The Meaning of Numbers 9:17 Explained

Numbers 9:17

KJV: And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.

YLT: And according to the going up of the cloud from off the tent and afterwards do the sons of Israel journey; and in the place where the cloud doth tabernacle, there do the sons of Israel encamp;

Darby: And when the cloud rose from the tent, then the children of Israel journeyed; and at the place where the cloud stood still, there the children of Israel encamped.

ASV: And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel encamped.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And when  the cloud  was taken up  from the tabernacle,  then after  that the children  of Israel  journeyed:  and in the place  where the cloud  abode,  there the children  of Israel  pitched their tents. 

What does Numbers 9:17 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 9:15-23 - The Cloud Upon The Tabernacle
We cannot decide on the shape of this cloud; whether it was a great cumulus, or spread out over the camp like an umbrella, so as to shelter the people from the sun glare. As the night fell, the shekinah-fire, that burned at its heart, became apparent. But whether it sheltered by day or illumined by night, it was always the symbol of the divine presence. All this prefigured the guidance and shelter that are afforded to His people by our Lord. Compare John 8:12.
Friends may urge you to change your sphere. The scarcity of your resources and the pressure of your foes may appear to force a move. A nameless fear may suggest that you will never hold your ground. But so long as the cloud doesn't move, you must tarry where you are. Where the cloud broods, the manna falls. "My soul, wait thou only upon God!" Never go in front of God, nor lag behind, nor hesitate to strike your tent, if He leads on. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 9

1  The Passover is again commanded
6  A second Passover for the unclean or absent
15  The cloud directs the removals and encampments of the Israelites

What do the individual words in Numbers 9:17 mean?

And Whenever was taken up the cloud from above the tabernacle and after that would journey the sons of Israel and in the place where settled there the cloud there would pitch their tents of Israel
וּלְפִ֞י הֵעָלֹ֤ת הֶֽעָנָן֙ מֵעַ֣ל הָאֹ֔הֶל וְאַ֣חֲרֵי־ כֵ֔ן יִסְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבִמְק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁכָּן־ שָׁם֙ הֶֽעָנָ֔ן שָׁ֥ם יַחֲנ֖וּ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וּלְפִ֞י  And  Whenever 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
הֵעָלֹ֤ת  was  taken  up 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הֶֽעָנָן֙  the  cloud 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
מֵעַ֣ל  from  above 
Parse: Preposition-m
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.
הָאֹ֔הֶל  the  tabernacle 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
וְאַ֣חֲרֵי־  and  after 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
כֵ֔ן  that 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
יִסְע֖וּ  would  journey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
וּבִמְק֗וֹם  and  in  the  place 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  where 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יִשְׁכָּן־  settled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
הֶֽעָנָ֔ן  the  cloud 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
יַחֲנ֖וּ  would  pitch  their  tents 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָנָה  
Sense: to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.