1
וַתְּדַבֵּ֨ר מִרְיָ֤ם וְאַהֲרֹן֙ בְּמֹשֶׁ֔ה עַל אֹד֛וֹת הָאִשָּׁ֥ה הַכֻּשִׁ֖ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָקָ֑ח כִּֽי אִשָּׁ֥ה כֻשִׁ֖ית לָקָֽח
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married — for he had married a Cushite woman.
The chapter opens in medias res with a wayyiqtol verb agreeing only with Miriam (3fs), even though Aaron is joined as co-subject — a grammatical signal, confirmed by the singular punishment in vv. 10-15, that Miriam instigates the complaint. The stated occasion (the Cushite wife) is stated twice in the verse, functioning as pretext more than sole cause, since v. 2 reveals the deeper grievance is prophetic authority.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וַתְּדַבֵּ֨רand spokeconj וְ + Piel wayyiqtol 3fs · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause, narrative onset)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance — the offense reported as the event that launches the chapterדָּבַר (H1696) 'to speak'; Piel here with בְּ carries the sense 'speak against/about' (v.1) — the same verb recurs in vv. 2, 6, 8, tracing the theme of who speaks for God. The 3fs form agrees with Miriam alone, though Aaron is joined as co-subject.
מִרְיָ֤םMiriamN proper · מִרְיָם (H4813)Subject (compound, first-named)מִרְיָם (H4813), proper name, sister of Moses and Aaron (cf. Exod 15:20); named first, marking her as the instigator of the complaint even though the verb form (וַתְּדַבֵּר) is 3fs, agreeing with her alone.
וְאַהֲרֹן֙and Aaronconj וְ + N proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Subject (compound, second-named, joined by conjunction)אַהֲרֹן (H175), Moses' brother and the high priest; joined to Miriam as co-subject, though the verb agrees only with her.
בְּמֹשֶׁ֔הagainst Mosesprep בְּ + N proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Adversative prepositional phrase (object of דִּבֵּר)מֹשֶׁה (H4872) with prep בְּ; בְּ + דִּבֶּר idiomatically means 'to speak against' someone (cf. Ps 50:20; Job 19:18), not merely 'speak to'.
עַלconcerningprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase marking cause/topicעַל (H5921) 'upon, concerning, on account of'; here introduces the grounds of the complaint.
אֹד֛וֹתthe matter ofN f pl constr · אֹדוֹת (H182)Construct noun governing הָאִשָּׁה (causal phrase)אֹדוֹת (H182) 'cause, matter'; used almost always in the phrase עַל אֹדוֹת 'on account of, concerning' (cf. Gen 21:11, 25).
הָאִשָּׁ֥הthe womanart + N f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Genitive of the construct chain (definite)אִשָּׁה (H802) 'woman, wife', with article; identifies Moses' wife as the occasion of the complaint.
הַכֻּשִׁ֖יתthe Cushiteart + gentilic adj f sg abs · כֻּשִׁית (H3571)Attributive adjective/gentilic modifying הָאִשָּׁהכֻּשִׁית (H3571), gentilic fem. 'Cushite', from כּוּשׁ (Cush, roughly Nubia/upper Nile); whether this refers to Zipporah the Midianite or a second, later marriage is a long-standing crux — the narrator gives no further explanation.
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhomrel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the relative clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834), indeclinable relative pronoun 'who/whom/which'.
לָקָ֑חhe had takenQal perf 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: an antecedent, completed act — he had already married herלָקַח (H3947) 'to take'; with אִשָּׁה as object idiomatically means 'to take in marriage, to marry'.
כִּֽיforconj · כִּי (H3588)Causal/explicative conjunctionכִּי (H3588), conjunction 'for, because, that'; here explicating/restating the preceding clause — the MT famously repeats the fact of the marriage twice, a much-discussed feature.
אִשָּׁ֥הa womanN f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Object of an implied echoed 'he had taken'אִשָּׁה (H802) 'woman, wife', here anarthrous, restating the fact of v.1a in emphatic repetition.
כֻשִׁ֖יתCushitegentilic adj f sg abs · כֻּשִׁית (H3571)Attributive adjective/gentilic modifying אִשָּׁהכֻּשִׁית (H3571), gentilic 'Cushite'; the repetition (vv. 1a and 1c) has driven a wide range of proposals about a distinct wife beyond Zipporah.
לָקָֽחhe had takenQal perf 3ms · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb, restating the relative clause's verb→ Perfective: repeated for emphasis, reinforcing the completed fact of the marriageלָקַח (H3947) 'to take, marry', repeated verbatim from earlier in the verse — MT's insistent double statement of the marriage is one of the chapter's textual curiosities.
2
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ הֲרַ֤ק אַךְ בְּמֹשֶׁה֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הֲלֹ֖א גַּם בָּ֣נוּ דִבֵּ֑ר וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע יְהוָֽה
And they said, 'Has YHWH indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?' And YHWH heard it.
The doubled particles (הֲרַק אַךְ) and the paired rhetorical questions expose the real grievance beneath the pretext of v.1: a claim to equal prophetic standing with Moses. The narrator's brief closing aside, 'and YHWH heard', quietly signals that the challenge has been overheard by its true object and will not go unanswered.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּand they saidconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause, introduces direct speech)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance introducing quoted speechאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; 3mp now includes both Miriam and Aaron as speakers, following the 3fs verb of v. 1.
הֲרַ֤קis it onlyinterr הֲ + adv · רַק (H7535)Interrogative particle + restrictive adverb, opening a rhetorical questionרַק (H7535) 'only, altogether', with interrogative הֲ; the rhetorical question implies its own negative answer — 'surely not only'.
אַךְindeedadv · אַךְ (H389)Emphatic/restrictive adverb reinforcing הֲרַקאַךְ (H389) 'surely, only'; doubled with רַק for emphasis — 'is it only, only through Moses'.
בְּמֹשֶׁה֙through Mosesprep בְּ + N proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Prepositional phrase, instrument of speakingמֹשֶׁה (H4872) with בְּ 'through, by means of' — the medium of divine speech, echoing the same preposition used again in vv. 6, 8 of prophetic revelation.
דִּבֶּ֣רhas spokenPiel perf 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb of the rhetorical question→ Perfective: a settled fact being questioned — has YHWH's speaking really been confinedדָּבַר (H1696) Piel perfect 'to speak'; the same root as v.1, now describing YHWH's own speech rather than the siblings' complaint against Moses.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of דִּבֶּריְהוָה (H3068), the Tetragrammaton, Israel's covenant God; the claim at issue is whether YHWH's word comes exclusively through Moses.
הֲלֹ֖אhas he notinterr הֲ + neg · לֹא (H3808)Interrogative particle + negative, opening the second rhetorical question (expecting 'yes')לֹא (H3808) with interrogative הֲ; הֲלֹא expects an affirmative answer — 'has he not also spoken through us?' = 'he certainly has'.
גַּםalsoadv · גַּם (H1571)Additive adverbגַּם (H1571) 'also, even'; asserts Miriam and Aaron's claim to equal prophetic standing.
בָּ֣נוּthrough usprep בְּ + 1cp suffixPrepositional phrase, instrument of speaking, parallel to בְּמֹשֶׁהPrep בְּ + 1cp suffix 'in/through us'; deliberately mirrors בְּמֹשֶׁה, staking Miriam and Aaron's claim to parity with Moses as recipients of divine speech.
דִבֵּ֑רhas he spokenPiel perf 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb of the second rhetorical question→ Perfective: asserting an accomplished fact — God has indeed spoken through them tooדָּבַר (H1696) Piel perfect, repeated a third time in two verses — the chapter's opening keyword, contested authority to speak for God.
וַיִּשְׁמַ֖עand he heardconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · שָׁמַע (H8085)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (narrator's aside, main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — the narrator interjects that YHWH overheard the complaint, setting up the summons of v.4שָׁמַע (H8085) 'to hear'; the narrator's brief aside signals that the challenge has not gone unnoticed — YHWH himself is the offended party.
יְהוָֽהYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיִּשְׁמַעיְהוָה (H3068); repetition of the divine name frames the verse — invoked by the siblings as their authority, and now the one who hears their challenge.
3
וְהָאִ֥ישׁ מֹשֶׁ֖ה ענו עָנָ֣יו מְאֹ֑ד מִכֹּל֙ הָֽאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה
Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than any man on the face of the earth.
The fronted-subject construction (וְ + noun, not a wayyiqtol) marks this as a parenthetical editorial comment rather than a narrated event — the narrator steps outside the story to characterize Moses just as his authority is challenged. The ketiv-qere pair ענו/עָנָיו is one of the most famous textual curiosities in the Torah: the bare consonants are ambiguous between 'humble' and 'afflicted', and the tradition's reading, 'humble, meek', anticipates why Moses will let YHWH, not himself, answer the attack.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְהָאִ֥ישׁnow the manconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Subject (fronted, marking a disjunctive/circumstantial clause)אִישׁ (H376) 'man', with article; the conjunction וְ + fronted subject signals a disjunctive, parenthetical narrator's aside breaking the narrative flow — 'now, the man Moses...'
מֹשֶׁ֖הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Apposition to הָאִישׁמֹשֶׁה (H4872); the narrator interjects this character note about Moses precisely at the point where his authority is under attack.
ענוhumble (ketiv)adj m sg abs (ketiv, defective spelling) · עָנָו/עָנִי (H6035)Predicate adjective (ketiv form)עָנָו/עָנִי (H6035/H6041) written defectively (ketiv) ענו without the second vav-yod; the consonantal text is ambiguous between 'humble' and 'afflicted, poor' — one of the chapter's celebrated textual curiosities, since Moses is elsewhere never called 'poor'.
עָנָ֣יוhumble (qere)adj m sg abs (qere, plene spelling) · עָנָו (H6035)Predicate adjective (qere reading, the vocalized form actually read aloud)עָנָו (H6035) 'humble, meek'; the qere supplies the plene spelling actually read in the synagogue — Moses as the paradigm of meekness, not self-assertion, in ironic contrast to Miriam and Aaron's self-promotion.
מְאֹ֑דveryadv · מְאֹד (H3966)Adverbial intensifier modifying עָנָיומְאֹד (H3966) 'very, exceedingly'; intensifies the superlative claim that follows.
מִכֹּל֙more than allprep מִן + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Comparative prepositional phrase (construct, governs הָאָדָם)כֹּל (H3605) with comparative מִן 'more than all'; construct governing 'the man/mankind' — an absolute superlative claim about Moses' character.
הָֽאָדָ֔םmankindart + N m sg abs · אָדָם (H120)Genitive of the comparative constructאָדָם (H120) 'man, mankind', with article; universalizing the comparison beyond Israel to the whole human race.
אֲשֶׁ֖רwho (were)rel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing a locative relative clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834), relative particle, here virtually equivalent to 'who lived/were'.
עַלuponprep · עַל (H5921)Locative prepositional phraseעַל (H5921) 'upon'; part of the idiom עַל־פְּנֵי 'upon the face of, on the surface of'.
פְּנֵ֥יthe face ofN c pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Construct noun governing הָאֲדָמָהפָּנִים (H6440) 'face', construct plural; idiomatic עַל־פְּנֵי 'on the surface of' — completing the merism 'on the face of the earth' = everywhere.
הָאֲדָמָֽהthe earthart + N f sg abs · אֲדָמָה (H127)Genitive completing the construct chainאֲדָמָה (H127) 'ground, earth, soil'; with article — the entire inhabited earth, making explicit the superlative reach of the narrator's claim about Moses.
4
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה פִּתְאֹ֗ם אֶל מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְאֶֽל אַהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶל מִרְיָ֔ם צְא֥וּ שְׁלָשְׁתְּכֶ֖ם אֶל אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיֵּצְא֖וּ שְׁלָשְׁתָּֽם
And YHWH said suddenly to Moses, to Aaron, and to Miriam, 'Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.' So the three of them went out.
YHWH's speech is marked פִּתְאֹם, 'suddenly' — an unusual adverb for a divine summons, conveying urgency. All three, not Moses alone, are summoned and go, framing the scene as a formal hearing before the verdict of vv. 6-8 falls.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand saidconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — YHWH's sudden, direct responseאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces YHWH's own speech, the first direct divine intervention in the chapter.
יְהוָ֜הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיֹּאמֶריְהוָה (H3068); YHWH himself now acts, having 'heard' in v. 2.
פִּתְאֹ֗םsuddenlyadv · פִּתְאֹם (H6597)Adverb of manner modifying the summonsפִּתְאֹם (H6597) 'suddenly, unexpectedly'; the abruptness underscores YHWH's swift, unmediated response to the challenge to Moses' unique status.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, indirect objectאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; first of three parallel prepositional phrases naming the summoned trio.
מֹשֶׁ֤הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of אֶל (first-named addressee)מֹשֶׁה (H4872); named first among the three now summoned together.
וְאֶֽלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Coordinated prepositional phraseConj וְ + אֶל; the repeated preposition (rather than a single אֶל governing all three names) gives each addressee separate emphasis.
אַהֲרֹן֙AaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Object of וְאֶל (second addressee)אַהֲרֹן (H175); summoned alongside Moses and Miriam despite not being singled out for punishment later.
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Coordinated prepositional phraseConj וְ + אֶל, repeated a second time before the third name.
מִרְיָ֔םMiriamN proper · מִרְיָם (H4813)Object of וְאֶל (third addressee)מִרְיָם (H4813); all three are summoned together, though the coming verdict falls on her alone.
צְא֥וּcome outQal impv 2mp · יָצָא (H3318)Predicate verb, direct imperative (divine command, quoted speech)→ Volitional: imperative summonsיָצָא (H3318) Qal imperative mp 'go out, come out'; YHWH's direct command opens his address to the three.
שְׁלָשְׁתְּכֶ֖םyou threecardinal num constr + 2mp suffix · שָׁלוֹשׁ (H7969)Appositional/vocative phrase reinforcing the imperative's addresseesשָׁלוֹשׁ (H7969) 'three' + 2mp suffix 'the three of you'; emphasizes that all three, not Moses alone, are summoned to account.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, destinationאֶל (H413) 'to'; introduces the destination of the summons.
אֹ֣הֶלthe tent ofN m sg constr · אֹהֶל (H168)Construct noun governing מוֹעֵדאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent', construct; part of the fixed phrase אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד.
