The Meaning of Numbers 9:21 Explained

Numbers 9:21

KJV: And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.

YLT: And so when the cloud is from evening till morning, when the cloud hath gone up in the morning, then they have journeyed; whether by day or by night, when the cloud hath gone up, then they have journeyed.

Darby: And if it were so that the cloud was there from the evening until the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed; or a day and a night, and the cloud was taken up, they journeyed;

ASV: And sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they journeyed: or if it continued by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And [so] it was,  when the cloud  abode from even  unto the morning,  and [that] the cloud  was taken up  in the morning,  then they journeyed:  whether [it was] by day  or by night  that the cloud  was taken up,  they journeyed. 

What does Numbers 9:21 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 9:21 mean?

So it was when remained only the cloud from evening until morning and when was taken up the cloud in the morning then they would journey whether by day or by night and whenever was taken up the cloud and they would journey
וְיֵ֞שׁ אֲשֶׁר־ יִהְיֶ֤ה הֶֽעָנָן֙ מֵעֶ֣רֶב עַד־ בֹּ֔קֶר וְנַעֲלָ֧ה הֶֽעָנָ֛ן בַּבֹּ֖קֶר וְנָסָ֑עוּ א֚וֹ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה וְנַעֲלָ֥ה הֶעָנָ֖ן וְנָסָֽעוּ

וְיֵ֞שׁ  So  it  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
יִהְיֶ֤ה  remained  only 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הֶֽעָנָן֙  the  cloud 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
מֵעֶ֣רֶב  from  evening 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֶרֶב  
Sense: evening, night, sunset.
עַד־  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
בֹּ֔קֶר  morning 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וְנַעֲלָ֧ה  and  when  was  taken  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הֶֽעָנָ֛ן  the  cloud 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
בַּבֹּ֖קֶר  in  the  morning 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֹּקֶר 
Sense: morning, break of day.
וְנָסָ֑עוּ  then  they  would  journey 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.
א֚וֹ  whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אֹו 
Sense: or, rather.
יוֹמָ֣ם  by  day 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יׄומָם  
Sense: by day, in the daytime subst.
וָלַ֔יְלָה  or  by  night 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
וְנַעֲלָ֥ה  and  whenever  was  taken  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הֶעָנָ֖ן  the  cloud 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָנָן  
Sense: cloud, cloudy, cloud-mass.
וְנָסָֽעוּ  and  they  would  journey 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָסַע  
Sense: to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart.

What are the major concepts related to Numbers 9:21?

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