Numbers 9:21

Sometimes the cloud remained only from evening until morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they would set out. Whether it was by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up, they would set out.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses conveys the Lord’s directive to the Israelites in the wilderness regarding their camp-to-camp schedule. The community’s departure depended entirely on the pillar of cloud’s position over the tabernacle.

The words — The phrase וְ/יֵ֞שׁ אֲשֶׁר־ יִהְיֶ֤ה הֶֽ/עָנָן (ve./Yesh 'a.Sher- yih.Yeh he./'a.Nan) literally translates to "and there was when the cloud." The verb וְ/נַעֲלָ֧ה (ve./na.'a.Lah) means "and it was taken up," functioning as the explicit signal for departure.

The thread — This cloud-guided movement recurs in Nehemiah 9:12 and Nehemiah 9:19 as the consistent mechanism for wilderness travel. The text specifies that the Israelites set out immediately whenever the cloud lifted, regardless of whether it occurred by day or by night.

Why it lands — The verse demands readiness to move the moment divine direction shifts, without delay or preference for convenient timing. It requires the reader to treat visible command as the sole determinant of action.

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

וְיֵ֞שׁve./Yeshand/ there אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-[was] when יִהְיֶ֤הyih.Yehit was הֶֽעָנָן֙he./'a.Nanthe/ cloud מֵעֶ֣רֶבme./'E.revfrom/ evening עַד־'ad-until בֹּ֔קֶרBo.kermorning וְנַעֲלָ֧הve./na.'a.Lahand/ it was taken up הֶֽעָנָ֛ןhe./'a.Nanthe/ cloud בַּבֹּ֖קֶרba./Bo.kerin the/ morning וְנָסָ֑עוּve./na.Sa.'uand/ they set out א֚וֹ'oor יוֹמָ֣םyo.Mamby day וָלַ֔יְלָהva./Lay.lahand/ night וְנַעֲלָ֥הve./na.'a.Lahand/ it was taken up הֶעָנָ֖ןhe./'a.Nanthe/ cloud וְנָסָֽעוּ׃ve./na.Sa.'uand/ they set out

King James Version

And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.

Cross-references

Nehemiah 9:19 You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.
Nehemiah 9:12 You led them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they should travel.