And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do.

NUMBERS 32:31KJV
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Numbers 32:31 (KJV)

What does Numbers 32:31 mean?

Numbers 32:31 records the response of the tribes of Gad and Reuben, promising to do exactly what the LORD has commanded through Moses. They assure Moses that they will obey God’s instructions as His servants.

In this verse, the leaders of Gad and Reuben are speaking directly to Moses after he has relayed God’s terms for letting them settle east of the Jordan. The situation is a negotiation: these tribes want land outside Canaan but must first help the rest of Israel conquer the promised land. Their answer here is a pledge of loyalty and obedience, confirming they will follow through on their commitment.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 32:31

  • יְהוָה (YHWH, transliterated "Yahweh" or "the LORD"): This is the personal name of God used in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing that the command comes from Israel’s covenant God, not just from Moses.
  • עֶבֶד (ʿeved, transliterated "servant"): The tribes call themselves God’s "servants," showing humility and willingness to submit to God’s authority, not just to Moses as a leader.
  • עָשָׂה (ʿasah, transliterated "do"): The word for "do" here carries the sense of actively carrying out or accomplishing what has been commanded, highlighting their intent to follow through, not just agree in words.

Why Numbers 32:31 matters

  • Numbers 32:31 makes clear that the agreement between Moses and the tribes of Gad and Reuben is not just a private arrangement, but a public vow to obey God’s command.
  • The verse highlights the importance of obedience and accountability in the community, as the tribes openly commit to God’s terms in front of others.
  • This response sets the stage for the tribes’ later actions, showing that their settlement east of the Jordan is conditional on their faithfulness to the larger mission of Israel.

Where else these words appear

“Gad” Hebrew H1410 · used in 67 verses

  • Genesis 30:11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.
  • Deuteronomy 33:20 And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.
  • 2 Samuel 24:5 And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:

“Reuben” Hebrew H7205 · used in 68 verses

  • Genesis 29:32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
  • Numbers 13:4 And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.
  • Joshua 22:9 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.