What Does Numbers 20:7 Mean?

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Numbers 20:7 · SDV

Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.

Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.

This verse in the King James

King James wording

King James Version

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

THE KEY

The Hebrew root beneath “spake” also gives davar, “word” and “matter,” so the speech’s substance is about to unfold.

THE MEANING

You stand at the threshold of an address: the LORD speaks to Moses, while the message arrives in the next verse. Moses’ name is linked in the text to being drawn out, placing a life marked by emergence inside this moment of address.

THE ROOT

וַיְדַבֵּר

waydabbēr

GROWS FROM

ד־ב־ר

d-b-r

Speak; the related noun davar means word, matter, or thing.

The same root connects the act of speaking with davar, a word or matter. Here “spake … saying” opens a speech whose substance comes into view in the next verse.

ALSO GROWS

dibbēr: spoke, addressed

דִּבֵּר

This is the verb form in the verse: the speech is directed to Moses.

dāḇār: word, matter, thing

דָּבָר

Its range joins what is spoken with the matter being disclosed.

מֹשֶׁה

Mōšeh

GROWS FROM

מ־ש־ה

m-sh-h

Draw out; the verse’s name-play links Moses to being drawn from water.

“Moses” in this verse is Mōšeh. Exodus 2:10 connects the name Moshe with mashah, “to draw out.” In this verse, the person being addressed carries a name marked by emergence.

ALSO GROWS

māšâ: to draw out

מָשָׁה

This is the verb behind the name’s connection to being drawn from water.

məšîtihû: I drew him out

מְשִׁיתִהוּ

This form appears in the name explanation in Exodus 2:10.

לֵאמֹר

lē’mōr

GROWS FROM

א־מ־ר

ʾ-m-r

Say, speak, utter.

“saying” in this verse is lē’mōr. Lemor marks the words that follow as the content of the address. It keeps this verse open at the moment before the message is heard.

ALSO GROWS

ʾāmar: to say, speak

אָמַר

This is the verb that supplies “saying” in the speech formula.

ʾēmer: utterance, word

אֵמֶר

This related noun points toward the message about to be disclosed.

THE PATTERN

A divine utterance begins by addressing a hearer while its content unfolds.

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

Exodus 3:4 · SDVThe call names Moses before the exchange continues.

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak, for your servant hears and responds.

1 Samuel 3:10 · SDVSamuel is addressed first, then answers the voice that speaks to him.

And he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why do you pursue me?

Acts 9:4 · SDVThe voice addresses Saul before its question opens the message.

THE THREAD

Take the staff, and gather the assembly together, you and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will give its waters, and you will bring out waters for them from the rock. So you will give the assembly and their beasts drink.

Numbers 20:8 · SDV

The same Hebrew root for “spake” in verse 7 appears in the command “speak” in verse 8. The voice first reaches Moses, then directs his speech toward the rock, which is to give forth water.

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