Numbers 12:14

12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.

13 And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.

15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”
KJV
And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
WEB
The LORD said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, shouldn’t she be ashamed seven days? Let her be shut up outside of the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.”
ASV
And Jehovah said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut up without the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.
DARBY
And Jehovah said to Moses, But had her father anyways spat in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? She shall be shut outside the camp seven days, and afterwards she shall be received in [again].
BLB
And YHWH said to Moses, “And if her father surely had spit in her face, would not she be shamed seven days? Let her be shut seven days outside of the camp, and afterward she may be received.”
ÅB
Og Herren sa til Moses: Om hennes far hadde spyttet henne i ansiktet, skulle hun da ikke sitte med skammen i syv dager? La henne holdes innestengt utenfor leiren i syv dager, så kan hun komme tilbake igjen.
OTB
Herren svarte Moses: «Hvis hennes far hadde spyttet henne i ansiktet, ville hun ikke da være i vanære i syv dager? Hold henne utenfor leiren i syv dager; deretter kan hun bli tatt tilbake.»
B1930
Og Herren sa til Moses: Om hennes far hadde spyttet henne i ansiktet, skulde hun da ikke sitte med skammen i syv dager? La henne holdes innestengt utenfor leiren i syv dager, så kan hun komme tilbake igjen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Deuteronomy 25:9

    Then shall his brother’s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother’s house.

    Read in context
  • Job 30:10

    They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 5:2–3

    Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 50:6

    I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 13:45–46

    And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 12:9

    Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 26:20–21

    And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 14:8

    And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

    Read in context