מוֹעֵ֑דmeetingN m sg abs · מוֹעֵד (H4150)Genitive completing the construct chainמוֹעֵד (H4150) 'appointed time/place, meeting'; אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד 'tent of meeting' is the site of direct divine-human encounter, appropriate to the vindication about to occur.
וַיֵּצְא֖וּand they came outconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · יָצָא (H3318)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause, compliance)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — immediate obedience to the summonsיָצָא (H3318) Qal wayyiqtol 3mp 'to go out'; echoes צְאוּ, the command promptly obeyed.
שְׁלָשְׁתָּֽםthe three of themcardinal num constr + 3mp suffix · שָׁלוֹשׁ (H7969)Appositional/resumptive phrase, subject reinforcementשָׁלוֹשׁ (H7969) 'three' + 3mp suffix 'the three of them'; frames the verse — all three summoned (v.4a) and all three compliant (v.4b), before YHWH's descent isolates Aaron and Miriam in v.5.
5
וַיֵּ֤רֶד יְהוָה֙ בְּעַמּ֣וּד עָנָ֔ן וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד פֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֑הֶל וַיִּקְרָא֙ אַהֲרֹ֣ן וּמִרְיָ֔ם וַיֵּצְא֖וּ שְׁנֵיהֶֽם
And YHWH came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent, and he called Aaron and Miriam, and the two of them came forward.
YHWH's descent in the cloud-pillar directly answers the siblings' claim of equal access to revelation — this is the very form of theophany they invoked, now deployed against them. Only Aaron and Miriam are called forward, not Moses, who remains apart while YHWH speaks in his defense; this staging visually enacts the point about to be made verbally in vv. 6-8.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וַיֵּ֤רֶדand he descendedconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · יָרַד (H3381)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — a theophanic descentיָרַד (H3381) Qal wayyiqtol 'to go down, descend'; the same verb used of YHWH's descent at Sinai (Exod 19:20) — a theophany answering the siblings' claim to equal revelation.
יְהוָה֙YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיֵּרֶדיְהוָה (H3068).
בְּעַמּ֣וּדin a pillar ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · עַמּוּד (H5982)Prepositional phrase, manner of the descent (construct)עַמּוּד (H5982) 'pillar, column', construct; part of the recurring wilderness motif עַמּוּד עָנָן, the visible sign of YHWH's guiding/revealing presence (Exod 13:21-22).
עָנָ֔ןcloudN m sg abs · עָנָן (H6051)Genitive completing the construct chainעָנָן (H6051) 'cloud'; the pillar of cloud, YHWH's characteristic wilderness theophany-form.
וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖דand he stoodconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · עָמַד (H5975)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advanceעָמַד (H5975) 'to stand'; YHWH takes up a fixed position at the tent's entrance, a formal posture for pronouncing judgment.
פֶּ֣תַחthe entrance ofN m sg constr · פֶּתַח (H6607)Locative construct phraseפֶּתַח (H6607) 'opening, entrance', construct governing הָאֹהֶל.
הָאֹ֑הֶלthe tentart + N m sg abs · אֹהֶל (H168)Genitive completing the construct chainאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent', with article, referring back to אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד of v. 4.
וַיִּקְרָא֙and he calledconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · קָרָא (H7121)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — a summons singling out Aaron and Miriam specificallyקָרָא (H7121) 'to call'; notably YHWH now calls only Aaron and Miriam forward, not Moses — he alone remains at a distance while the other two are addressed directly.
אַהֲרֹ֣ןAaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Object of וַיִּקְרָא (first-named)אַהֲרֹן (H175); named first here, though Miriam bears the eventual penalty.
וּמִרְיָ֔םand Miriamconj וְ + N proper · מִרְיָם (H4813)Object of וַיִּקְרָא (second-named)מִרְיָם (H4813).
וַיֵּצְא֖וּand they came outconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · יָצָא (H3318)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — complianceיָצָא (H3318) 'to go out'; Aaron and Miriam step forward at the summons, isolated from Moses for the verdict to come.
שְׁנֵיהֶֽםthe two of themcardinal num (dual) constr + 3mp suffix · שְׁנַיִם (H8147)Appositional/resumptive phrase, subject reinforcementשְׁנַיִם (H8147) 'two' + 3mp suffix; marks that only two (not three) are now singled out — Moses is conspicuously excluded from this direct summons, already set apart as the one about whom YHWH is about to speak.
6
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁמְעוּ נָ֣א דְבָרָ֑י אִם יִֽהְיֶה֙ נְבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם יְהוָ֗ה בַּמַּרְאָה֙ אֵלָ֣יו אֶתְוַדָּ֔ע בַּחֲל֖וֹם אֲדַבֶּר בּֽוֹ
And he said, 'Hear now my words: if there is a prophet among you, I, YHWH, make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.'
YHWH answers the siblings' rhetorical question of v. 2 point for point: they asked whether he had spoken 'only through Moses'; here he defines the normal mode of prophecy (vision, dream — mediated, indirect) as the category against which Moses' exceptional standing in vv. 7-8 will be measured.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he saidconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause, introduces YHWH's speech)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; introduces the central oracle of the chapter, YHWH's own account of the hierarchy of prophecy.
שִׁמְעוּhearQal impv 2mp · שָׁמַע (H8085)Predicate verb, imperative (quoted divine speech)→ Volitional: imperative summons to attentionשָׁמַע (H8085) Qal imperative mp 'hear'; addressed to Aaron and Miriam (2mp) — YHWH demands their attention before pronouncing judgment.
נָ֣אnowparticle of entreaty · נָא (H4994)Particle of entreaty/emphasis attached to the imperativeנָא (H4994), enclitic particle softening/emphasizing a command; here lending weight rather than politeness — 'listen carefully'.
דְבָרָ֑יmy wordsN m pl constr + 1cs suffix · דָּבָר (H1697)Direct object of שִׁמְעוּדָּבָר (H1697) 'word, matter', pl. construct + 1cs suffix; YHWH's own דְּבָרִים answer the siblings' claim in v.2 that he had 'spoken' (דִּבֶּר) through them.
אִםifconj · אִם (H518)Conditional/protasis conjunctionאִם (H518) 'if'; introduces the general statement about how YHWH normally reveals himself to prophets, as backdrop to Moses' exception in vv. 7-8.
יִֽהְיֶה֙there isQal impf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb of the conditional protasis→ Yiqtol: imperfective, generalizing/gnomic — describing the customary mode of prophecyהָיָה (H1961) 'to be, become'; yiqtol here has gnomic force, 'whenever there is a prophet among you...'
נְבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔םyour prophetN m sg constr + 2mp suffix · נָבִיא (H5030)Subject of יִהְיֶהנָבִיא (H5030) 'prophet' + 2mp suffix 'your prophet, a prophet among you'; the generic category of prophet, distinct from Moses' unique office described in vv.7-8.
יְהוָ֗הI, YHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject/self-identification, in apposition (emphatic first person)יְהוָה (H3068); YHWH names himself as the one who reveals — the divine name stands almost in apposition to an implied 'I', underscoring that he is the one making these distinctions of revelatory mode.
