Bible Strands
Numbers 12:13
So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, please heal her!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses speaks directly to Yahweh immediately after Miriam is struck with a skin disease and before the Lord issues his judgment. The moment captures his urgent intercession following his initial plea against her punishment.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּצְעַ֣ק (va/i.yitz.'Ak) denotes a loud, urgent cry, while רְפָ֥א (re.Fa') literally means to heal or restore. Moses pairs these terms to demand immediate divine intervention for Miriam’s condition.
The thread — The text records Moses’ direct plea for healing, which aligns with the principle in James 5:15 that prayer for the sick is linked to restoration. The New Testament also records Jesus commanding followers to pray for those who mistreat them in Luke 6:28 and to overcome evil with good in Romans 12:21.
Why it lands — The text records a direct request for healing rather than a theological argument about justice. It requires the reader to recognize that intercession precedes divine correction and that mercy is actively sought before judgment is carried out.
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
And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
Cross-references
- Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
- Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
- James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
- Exodus 32:10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”
- Numbers 14:2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!
- Numbers 14:13 But Moses said to the LORD, “The Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought this people from among them.
- Numbers 16:41 The next day the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the LORD’s people!”
- Numbers 16:46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.”
- 1 Samuel 12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
- 1 Samuel 15:11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.