What Does Numbers 32:15 Mean in the King James?

For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.

Numbers 32:15 · 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.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Hebrew verb behind “turn away” means simply “turn”; the words around it reveal whether that turning leads away from God or back toward him.

THE MEANING

When you turn away from following God, the people are left in the wilderness again, and your turn destroys them. The verse speaks now of how a change in direction can carry consequences for everyone depending on your place among them.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that turning away from God affects only you; the verse says the people with you bear its cost.

THE ROOT

תְּשׁוּבוּן

tĕšûḇûn

GROWS FROM

שׁוּב

turn, return, turn back

“turn away” in this verse is tĕšûḇûn. The root means turning or returning; it does not itself specify a destination. Here, “from after him” gives the turn its direction, and wilderness names its consequence.

ALSO GROWS

shuvah: return

שׁוּבָה

This form uses the same root for a turn toward the LORD, showing that the direction comes from the words around the root.

meshûḇāh: backsliding, turning away

מְשׁוּבָה

The root can also name a turning away, revealing how the same movement can become a repeated departure.

THE PATTERN

A turn away from God can carry others toward ruin, while a turn back can draw them away from it.

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Ezekiel 18:30 · KJVTurning away from transgression is presented as a path that keeps ruin from taking hold.

And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;

Deuteronomy 30:2 · KJVThe return reaches beyond one person, gathering children into the turning back toward God.

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

James 5:19-20 · KJVTurning someone back from error is shown as a rescue that reaches another life.

THE THREAD

O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

Hosea 14:1 · KJV

The same root, ⁨שׁוּב⁩ (shuv), underlies the turning away here and Hosea’s call to return. The root holds the movement; the surrounding words reveal whether it leads away from God or back toward him.

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