What Does Numbers 25:16 Mean in the King James?

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 25:16 · KJV

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 LORD’s speech reaches Moses by name, and Moses’ name carries the image of someone drawn out.

THE MEANING

The verse presents the word as a direct address, not as something left abstract. Moses’ name carries the image of being drawn out, so the one receiving speech is also named through emergence.

THE ROOT

וַיְדַבֵּר

vayedabber

GROWS FROM

דבר

To speak; its related noun means word, matter, or thing.

“spake” in this verse is vayedabber. The verb belongs to the same root as davar, “word” or “matter,” joining speech with the thing spoken. The verse presents the LORD’s words as a content-bearing address, then names the person receiving it.

ALSO GROWS

davar: Word, matter, or thing

דָּבָר

Speech and the matter it carries share a root, so the address is more than sound: it bears something definite.

devarim: Words, matters, or affairs

דְּבָרִים

The plural keeps the same overlap between words and matters, joining what is spoken with what is at stake.

מֹשֶׁה

Mosheh

GROWS FROM

משה

To draw out, especially from water; Scripture links Moses’ name to being drawn out.

“Moses” in this verse is Mosheh. The name carries the image of being drawn out. Here the one addressed bears that image in his name as he receives the word.

ALSO GROWS

mashah: To draw out

מָשָׁה

This is the verb linked to Moses’ name, giving the recipient’s name the image of emergence.

meshithihu: I drew him out

מְשִׁיתִהוּ

This form appears in the explanation of Moses’ name and makes the image personal: someone is drawn out.

THE PATTERN

Divine speech becomes a personal summons when it reaches someone by name.

And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Exodus 3:4 · KJVThe call becomes unmistakably personal when Moses is addressed by name.

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

1 Samuel 3:10 · KJVSamuel’s name makes the call particular, and his answer meets it as speech addressed to him.

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Acts 9:4 · KJVThe voice addresses Saul by name, making the encounter direct rather than abstract.

THE THREAD

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Exodus 4:12 · KJV

The Hebrew word translated “say” comes from the same ⁨דבר⁩ root as “spake” in this verse. Here the LORD speaks to Moses; there Moses is taught what to speak, so the word carries forward through the one who receives it.

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