בַּמַּרְאָה֙in a visionprep בְּ + art + N f sg abs · מַרְאָה (H4759)Prepositional phrase, manner of revelationמַרְאָה (H4759) 'vision, appearance', from רָאָה 'to see'; the ordinary mode of prophetic revelation, contrasted with Moses' direct 'mouth to mouth' encounter in v.8.
אֵלָ֣יוto himprep + 3ms suffix · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, indirect objectPrep אֶל + 3ms suffix 'to him', referring to the generic prophet of v.6.
אֶתְוַדָּ֔עI make myself knownHitpael impf 1cs · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (main clause of the apodosis)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/habitual — YHWH's customary mode of self-disclosure to prophetsיָדַע (H3045) Hitpael imperfect 1cs 'to make oneself known'; the reflexive stem stresses that ordinary prophetic revelation is indirect — God discloses himself, but not face to face.
בַּחֲל֖וֹםin a dreamprep בְּ + N m sg abs · חֲלוֹם (H2472)Prepositional phrase, manner of revelation (parallel to בַּמַּרְאָה)חֲלוֹם (H2472) 'dream'; paired with מַרְאָה as the two standard media of prophetic revelation (cf. Deut 13:1; Joel 3:1).
אֲדַבֶּרI speakPiel impf 1cs · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb (parallel main clause)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/habitual — YHWH's ordinary manner of speaking with prophetsדָּבַר (H1696) Piel imperfect 1cs 'I speak'; again the chapter's keyword verb, now firmly located in YHWH's own mouth, defining the legitimate mode of prophetic דבור.
בּֽוֹwith himprep בְּ + 3ms suffixPrepositional phrase, indirect objectPrep בְּ + 3ms suffix 'in/with him'; completes the description of ordinary prophecy — mediated through dream and vision, not direct speech.
7
לֹא כֵ֖ן עַבְדִּ֣י מֹשֶׁ֑ה בְּכָל בֵּיתִ֖י נֶאֱמָ֥ן הֽוּא
Not so with my servant Moses — he is faithful in all my house.
The sharp, verbless לֹא כֵן breaks the pattern of v.6 to single out Moses by name and title ('my servant'), a term of highest covenantal trust; נֶאֱמָן, a Niphal (proven-passive) participle, casts Moses' reliability as a demonstrated, settled fact rather than a claim.
Word-by-word analysis· 8 words
לֹאnotneg · לֹא (H3808)Negative particle, negating the verbless clauseלֹא (H3808), negation; 'not so' sharply pivots from the general rule of v.6 to Moses' exceptional case.
כֵ֖ןsoadv · כֵּן (H3651)Predicate adverb of the negated verbless clauseכֵּן (H3651) 'so, thus'; לֹא־כֵן 'not so' — Moses is emphatically not included in the ordinary category just described.
עַבְדִּ֣יmy servantN m sg constr + 1cs suffix · עֶבֶד (H5650)Subject/predicate nominative (apposition to Moses)עֶבֶד (H5650) 'servant' + 1cs suffix 'my servant'; a title of high honor in the Hebrew Bible, denoting one entrusted with YHWH's own commission (cf. Josh 1:2, of Moses).
מֹשֶׁ֑הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Apposition to עַבְדִּימֹשֶׁה (H4872); named directly by YHWH in his own defense.
בְּכָלin allprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase, locative/scope (construct)כֹּל (H3605) with בְּ, construct governing בֵּיתִי — 'in all my house'.
בֵּיתִ֖יmy houseN m sg constr + 1cs suffix · בַּיִת (H1004)Genitive completing the construct chainבַּיִת (H1004) 'house' + 1cs suffix; here figurative for the whole household/economy of Israel entrusted to Moses, not a literal building — cf. Heb 3:2, 5's use of this verse.
נֶאֱמָ֥ןfaithfulNiphal ptc m sg abs · אָמַן (H539)Predicate participle (verbless clause)→ Stative/resultative participle: an abiding, verified condition, not a single actאָמַן (H539) Niphal participle 'faithful, trustworthy, verified'; the same root as 'amen' — Moses is the one proven reliable, entrusted with the whole of God's household.
הֽוּאhe (is)indep pron 3ms · הוּא (H1931)Subject/quasi-copula of the verbless clauseהוּא (H1931), independent pronoun, subject and copula 'he is'.
8
פֶּ֣ה אֶל פֶּ֞ה אֲדַבֶּר בּ֗וֹ וּמַרְאֶה֙ וְלֹ֣א בְחִידֹ֔ת וּתְמֻנַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה יַבִּ֑יט וּמַדּ֨וּעַ֙ לֹ֣א יְרֵאתֶ֔ם לְדַבֵּ֖ר בְּעַבְדִּ֥י בְמֹשֶֽׁה
Mouth to mouth I speak with him, openly and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of YHWH. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?
The oracle reaches its theological peak: Moses alone converses 'mouth to mouth' and beholds the תְּמוּנָה, the 'form' of YHWH — extraordinary language given the Torah's usual insistence that no תְּמוּנָה of God may be seen or made (Deut 4:12, 15). The verse pivots at מַדּוּעַ into direct second-person accusation, the rhetorical question itself functioning as the verdict before the anger and its sign appear in vv.9-10.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
פֶּ֣הmouthN m sg abs · פֶּה (H6310)Adverbial accusative of manner (first of pair, idiom 'mouth to mouth')פֶּה (H6310) 'mouth'; the idiom פֶּה אֶל פֶּה 'mouth to mouth' denotes direct, unmediated, face-to-face communication — the antithesis of the vision/dream mode of v.6.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Preposition linking the paired noun in the idiomאֶל (H413) 'to'; פֶּה אֶל פֶּה, a fixed idiom for directness (cf. Jer 32:4; 34:3 of face-to-face speech).
פֶּ֞הmouthN m sg abs · פֶּה (H6310)Adverbial accusative of manner (second of pair)פֶּה (H6310), repeated to complete the idiom — unmediated, direct address.
אֲדַבֶּרI speakPiel impf 1cs · דָּבַר (H1696)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/habitual — YHWH's ongoing, characteristic manner of addressing Mosesדָּבַר (H1696) Piel imperfect 1cs, the chapter's keyword verb now describing the unique, direct mode of Moses' prophetic experience.
בּ֗וֹwith himprep בְּ + 3ms suffixPrepositional phrase, indirect objectPrep בְּ + 3ms suffix 'with him', referring to Moses.
וּמַרְאֶה֙and openlyconj וְ + N m sg abs (adverbial) · מַרְאֶה (H4758)Adverbial accusative of manner, coordinate with פֶּה אֶל פֶּהמַרְאֶה (H4758) 'appearance, sight' (distinct from מַרְאָה H4759 'vision' in v.6, though from the same root רָאָה); here adverbial, 'visibly, plainly, openly' — Moses sees, not merely dreams.
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + neg · לֹא (H3808)Coordinated negative particleלֹא (H3808) with conjunction, negating the following noun phrase.
בְחִידֹ֔תin riddlesprep בְּ + N f pl abs · חִידָה (H2420)Prepositional phrase, manner (negated)חִידָה (H2420) 'riddle, enigma, dark saying'; the ordinary prophetic vision could be cryptic/symbolic (cf. Ezekiel's visions), but Moses' revelation is plain, without need of interpretation.
