The Meaning of Numbers 27:14 Explained

Numbers 27:14

KJV: For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

YLT: because ye provoked My mouth in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the company -- to sanctify Me at the waters before their eyes;' they are waters of Meribah, in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin.

Darby: because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, as to hallowing me in the matter of the water before their eyes. (That is the water of Meribah at Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

ASV: because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For ye rebelled  against my commandment  in the desert  of Zin,  in the strife  of the congregation,  to sanctify  me at the water  before their eyes:  that [is] the water  of Meribah  in Kadesh  in the wilderness  of Zin. 

What does Numbers 27:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 27:1-23 - Joshua Appointed Moses' Successor
Up to the last Moses was faithful as a servant to Him that had appointed him in all his house, Hebrews 3:2. Notice that he did not attempt to legislate for these young girls, who pleaded for a possession in their father's right; but he brought their case before God. It was ever "as the Lord commanded Moses," Numbers 27:11; Numbers 22:1-41. And when he was bidden to ascend the mountain and die his main anxiety was to secure a successor to shepherd the people. Notice that expressive phrase, "the God of the spirits of all flesh!" See Hebrews 12:9.
The great Lawgiver may bring the people to the borders of the land of rest, but there he must resign his charge. The law, with its demands for an obedience which we cannot give, cannot bring the soul to rest. That is the prerogative of Joshua-Jesus, Hebrews 4:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 27

1  The daughters of Zelophehad ask for an inheritance
6  The law of inheritances
12  Moses, being told of his death, asks for a successor
18  Joshua is appointed to succeed him

What do the individual words in Numbers 27:14 mean?

For you rebelled against My command in the Wilderness of Zin during the strife of the congregation to show My holiness at the waters before their eyes Those [are] the waters of Meribah at Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin -
כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ מְרִיתֶ֨ם פִּ֜י בְּמִדְבַּר־ צִ֗ן בִּמְרִיבַת֙ הָֽעֵדָ֔ה לְהַקְדִּישֵׁ֥נִי בַמַּ֖יִם לְעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם הֵ֛ם מֵֽי־ מְרִיבַ֥ת קָדֵ֖שׁ מִדְבַּר־ צִֽן פ

מְרִיתֶ֨ם  you  rebelled  against 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מָרָה  
Sense: to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against.
פִּ֜י  My  command 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
בְּמִדְבַּר־  in  the  Wilderness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
צִ֗ן  of  Zin 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִן  
Sense: name given to a portion of the desert tract between the Dead Sea and Arabah on the east in which Kadesh-barnea was located.
בִּמְרִיבַת֙  during  the  strife 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מְרִיבָה  
Sense: strife, contention.
הָֽעֵדָ֔ה  of  the  congregation 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֵדָה  
Sense: congregation, gathering.
לְהַקְדִּישֵׁ֥נִי  to  show  My  holiness 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
בַמַּ֖יִם  at  the  waters 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
לְעֵינֵיהֶ֑ם  before  their  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, cdc, third person masculine plural
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
הֵ֛ם  Those  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
מֵֽי־  the  waters 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
מְרִיבַ֥ת  of  Meribah  at 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְרִיבָה 
Sense: a fountain at Rephidim, in the desert of Sin; so called because the Israelites murmured against God.
קָדֵ֖שׁ  Kadesh  in 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: קָדֵשׁ  
Sense: a city in the extreme south of Judah.
מִדְבַּר־  the  Wilderness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
צִֽן  of  Zin 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִן  
Sense: name given to a portion of the desert tract between the Dead Sea and Arabah on the east in which Kadesh-barnea was located.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation