King James Version

What Does Numbers 20:5 Mean?

Numbers 20:5 in the King James Version says “And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or o...” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.”

Numbers 20:5 · KJV

Context

3

And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

4

And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

5

And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

6

And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.

7

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Read Numbers 20 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Israel complains: 'Wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place?' They call the wilderness an 'evil place' lacking seeds, figs, vines, pomegranates, and water. The Hebrew 'ra' (evil/bad) reveals their twisted perspective - God's guided journey becomes 'evil.' They yearn for Egypt's produce, forgetting slavery. This illustrates human tendency to romanticize the past and blame leaders for following God's call. The new generation repeated their parents' complaints, showing sin's generational patterns. Yet God still provides (v.8-11), demonstrating grace despite ingratitude. Believers similarly complain about God's will when it doesn't match preferences, forgetting the slavery from which Christ delivered us.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This complaint occurred near wilderness wanderings' end, at Kadesh in Zin. The new generation, though not guilty of their parents' Kadesh rebellion forty years earlier (Num 13-14), exhibited identical attitudes. The complaint about lacking agricultural produce was ironic - they rejected Canaan (which had these things) generations earlier! Their wandering was consequence of unbelief, not divine cruelty. The pattern warns that even second-generation believers can repeat predecessors' spiritual failures without learning from history. Paul uses Israel's wilderness experiences as warning for Christians (1 Cor 10:1-13).

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you complain about following God's call when circumstances become difficult, forgetting the bondage from which He saved you?
  2. How can you learn from previous generations' spiritual failures rather than repeating them?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וְלָמָ֤ה1 of 18
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

הֶֽעֱלִיתֻ֙נוּ֙2 of 18

“And wherefore have ye made us to come up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם3 of 18

“out of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

לְהָבִ֣יא4 of 18

“to bring”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֹתָ֔נוּ5 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֶל6 of 18
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מְק֣וֹם7 of 18

“it is no place”

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

הָרָ֖ע8 of 18

“us in unto this evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

הַזֶּ֑ה9 of 18
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

לֹ֣א׀10 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

מְק֣וֹם11 of 18

“it is no place”

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

זֶ֗רַע12 of 18

“of seed”

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

וּתְאֵנָ֤ה13 of 18

“or of figs”

H8384

the fig (tree or fruit)

וְגֶ֙פֶן֙14 of 18

“or of vines”

H1612

a vine (as twining), especially the grape

וְרִמּ֔וֹן15 of 18

“or of pomegranates”

H7416

a pomegranate, the tree (from its upright growth) or the fruit (also an artificial ornament)

וּמַ֥יִם16 of 18

“neither is there any water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

אַ֖יִן17 of 18
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃18 of 18

“to drink”

H8354

to imbibe (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 20:5 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 20:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 16:14Nehemiah 9:21Jeremiah 2:6Ezekiel 20:36Jeremiah 2:2Deuteronomy 8:15

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Numbers 20 →

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