Numbers 11:20

but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and makes you nauseous—because you have rejected the LORD, who is among you, and have cried out before Him, saying, ‘Why did we ever leave Egypt?’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God delivers this declaration through Moses to the Israelites camped in the wilderness, specifying the duration and physical consequence of the meat He will provide in response to their complaints.

The words — The Hebrew terms חֹדֶשׁ (chodesh) and יָמִים (yamim) literally denote “a month” and “days,” establishing the precise timeframe of the judgment. The phrase מֵ/אַפְּ/כֶם (me/ap/khem) translates to “from your nose,” describing the physical revulsion the meat will cause.

The thread — This judgment parallels the plague of wasting disease in Psalms 106:15 and the wilderness complaints recorded in Numbers 21:5, while the meat provision parallels the quail account in Psalms 78:27.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that rejecting divine provision invites consequences that override physical desire. It requires readers to confront the cost of treating God’s presence as optional rather than essential.

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

But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

Cross-references

Psalms 106:15 So He granted their request, but sent a wasting disease upon them.
Numbers 21:5 and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”
Psalms 78:27 He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea.
1 Samuel 10:19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”
Exodus 16:8 And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.”
Exodus 16:13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.
Joshua 24:27 And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.”
1 Samuel 2:30 Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.
2 Samuel 12:10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’
Proverbs 27:7 The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.