וּתְמֻנַ֥תand the form ofconj וְ + N f sg constr · תְּמוּנָה (H8544)Direct object, construct (governs יְהוָה)תְּמוּנָה (H8544) 'form, likeness, shape'; the same term used in the second-commandment prohibition (Deut 4:15-16) of making any תְּמוּנָה of God — here Moses uniquely beholds what Israel is elsewhere forbidden even to depict, a theological high point of the verse.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive completing the construct chainיְהוָה (H3068).
יַבִּ֑יטhe beholdsHiphil impf 3ms · נָבַט (H5027)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: imperfective/habitual — Moses' ongoing, privileged capacity to seeנָבַט (H5027) Hiphil imperfect 3ms 'to look intently, gaze, behold'; the Hiphil intensifies simple seeing into deliberate, sustained beholding — unparalleled prophetic access.
וּמַדּ֨וּעַ֙so whyconj וְ + interr · מַדּוּעַ (H4069)Interrogative particle, opening the rebukeמַדּוּעַ (H4069) 'why?'; the oracle turns from description to direct accusation.
לֹ֣אnotneg · לֹא (H3808)Negative particleלֹא (H3808), negating יְרֵאתֶם — 'why were you not afraid'.
יְרֵאתֶ֔םwere you afraidQal perf 2mp · יָרֵא (H3372)Predicate verb of the rhetorical question→ Perfective: a completed failure — the fact of their fearlessness in the past act of speakingיָרֵא (H3372) Qal perfect 2mp 'to fear, be afraid'; the rebuke's core charge — they should have felt reverent fear before attacking one so singularly honored by God.
לְדַבֵּ֖רto speakprep לְ + Piel inf constr · דָּבַר (H1696)Infinitive construct, complement of יְרֵאתֶם→ Infinitive: the specific act they should have feared to commitדָּבַר (H1696) Piel infinitive construct 'to speak (against)'; the chapter's fourth occurrence of this root, now naming precisely the sin — speaking against YHWH's servant.
בְּעַבְדִּ֥יagainst my servantprep בְּ + N m sg constr + 1cs suffix · עֶבֶד (H5650)Prepositional phrase, object of לְדַבֵּר (adversative)עֶבֶד (H5650) + 1cs suffix, with adversative בְּ (cf. v.1 בְּמֹשֶׁה); echoes YHWH's own title for Moses from v.7.
בְמֹשֶֽׁהagainst Mosesprep בְּ + N proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Prepositional phrase, in apposition, restating the objectמֹשֶׁה (H4872) with adversative בְּ; the verse's closing word names Moses directly, framing the whole oracle (vv. 6-8) as YHWH's personal defense of him.
9
וַיִּֽחַר אַ֧ף יְהוָ֛ה בָּ֖ם וַיֵּלַֽךְ
And the anger of YHWH burned against them, and he departed.
The terse, four-word sentence marks the hinge of the chapter: divine speech gives way to divine action. Both Aaron and Miriam are objects of YHWH's anger (בָּם, plural), which makes the exclusively singular punishment that follows in v.10 (Miriam alone struck) one of the chapter's noted cruxes.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וַיִּֽחַרand it burnedconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · חָרָה (H2734)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — the verdict issues in visible divine angerחָרָה (H2734) Qal wayyiqtol 'to burn, be kindled'; idiom חָרָה אַף 'anger burned' is the standard Hebrew expression for the onset of divine wrath (cf. Exod 4:14, also of Moses).
אַ֧ףthe anger ofN m sg abs · אַף (H639)Subject of וַיִּחַראַף (H639) 'nose, anger'; anger is figured as the flaring of the nostrils — the physiological seat of wrath in Hebrew idiom.
יְהוָ֛הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Genitive, possessor of אַףיְהוָה (H3068).
בָּ֖םagainst themprep בְּ + 3mp suffixPrepositional phrase, object of YHWH's angerPrep בְּ + 3mp suffix; both Aaron and Miriam are targeted by the anger, though the sign that follows falls on Miriam alone.
וַיֵּלַֽךְand he went awayconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָלַךְ (H3212)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — the theophanic cloud withdraws, its departure the visible cue that judgment has been enactedהָלַךְ (H3212) Qal wayyiqtol 'to go, depart'; YHWH's withdrawal (paralleling the cloud's departure named explicitly in v.10) both closes the confrontation and signals that its consequence is now visible.
10
וְהֶעָנָ֗ן סָ֚ר מֵעַ֣ל הָאֹ֔הֶל וְהִנֵּ֥ה מִרְיָ֖ם מְצֹרַ֣עַת כַּשָּׁ֑לֶג וַיִּ֧פֶן אַהֲרֹ֛ן אֶל מִרְיָ֖ם וְהִנֵּ֥ה מְצֹרָֽעַת
When the cloud withdrew from above the tent, there was Miriam, leprous, like snow; and Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, leprous.
The double הִנֵּה — once from the narrator, once relocated to Aaron's own point of view as he turns — stages the shock of discovery twice for rhetorical weight. That only Miriam, not Aaron, is struck is the chapter's most debated crux; proposals range from her instigating role (implied already by the 3fs verb of v.1) to a priestly status that may have shielded Aaron from a disqualifying affliction.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְהֶעָנָ֗ןand the cloudconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · עָנָן (H6051)Subject (fronted, circumstantial clause)עָנָן (H6051), with article; the cloud-pillar of v.5 now withdraws, its departure the visible signal that the encounter, and the judgment, is complete.
סָ֚רwithdrewQal perf 3ms · סוּר (H5493)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive withdrawalסוּר (H5493) Qal perfect 'to turn aside, depart'; marks the theophany's end and unveils its result.
מֵעַ֣לfrom overcompound prep מִן + עַלPrepositional phrase, source/locationCompound prep מִן + עַל 'from upon, from over'.
הָאֹ֔הֶלthe tentart + N m sg abs · אֹהֶל (H168)Object of the compound prepositionאֹהֶל (H168), with article, referring to the tent of meeting of vv. 4-5.
וְהִנֵּ֥הand beholdconj וְ + presentative · הִנֵּה (H2009)Presentative particle, marking a vivid discoveryהִנֵּה (H2009), presentative 'behold, look'; signals a sudden visual disclosure, here from the narrator's/observers' viewpoint — the shock of seeing Miriam's condition.
מִרְיָ֖םMiriamN proper · מִרְיָם (H4813)Subject of the verbless clauseמִרְיָם (H4813); singled out here for the first time as the sole recipient of the affliction, confirming that she, not Aaron, bears the penalty.
מְצֹרַ֣עַתleprousPual ptc f sg abs · צָרַע (H6879)Predicate participle (Pual, verbless clause)→ Stative/resultative participle: a condition inflicted and now fully in effectצָרַע (H6879) Pual participle fs 'stricken with צָרַעַת'; the passive stem shows the affliction as something done to her by divine agency, not a disease she contracted naturally.
כַּשָּׁ֑לֶגlike snowprep כְּ + art + N m sg abs · שֶׁלֶג (H7950)Comparative prepositional phrase (simile)שֶׁלֶג (H7950) 'snow', with comparative כְּ; the whiteness of the skin condition (likely a scale-disease, not modern leprosy/Hansen's disease) rendered in the sharpest possible visual simile — cf. the same image for Gehazi's affliction in 2 Kgs 5:27.
וַיִּ֧פֶןand he turnedconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · פָּנָה (H6437)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — Aaron's reactionפָּנָה (H6437) Qal wayyiqtol 'to turn (to look)'; Aaron's turning toward Miriam is the moment of his own discovery of what has happened to her.
אַהֲרֹ֛ןAaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Subject of וַיִּפֶןאַהֲרֹן (H175); conspicuously unpunished himself, and now the first to see and respond to his sister's affliction.
אֶלtowardprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, directionאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'.
מִרְיָ֖םMiriamN proper · מִרְיָם (H4813)Object of אֶלמִרְיָם (H4813).
וְהִנֵּ֥הand beholdconj וְ + presentative · הִנֵּה (H2009)Presentative particle, repeated to mark Aaron's own moment of discoveryהִנֵּה (H2009), repeated from earlier in the verse, now framing Aaron's own perception rather than the narrator's.
מְצֹרָֽעַתleprousPual ptc f sg abs · צָרַע (H6879)Predicate participle (Pual, verbless clause, repeated)→ Stative/resultative participle: the same condition confirmed from Aaron's viewpointצָרַע (H6879) Pual participle fs, repeated verbatim — the double statement (narrator's report, then Aaron's own sight) underlines the visible, undeniable severity of the judgment.
11
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אַהֲרֹ֖ן אֶל מֹשֶׁ֑ה בִּ֣י אֲדֹנִ֔י אַל נָ֨א תָשֵׁ֤ת עָלֵ֨ינוּ֙ חַטָּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֥ר נוֹאַ֖לְנוּ וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר חָטָֽאנוּ
And Aaron said to Moses, 'Oh my lord, please do not hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed, and by which we have sinned.'
Aaron's address inverts vv.1-2's challenge: he now calls Moses אֲדֹנִי, 'my lord', and confesses their act in two escalating terms — נוֹאַלְנוּ ('we were foolish') then חָטָאנוּ ('we sinned'). That he pleads with Moses rather than directly with YHWH, and that only Miriam bears the visible affliction while Aaron speaks freely, has long been read as evidence of Aaron's protected priestly status.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand saidconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause, introduces speech)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; Aaron speaks first, as the unafflicted party and (as priest) presumably the one now able to intercede.
אַהֲרֹ֖ןAaronN proper · אַהֲרֹן (H175)Subject of וַיֹּאמֶראַהֲרֹן (H175).
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, addresseeאֶל (H413).
מֹשֶׁ֑הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of אֶלמֹשֶׁה (H4872); Aaron now pleads with the very brother he had spoken against in vv.1-2.
בִּ֣יohinterjection of entreaty · בִּי (H994)Interjection of entreaty, opening the pleaבִּי (H994), a particle of entreaty used before אֲדֹנִי, 'oh my lord' — a set formula of urgent supplication (cf. Gen 43:20; Exod 4:10).
אֲדֹנִ֔יmy lordN m sg constr + 1cs suffix · אָדוֹן (H113)Vocative address to Mosesאָדוֹן (H113) 'lord, master' + 1cs suffix; Aaron addresses Moses, whom he and Miriam had just challenged as an equal, now with a title of deference.
אַלdo notneg (jussive) · אַל (H408)Negative particle of prohibition (jussive/volitional)אַל (H408), negative used with the jussive/volitional, distinct from indicative לֹא — a request rather than a flat statement.
נָ֨אpleaseparticle of entreaty · נָא (H4994)Particle of entreaty softening the requestנָא (H4994), enclitic particle of entreaty, 'please'.
תָשֵׁ֤תmay you layQal jussive 2ms · שִׁית (H7896)Predicate verb, jussive (negated request)→ Volitional/jussive: an urgent plea, not a flat commandשִׁית (H7896) Qal jussive 2ms 'to put, place, impute'; אַל־נָא תָשֵׁת 'please do not impute/hold against us' — Aaron begs Moses not to reckon the sin against them.
עָלֵ֨ינוּ֙upon usprep עַל + 1cp suffixPrepositional phrase, object of תָשֵׁתPrep עַל + 1cp suffix 'upon us'.
חַטָּ֔אתsinN f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Direct object of תָשֵׁתחַטָּאת (H2403) 'sin, sin-offering'; the object Aaron begs Moses not to hold against them — an appeal to Moses' own authority/mercy, notable since it is YHWH, not Moses, who has judged.
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhichrel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the first relative clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834).
נוֹאַ֖לְנוּwe have acted foolishlyNiphal perf 1cp · יָאַל (H2973)Predicate verb of the relative clause→ Perfective: an admitted, completed act of follyיָאַל (H2973) Niphal perfect 1cp 'to act foolishly, be foolish'; Aaron characterizes their speech as folly rather than malice, a softened self-indictment.
וַאֲשֶׁ֥רand thatconj וְ + rel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Coordinated relative particle, second relative clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834) with conjunction, introducing a second, more direct admission.
חָטָֽאנוּwe have sinnedQal perf 1cp · חָטָא (H2398)Predicate verb of the second relative clause→ Perfective: a plain, completed confession of sinחָטָא (H2398) Qal perfect 1cp 'to sin, miss the mark'; the confession moves from the euphemistic נוֹאַלְנוּ ('acted foolishly') to the direct חָטָאנוּ ('we sinned'), the chapter's clearest acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
12
אַל נָ֥א תְהִ֖י כַּמֵּ֑ת אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּצֵאתוֹ֙ מֵרֶ֣חֶם אִמּ֔וֹ וַיֵּאָכֵ֖ל חֲצִ֥י בְשָׂרֽוֹ
Please let her not be like a stillborn child, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother's womb.
Aaron's second petition moves from confession to urgent request, using the shocking image of a half-decomposed stillbirth to press the gravity and urgency of Miriam's condition — pushing Moses toward the immediate intercessory cry of v.13.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
אַלlet notneg (jussive) · אַל (H408)Negative particle of prohibition/jussiveאַל (H408), negative with jussive — continuing Aaron's plea, now specifically for Miriam's healing.
נָ֥אpleaseparticle of entreaty · נָא (H4994)Particle of entreatyנָא (H4994), 'please' — softening/intensifying the jussive request.
תְהִ֖יlet her beQal jussive 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb, jussive (negated)→ Volitional/jussive: an urgent request concerning Miriam's conditionהָיָה (H1961) Qal jussive 3fs 'let her be/become'; the subject is Miriam, though unnamed in this verse — the plea's referent is clear from v.10.
כַּמֵּ֑תlike the dead oneprep כְּ + art + Qal ptc m sg abs · מוּת (H4191)Comparative prepositional phrase (substantival participle as object of comparison)→ Substantival participle: the stillborn/dead one — the simile for Miriam's corruptionמוּת (H4191) Qal participle with comparative כְּ and article, 'like the dead one/a corpse'; a vivid, alarming comparison — צָרַעַת could disfigure the body to the point of resembling a stillbirth or corpse.
אֲשֶׁ֤רwhoserel particle · אֲשֶׁר (H834)Relative particle introducing the descriptive relative clauseאֲשֶׁר (H834).
בְּצֵאתוֹ֙when he comes outprep בְּ + Qal inf constr + 3ms suffix · יָצָא (H3318)Temporal prepositional phrase (infinitive construct + suffix)יָצָא (H3318) Qal infinitive construct + בְּ + 3ms suffix, 'in his going out' = 'when he is born'; describes a stillborn or severely deformed infant at birth.
מֵרֶ֣חֶםfrom the womb ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · רֶחֶם (H7358)Prepositional phrase, source (construct)רֶחֶם (H7358) 'womb', construct with מִן 'from the womb of'.
אִמּ֔וֹhis motherN f sg constr + 3ms suffix · אֵם (H517)Genitive completing the construct chainאֵם (H517) 'mother' + 3ms suffix.
וַיֵּאָכֵ֖לand is consumedconj וְ + Niphal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָכַל (H398)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause, within the relative clause's description)→ Wayyiqtol: describing the grim, visible state — passive, consuming decayאָכַל (H398) Niphal wayyiqtol 3ms 'is eaten, consumed'; the passive stem depicts flesh visibly wasted/eaten away, a graphic image of decay applied by analogy to what צָרַעַת could do to Miriam if unhealed.
חֲצִ֥יhalf ofN m sg constr · חֲצִי (H2677)Subject of וַיֵּאָכֵל (construct)חֲצִי (H2677) 'half', construct governing בְּשָׂרוֹ.
בְשָׂרֽוֹhis fleshN m sg constr + 3ms suffix · בָּשָׂר (H1320)Genitive completing the construct chainבָּשָׂר (H1320) 'flesh' + 3ms suffix; completes the horrifying image Aaron invokes to move Moses to intercede urgently.
13
וַיִּצְעַ֣ק מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר אֵ֕ל נָ֛א רְפָ֥א נָ֖א לָֽהּ
So Moses cried out to YHWH, saying, 'O God, please heal her, please!'
Moses' five-word prayer — אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ — is among the shortest and most quoted intercessory prayers in the Hebrew Bible, its brevity itself an enactment of the meekness ascribed to him in v.3: no self-justification, only an unadorned plea on behalf of the sister who had just attacked him.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
וַיִּצְעַ֣קand he cried outconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · צָעַק (H6817)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — Moses' urgent, spontaneous intercessionצָעַק (H6817) Qal wayyiqtol 'to cry out'; a verb of urgent distress-cry (cf. the Israelites' cry in Egypt, Exod 2:23), showing Moses' immediate, wholehearted intercession for the very sister who had attacked him.
מֹשֶׁ֔הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Subject of וַיִּצְעַקמֹשֶׁה (H4872); his response embodies the עֲנָוָה, meekness, ascribed to him in v.3 — no retaliation, only intercession.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, addresseeאֶל (H413).
יְהוָ֖הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of אֶליְהוָה (H3068).
לֵאמֹ֑רsayingprep לְ + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct, introducing direct speech→ Infinitive: formulaic marker introducing quotationאָמַר (H559) Qal infinitive construct 'saying'; standard formula opening direct discourse.
אֵ֕לO GodN m sg abs · אֵל (H410)Vocative addressאֵל (H410), a generic-but-solemn divine title 'God, mighty one'; Moses' prayer is famously terse — five Hebrew words, among the shortest prayers in Scripture.
נָ֛אpleaseparticle of entreaty · נָא (H4994)Particle of entreatyנָא (H4994), 'please', attached to the vocative, intensifying the plea's urgency.
רְפָ֥אhealQal impv 2ms · רָפָא (H7495)Predicate verb, imperative (the petition itself)→ Volitional: imperative, an urgent direct requestרָפָא (H7495) Qal imperative 2ms 'heal!'; the terse, direct imperative — no elaborate argument, simply the request itself.
נָ֖אpleaseparticle of entreaty · נָא (H4994)Particle of entreaty, repeated for emphasisנָא (H4994), repeated a second time in five words — אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ — creating a famously compact, urgent, almost breathless prayer.
לָֽהּfor herprep לְ + 3fs suffixPrepositional phrase, indirect object (beneficiary)Prep לְ + 3fs suffix 'for/to her', referring to Miriam.
14
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל מֹשֶׁ֗ה וְאָבִ֨יהָ֙ יָרֹ֤ק יָרַק֙ בְּפָנֶ֔יהָ הֲלֹ֥א תִכָּלֵ֖ם שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים תִּסָּגֵ֞ר שִׁבְעַ֤ת יָמִים֙ מִח֣וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וְאַחַ֖ר תֵּאָסֵֽף
And YHWH said to Moses, 'If her father had merely spit in her face, would she not bear shame seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought back in.'
YHWH's answer to Moses' prayer is not immediate healing but a fixed, limited sentence, argued by analogy from the ordinary shame of paternal rebuke — if mere spitting shames for a week, so does YHWH's direct rebuke. The seven-day quarantine follows the priestly statute for צָרַעַת (Lev 13-14) rather than inventing a special penalty, integrating the supernatural affliction into Israel's existing purity law.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand saidconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · אָמַר (H559)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advanceאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; YHWH answers Moses' prayer directly.
יְהוָ֜הYHWHN proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיֹּאמֶריְהוָה (H3068).
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase, addresseeאֶל (H413).
מֹשֶׁ֗הMosesN proper · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of אֶלמֹשֶׁה (H4872).
וְאָבִ֨יהָ֙and her fatherconj וְ + N m sg constr + 3fs suffix · אָב (H1)Subject of the conditional protasisאָב (H1) 'father' + 3fs suffix; YHWH constructs a comparison to ordinary paternal shame-discipline, arguing a fortiori.
יָרֹ֤קspittingQal inf abs · יָרַק (H3417)Infinitive absolute, intensifying the finite verb→ Infinitive absolute + finite verb: emphatic, conditional/hypothetical force ('had he but spit')יָרַק (H3417) Qal infinitive absolute 'to spit'; paired with the finite verb of the same root for emphasis, a classic Hebrew idiom of intensification.
יָרַק֙had he spitQal perf 3ms · יָרַק (H3417)Predicate verb of the conditional protasis (paired with the infinitive absolute)→ Perfective (conditional/hypothetical): a hypothetical, shameful act of paternal rebukeיָרַק (H3417) Qal perfect 3ms 'spit'; spitting in the face was an act of public disgrace (cf. Deut 25:9) — the argument is a minori ad maius: if mere paternal spitting shames for seven days, how much more YHWH's own rebuke.
בְּפָנֶ֔יהָin her faceprep בְּ + N c pl constr + 3fs suffix · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase, object of the hypothetical spittingפָּנִים (H6440) 'face' + 3fs suffix, with prep בְּ.
הֲלֹ֥אwould notinterr הֲ + neg · לֹא (H3808)Interrogative particle + negative, opening a rhetorical question (expecting 'yes')לֹא (H3808) with interrogative הֲ, expecting affirmation — 'would she not indeed be ashamed?'
תִכָּלֵ֖םshe be ashamedNiphal impf 3fs · כָּלַם (H3637)Predicate verb of the rhetorical question→ Yiqtol (Niphal): the natural, expected consequence — shame as automatic social resultכָּלַם (H3637) Niphal imperfect 3fs 'be ashamed, humiliated'; the paternal-shame scenario sets the baseline duration (seven days) that YHWH now imposes as Miriam's own penalty.
שִׁבְעַ֣תsevencardinal num constr · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Construct numeral governing יָמִיםשֶׁבַע (H7651) 'seven', construct.
יָמִ֑יםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive completing the construct chain (temporal accusative)יוֹם (H3117) 'day', pl.; the customary period of shame, here transferred to become Miriam's literal quarantine.
תִּסָּגֵ֞רlet her be shut upNiphal impf 3fs (jussive force) · סָגַר (H5462)Predicate verb, jussive/imperfect of decree (main clause of the ruling)→ Yiqtol (Niphal, jussive force): a formal, binding decreeסָגַר (H5462) Niphal imperfect 3fs 'be shut up, confined'; the formal ruling proper, transposing the hypothetical shame-period into an actual quarantine.
שִׁבְעַ֤תsevencardinal num constr · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Construct numeral, repeated (governs יָמִים)שֶׁבַע (H7651), repeated from the analogy to fix the actual duration of confinement.
יָמִים֙daysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive completing the construct chainיוֹם (H3117), pl., repeated.
מִח֣וּץoutsideprep מִן + N m sg abs · חוּץ (H2351)Prepositional phrase, locationחוּץ (H2351) 'outside, exterior', with מִן 'from outside of' = 'outside'.
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔הthe campprep לְ + art + N c sg abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Object of the prepositional phraseמַחֲנֶה (H4264) 'camp'; Miriam's quarantine matches the priestly law for scale-disease sufferers (Lev 13-14), confirming that her affliction is treated under the normal צָרַעַת statutes despite its supernatural origin.
וְאַחַ֖רand afterwardconj וְ + adv · אַחַר (H310)Temporal adverb, coordinating clauseאַחַר (H310) 'after, afterward'; marks the end of the quarantine period.
תֵּאָסֵֽףshe shall be brought backNiphal impf 3fs (jussive force) · אָסַף (H622)Predicate verb, imperfect/jussive of decree→ Yiqtol (Niphal, jussive force): the concluding provision of the ruling — restoration after the appointed timeאָסַף (H622) Niphal imperfect 3fs 'be gathered, brought in'; the technical term for readmission to the camp community, resolving the sentence with restoration rather than permanent exclusion.
15
וַתִּסָּגֵ֥ר מִרְיָ֛ם מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים וְהָעָם֙ לֹ֣א נָסַ֔ע עַד הֵאָסֵ֖ף מִרְיָֽם
So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out until Miriam was brought back in.
The whole community's march halts for seven days on Miriam's account — a notable narrative aside showing collective solidarity around the fate of a single member, and quietly resolving the crisis before the itinerary notice of v.16 resumes the larger journey narrative.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וַתִּסָּגֵ֥רand she was shut outconj וְ + Niphal wayyiqtol 3fs · סָגַר (H5462)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause, execution of the decree)→ Wayyiqtol (Niphal): narrative advance — the sentence of v.14 carried outסָגַר (H5462) Niphal wayyiqtol 3fs 'was shut up'; the decree of v.14 is now narrated as accomplished fact.
מִרְיָ֛םMiriamN proper · מִרְיָם (H4813)Subject of וַתִּסָּגֵרמִרְיָם (H4813); named explicitly as the sentence is carried out.
מִח֥וּץoutsideprep מִן + N m sg abs · חוּץ (H2351)Prepositional phrase, locationחוּץ (H2351), repeated from v.14.
לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖הthe campprep לְ + art + N c sg abs · מַחֲנֶה (H4264)Object of the prepositional phraseמַחֲנֶה (H4264), repeated from v.14.
שִׁבְעַ֣תsevencardinal num constr · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Construct numeral governing יָמִיםשֶׁבַע (H7651), repeated.
יָמִ֑יםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive completing the construct chainיוֹם (H3117), pl., repeated — the decree executed exactly as pronounced.
וְהָעָם֙and the peopleconj וְ + art + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Subject (fronted, new clause)עַם (H5971) 'people', with article; the whole community's journey is halted for the sake of one afflicted member — a striking communal solidarity.
לֹ֣אdid notneg · לֹא (H3808)Negative particleלֹא (H3808), negating נָסַע.
נָסַ֔עset outQal perf 3ms · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Perfective: a suspended, undone act — the people's departure held in abeyanceנָסַע (H5265) Qal perfect 3ms 'to pull up (tent-pegs), journey, set out'; the standard verb of Israel's wilderness marches, here withheld until Miriam's restoration.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Temporal prepositional phraseעַד (H5704) 'until'.
הֵאָסֵ֖ףshe was brought back inNiphal inf constr · אָסַף (H622)Infinitive construct, temporal clause complement of עַד→ Infinitive (Niphal): marking the terminus of the suspended departureאָסַף (H622) Niphal infinitive construct 'being gathered/brought in', repeated from v.14 — the community waits precisely for the fulfillment of YHWH's own stipulated term.
מִרְיָֽםMiriamN proper · מִרְיָם (H4813)Subject of the infinitive clauseמִרְיָם (H4813); the verse closes, as it began, naming her — the chapter's central figure in its final judgment scene.
16
וְאַחַ֛ר נָסְע֥וּ הָעָ֖ם מֵחֲצֵר֑וֹת וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָֽן
After that the people set out from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.
The terse geographical notice closes the Miriam-and-Aaron episode and returns the narrative to its normal wilderness-itinerary register, propelling the story directly into the spies narrative of ch. 13 that will unfold from this new camp at Paran.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
וְאַחַ֛רand afterwardconj וְ + adv · אַחַר (H310)Temporal adverb, coordinating clauseאַחַר (H310) 'after, afterward'; resumes the itinerary notice suspended since v.15, marking the resolution of the crisis.
נָסְע֥וּset outQal perf 3cp · נָסַע (H5265)Predicate verb (main clause, resuming the itinerary)→ Perfective: a completed, decisive resumption of the marchנָסַע (H5265) Qal perfect 3cp 'to journey, set out'; the standard formula resuming the wilderness itinerary, echoing נָסַע from v.15 now finally accomplished.
הָעָ֖םthe peopleart + N m sg abs · עַם (H5971)Subject of נָסְעוּעַם (H5971), with article, repeated from v.15.
מֵחֲצֵר֑וֹתfrom Hazerothprep מִן + N proper · חֲצֵרוֹת (H2698)Prepositional phrase, point of departureחֲצֵרוֹת (H2698), a wilderness station-name ('enclosures/courts'), the site of the events of this chapter (cf. Num 11:35), left behind as the itinerary resumes.
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּand campedconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3mp · חָנָה (H2583)Wayyiqtol predicate verb (main clause)→ Wayyiqtol: narrative advance — the itinerary's standard closing formulaחָנָה (H2583) Qal wayyiqtol 3mp 'to camp, encamp'; the customary itinerary-closing verb, matching the standard wilderness-journey notices throughout Numbers.
בְּמִדְבַּ֥רin the wilderness ofprep בְּ + N m sg constr · מִדְבָּר (H4057)Locative prepositional phrase (construct)מִדְבָּר (H4057) 'wilderness, desert', construct governing פָּארָן.
פָּארָֽןParanN proper · פָּארָן (H6290)Genitive completing the construct chainפָּארָן (H6290), the wilderness region south of Canaan where Israel will next dispatch the spies (Num 13:3) — the itinerary notice sets the stage for the following crisis.