What Does Numbers 12:3 Mean in the King James?
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew word for “meek” carries the sense of being brought low, yet this verse places the lowly one above everyone.
THE MEANING
Meekness here is a lowly posture, yet the verse gives it the highest standing among people. It shows that being lowly does not make a person insignificant.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that only forceful self-assertion makes a person great.
THE ROOT
עָנָו
ʿānāw
GROWS FROM
ענה
To be bowed down or afflicted; the adjective describes one who is lowly or humble.
“meek” in this verse is ʿānāw. The word holds lowliness together with the experience of being brought low. The verse makes that posture visible as a form of greatness, not insignificance.
ALSO GROWS
ʿānî: Poor, afflicted
עָנִי
This branch shows that the word family can name a lowly condition, not merely a polite manner.
ʿŏnî: Affliction, hardship
עֳנִי
Its shared root connects meekness with being brought low, giving the word more depth than quietness alone.
מֹשֶׁה
Mōšeh
GROWS FROM
משה
To draw out, especially from water.
Moses’ name is tied to being drawn out of the water. Beside the word for meek, it places a life drawn out alongside a posture brought low.
ALSO GROWS
māšāh: To draw out
מָשָׁה
This is the verb associated with Moses’ name and its naming in Exodus 2:10.
māšûy: Drawn out
מָשׁוּי
This form makes the name’s image plain: Moses is the one drawn out, a life received from the water.
THE PATTERN
Scripture joins lowliness with being lifted up and receiving an inheritance.
The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.THE THREAD
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.The Hebrew word translated “meek” comes from the same word family in both verses. Numbers names meekness in Moses; Psalm 37 shows that this lowly posture receives the earth rather than disappearing beneath it.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us