Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.

NUMBERS 11:10KJV
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Numbers 11:10 (KJV)

What does Numbers 11:10 mean?

Numbers 11:10 describes Moses hearing the people of Israel weeping in their tents, which greatly angers the LORD and also leaves Moses feeling upset. The verse shows both God’s strong reaction to the people’s complaints and Moses’s own distress at the situation.

Moses is leading the Israelites through the wilderness, and the people are openly expressing their dissatisfaction about their hardships by weeping in front of their tents. The verse highlights that this widespread complaining is not just a private matter; it is public and affects both Moses and the LORD deeply. The anger of the LORD is described as being "kindled greatly," showing that the complaints are seen as a serious offense, while Moses’s displeasure signals his own frustration and emotional burden as a leader.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 11:10

  • "Anger" (אַף, ’af): This word literally means "nose" or "face," but is often used in Hebrew to describe anger, especially the kind that is visibly intense. Here, it emphasizes how deeply the LORD is provoked by the people’s actions.
  • "Kindled" (חָרָה, charah): This verb means "to burn" or "to be hot," and in this context, it describes anger flaring up. The image is of anger that is not mild but burning intensely.
  • "Displeased" (רַע, ra‘ + עַיִן, ‘ayin): The phrase for Moses’s reaction combines the word for "evil" or "bad" (ra‘) with "eye" (‘ayin), literally "it was evil in the eyes of Moses." This idiom means that Moses saw the situation as very troubling or distressing, not just mildly annoying.

Why Numbers 11:10 matters

  • This verse shows the emotional toll that constant complaining takes on both the leader (Moses) and on God, highlighting the seriousness of the people’s attitude.
  • The strong language for anger and displeasure helps readers see that the complaints were not just minor grumbling but a significant challenge to Moses’s leadership and to God’s patience.
  • Understanding the original Hebrew idioms clarifies that Moses’s reaction was more than simple annoyance; he saw the situation as deeply wrong and burdensome, which sets the stage for his honest conversation with God in the following verses.