King James Version

What Does Numbers 11:18 Mean?

Numbers 11:18 in the King James Version says “And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ear...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.”

Numbers 11:18 · KJV

Context

16

And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

17

And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

18

And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.

19

Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;

20

But even a whole month , until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? whole: Heb. month of days

Read Numbers 11 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God's command through Moses 'Sanctify yourselves against to morrow' called Israel to prepare ceremonially for divine action. The Hebrew hitqaddesh (הִתְקַדְּשׁוּ) means to consecrate or set apart—ironically, here sanctification prepares not for blessing but for judgment. The people would receive what they demanded, but it would become a curse rather than blessing. This illustrates the principle that God sometimes grants sinful requests to expose their folly and bring correction (Psalm 106:15: 'He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul').

The phrase 'ye have wept in the ears of the LORD' emphasizes that their complaint, though directed at Moses, was heard by God. The anthropomorphic expression 'in the ears of the LORD' indicates God's personal awareness and response to their murmuring. Their tears weren't hidden from divine notice—God knows every complaint, whether whispered privately or shouted publicly. The specific complaint 'Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt' revealed selective memory and distorted perception. Egypt wasn't 'well'—they were slaves, oppressed, crying out for deliverance (Exodus 2:23-24).

God's response 'therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat' granted their request but added consequence. The provision wasn't gracious gift but judicial response—God would demonstrate that getting what we sinfully crave often brings misery, not satisfaction. This prefigures the New Testament warning: 'Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts' (James 4:3). Desires pursued in unbelief, even when granted, cannot satisfy the soul created for God alone.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The command to sanctify themselves 'against tomorrow' follows the pattern of divine visitation requiring ceremonial preparation (Exodus 19:10-15). However, this sanctification preceded judgment rather than blessing, showing that meeting God is always serious whether for mercy or wrath. The people's claim 'it was well with us in Egypt' contradicted their earlier cries of oppression (Exodus 2:23-25; 3:7-9) and demonstrated how quickly human hearts forget suffering when facing present trials. This selective memory characterizes unbelief throughout Scripture—minimizing past bondage while magnifying present difficulty.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's granting of Israel's sinful request demonstrate the principle that receiving what we wrongly desire can be a form of judgment rather than blessing?
  2. What does the people's claim 'it was well with us in Egypt' teach about how unbelief distorts memory and causes us to romanticize past bondage?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
וְאֶל1 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הָעָ֨ם2 of 24

“thou unto the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

לֵאמֹ֗ר3 of 24

“And say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ4 of 24

“Sanctify”

H6942

to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)

לְמָחָר֮5 of 24

“yourselves against to morrow”

H4279

properly, deferred, i.e., the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely, hereafter

וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּֽם׃6 of 24

“and ye shall eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

בָּשָׂ֖ר7 of 24

“Who shall give us flesh”

H1320

flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

כִּ֡י8 of 24
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

בְּכִיתֶם֩9 of 24

“for ye have wept”

H1058

to weep; generally to bemoan

בְּאָזְנֵ֨י10 of 24

“in the ears”

H241

broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)

יְהוָ֥ה11 of 24

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לֵאמֹ֗ר12 of 24

“And say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מִ֤י13 of 24
H4310

who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix

וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּֽם׃14 of 24

“and ye shall eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

בָּשָׂ֖ר15 of 24

“Who shall give us flesh”

H1320

flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

כִּי16 of 24
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

ט֥וֹב17 of 24

“for it was well”

H2895

to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense

לָ֖נוּ18 of 24
H0
בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם19 of 24

“with us in Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וְנָתַ֨ן20 of 24

“will give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

יְהוָ֥ה21 of 24

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לָכֶ֛ם22 of 24
H0
בָּשָׂ֖ר23 of 24

“Who shall give us flesh”

H1320

flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

וַֽאֲכַלְתֶּֽם׃24 of 24

“and ye shall eat”

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Numbers 11:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Numbers 11:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 19:10Numbers 11:1Exodus 16:3-7Acts 7:39Exodus 19:15Judges 21:2

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Numbers 11 →

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