The Meaning of Numbers 33:2 Explained

Numbers 33:2

KJV: And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.

YLT: and Moses writeth their outgoings, by their journeys, by the command of Jehovah; and these are their journeys, by their outgoings:

Darby: And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of Jehovah; and these are their journeys according to their goings out.

ASV: And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of Jehovah: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Moses  wrote  their goings out  according to their journeys  by the commandment  of the LORD:  and these [are] their journeys  according to their goings out. 

What does Numbers 33:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 33:1-37 - The Itinerary Of The Wanderings
This record of ineffectual marches is full of pathetic interest and warning. If these halting-places had been in the straight line of march for the Land of Promise there had been little room for regret. But they were not. They recall journeys that need never to have been taken. The tribes crossed and re-crossed the desert, marking time while the bodies of the murmurers fell in the Wilderness and were wrapped about with the desert sands.
Such is the doom of unbelief. To effect nothing, to miss the rest of God, and to perish on the threshold of achievement-such is the experience of the soul described in James 1:6. God has given us in Christ the promise of rest, victory and satisfaction; let us enter upon our inheritance! [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 33

1  The forty-two journeys of the Israelites
50  The Canaanites are to be destroyed

What do the individual words in Numbers 33:2 mean?

And wrote down Moses - the starting points of their journeys at the command of Yahweh and these [are] their journeys according to their starting points
וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת־ מוֹצָאֵיהֶ֛ם לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־ פִּ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְאֵ֥לֶּה מַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם לְמוֹצָאֵיהֶֽם

וַיִּכְתֹּ֨ב  And  wrote  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
מֹשֶׁ֜ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
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.
מוֹצָאֵיהֶ֛ם  the  starting  points 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מֹוצָא  
Sense: act or place of going out or forth, issue, export, source, spring.
לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם  of  their  journeys 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַסַּע  
Sense: a pulling up (of stakes), breaking camp, setting out, journey.
עַל־  at 
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.
פִּ֣י  the  command 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְאֵ֥לֶּה  and  these  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
מַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם  their  journeys 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַסַּע  
Sense: a pulling up (of stakes), breaking camp, setting out, journey.
לְמוֹצָאֵיהֶֽם  according  to  their  starting  points 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מֹוצָא  
Sense: act or place of going out or forth, issue, export, source, spring.