Bible Strands
Numbers 12:3
Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator describes Moses at the moment Miriam and Aaron question whether God speaks only through him. This statement interrupts their challenge to establish Moses' character before God's response.
The words — עָנָיו (a.nav) means "humble," intensified by מְאֹד (me.'Od, "very"). מִ/כֹּל הָ/אָדָם (mi./kol ha./'a.Dam) literally translates to "more than every person."
The thread — The text's description of humility parallels Jesus' self-description in Matthew 11:29 and the New Testament call to humility in James 3:13 and Matthew 5:5.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that God's chosen leadership operates from a posture of lowliness rather than self-assertion. It requires the reader to evaluate spiritual authority by character rather than claim.
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
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
Cross-references
- Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
- Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- 2 Corinthians 11:5 I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:11 I have become a fool, but you drove me to it. In fact, you should have commended me, since I am in no way inferior to those “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
- Numbers 11:10 Then Moses heard the people of family after family weeping at the entrances to their tents, and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly, and Moses was also displeased.
- Numbers 20:10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”
- Psalms 106:32 At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them.
- Psalms 147:6 The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.
- Psalms 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation.