverse the long circuitous route, which a little kindness on our brother's part might have rendered needless. What discouragement, heart-break and fainting we cause one another!
The story of the brazen serpent was quoted by our Lord to Nicodemus, John 3:14. It exemplifies the law that like cures like. Our Lord came in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, and as such was nailed to the tree, that the progress of sin and death might be arrested. Whosoever directs to Him the look of faith shall have everlasting life.
Near the pole-foot sprang up the brook, Numbers 21:17-18. We are reminded of the connection between the Cross and Pentecost. Spring up, O well of the Holy Spirit, in our hearts, and churches, and schools! The living water is within; summon it! [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 21

1  Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah
4  The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents
7  They repenting are healed by a bronze serpent
10  Various journeys of the Israelites
21  Sihon is overcome
33  And Og

What do the individual words in Numbers 21:20 mean?

and from Bamoth the [in] valley that [is] in the country of Moab to the top of Pisgah and which looks toward the face of the wasteland -
וּמִבָּמ֗וֹת הַגַּיְא֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה מוֹאָ֔ב רֹ֖אשׁ הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה וְנִשְׁקָ֖פָה עַל־ פְּנֵ֥י הַיְשִׁימֹֽן פ

וּמִבָּמ֗וֹת  and  from  Bamoth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּמֹות 
Sense: a town on the river Arnon in Moab.
הַגַּיְא֙  the  [in]  valley 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: גַּיְא  
Sense: valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge.
אֲשֶׁר֙  that  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה  in  the  country 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
מוֹאָ֔ב  of  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
רֹ֖אשׁ  to  the  top 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה  of  Pisgah 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: פִּסְגָּה  
Sense: mountain in Moab on the northeast shore of the Dead Sea; site uncertain.
וְנִשְׁקָ֖פָה  and  which  looks 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁקַף  
Sense: to overlook, look down or out, overhang, look out and down.
עַל־  toward 
Parse: Preposition
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.
פְּנֵ֥י  the  face  of 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַיְשִׁימֹֽן  the  wasteland 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְשִׁימֹון  
Sense: waste, wilderness, desert, desolate place.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation