Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 32:51
For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses the Israelites at the end of his life, declaring that he and Aaron will die on a mountain and not enter the Promised Land. This statement follows his recitation of Israel’s history and God’s covenant faithfulness.
The words — The text identifies me'altém (you acted unfaithfully) and le-haqqedîš (to treat as holy), pinpointing the Meribah-kadesh incident as a public breach of trust and a failure to visibly honor God.
The thread — This event is recorded in Numbers 20:11 and Numbers 27:14 as the specific moment both leaders rebelled against God’s command to demonstrate His holiness before the congregation.
Why it lands — The verse establishes that leaders must model reverence before the community, because public actions directly determine how a people perceive divine authority.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah–Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.
Cross-references
- Numbers 27:14 for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.
- Numbers 20:11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.
- Numbers 20:24 “Aaron will be gathered to his people; he will not enter the land that I have given the Israelites, because both of you rebelled against My command at the waters of Meribah.
- Deuteronomy 3:23 At that time I also pleaded with the LORD:
- 1 Kings 13:21 and the prophet cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the commandment that the LORD your God gave you,
- Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.
- Isaiah 8:13 The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.
- 1 Peter 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?