What Does Numbers 14:36 Mean in the King James?
And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
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 slander names the land, but its force turns the whole congregation against the man who sent them.
THE MEANING
A report about what lies ahead becomes an accusation in the present: the slander is raised against the land, while the congregation turns against Moses. The report’s reach shows in the voices it gathers, not only in the words its messengers bring.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie this verse undoes is that a damaging report stays aimed at its stated subject; here a report about the land turns the assembly against Moses.
THE ROOT
דִּבָּה
dibbah
GROWS FROM
דבב
To whisper or speak softly; this word family also describes lips being made to speak.
This word family links a whispered report with speech that sets lips moving. Here the slander does not remain with the men who bring it: the congregation takes up its effect in their own murmuring.
ALSO GROWS
dibbah: An evil report, slander, or whispered accusation
דִּבָּה
This is the word used for the report about the land; it names the speech that turns the assembly against Moses.
dōbēb: Causing the lips to speak
דֹּבֵב
In Song of Solomon 7:9, this related form describes words stirring the lips of sleepers to speak, echoing how the report stirs the congregation’s voices.
מֹשֶׁה
Mosheh
GROWS FROM
משה
To draw out; Exodus explains Moses’ name through drawing him out of the water.
Moses’ name carries the image of being drawn out of water. Here the congregation is drawn into opposition against him, an echo between the name’s nature and the scene.
ALSO GROWS
māshāh: To draw out
מָשָׁה
Exodus 2:10 uses this verb when explaining Moses’ name.
Mosheh: Moses, named in connection with being drawn out
מֹשֶׁה
The name keeps the image of being drawn out present when Moses becomes the target of the report.
THE PATTERN
A slanderous report gathers force as it carries speech from one relationship into another.
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.THE THREAD
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.The phrase “evil report” here uses the same Hebrew word, דִּבָּה (dibbah), rendered “slander” in Numbers 14:36. This verse gives the report’s content; the next shows its effect as the congregation turns against Moses.
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