Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

NUMBERS 14:22KJV
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Numbers 14:22 (KJV)

What does Numbers 14:22 mean?

Numbers 14:22 says that the men who saw God’s glory and miracles in Egypt and the wilderness, but still tested Him repeatedly and refused to listen, will face consequences. God is speaking about people who witnessed His power firsthand yet continued to doubt and disobey Him.

In this verse, God is addressing Moses about the Israelites after they refused to enter the promised land out of fear. The verse highlights that these people had seen God’s "glory" (His presence and power) and "miracles" (signs and wonders), but still "tempted" or tested God "ten times" by not trusting or obeying Him. The focus is on their persistent unbelief and disobedience despite overwhelming evidence of God’s care.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 14:22

  • "Glory" (כָּבוֹד, kavod) means weight, honor, or majesty, and here refers to God’s visible presence and greatness shown to the Israelites.
  • "Miracles" (אוֹת, ot) means sign or wonder, pointing to the extraordinary acts God performed in Egypt and the wilderness to deliver and guide His people.
  • "Tempted" (נָסָה, nasah) means to test or try, often with the sense of challenging or provoking. The verse says the people have tested God "ten times," which is a Hebrew way of saying they did it repeatedly and persistently.
  • "Hearkened" (שָׁמַע, shama) means to listen or obey. The people did not just fail to hear God’s voice; they refused to respond with trust or obedience.

Why Numbers 14:22 matters

  • Numbers 14:22 clarifies that witnessing miracles does not guarantee faith or obedience; people can still choose disbelief even after seeing clear evidence.
  • The verse emphasizes the seriousness of repeated disobedience and testing of God, showing that persistent unbelief leads to real consequences.
  • This verse connects to the broader story of Israel’s wilderness journey, explaining why that generation was not allowed to enter the promised land and highlighting the importance of responding to God’s guidance.

Where else these words appear

“tempted” Hebrew H853 · used in 18 verses

  • Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
  • Genesis 19:13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
  • Judges 11:27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

“tempted” Hebrew H5254 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
  • Deuteronomy 28:56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,
  • Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

“miracles” Hebrew H226 · used in 77 verses

  • Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
  • Deuteronomy 4:34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?
  • Psalms 65:8 They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

“times” Hebrew H6471 · used in 108 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • Deuteronomy 10:10 And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.
  • 2 Kings 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.