Bible Strands
Numbers 12:6
He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks directly to Aaron and Miriam, who have just stepped forward at the entrance of the Tent after being summoned (v. 5). The occasion is their challenge to Moses' unique authority.
The words — נְבִיאֲכֶם (nəḇî'ăḵem), "your prophet," carries a plural possessive suffix that marks the prophet as belonging to the people, a category deliberately set apart from what comes in v. 7.
The thread — The mode described here—God revealing Himself in vision and speaking in a dream—matches the pattern in Genesis 31:10 (Jacob's dream), Genesis 46:2 (God speaking to Israel in a vision), and 1 Kings 3:5 (Solomon's dream at Gibeon).
Why it lands — The verse establishes a floor: even a genuine prophet receives God's word at a remove, in vision or dream. That floor is what makes the contrast in v. 7 ("he is faithful in all My house") a statement about degree, not kind.
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 he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 3:5 One night at Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “Ask, and I will give it to you!”
- Genesis 31:10 When the flocks were breeding, I saw in a dream that the streaked, spotted, and speckled males were mating with the females.
- Genesis 46:2 And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob.
- Acts 22:17 Later, when I had returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
- Luke 1:22 When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
- Daniel 10:8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless.
- Luke 1:11 Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
- Ezekiel 1:1 In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the River Kebar, the heavens opened and I saw visions of God.
- Genesis 15:1 After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
- Genesis 20:7 Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet; he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, be aware that you will surely die—you and all who belong to you.”