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?"

◄ Numbers 20:10 ►

New International Version
He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”

New Living Translation
Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?”

English Standard Version
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”

Berean Standard Bible
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?”

King James Bible
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

New King James Version
And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?”

New American Standard Bible
and Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”

NASB 1995
and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?”

NASB 1977
and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?”

Legacy Standard Bible
and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?”

Amplified Bible
and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock?”

Christian Standard Bible
Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Moses and Aaron summoned the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water out of this rock for you?”

American Standard Version
And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?

Contemporary English Version
After he and Aaron had gathered the people around the rock, he said, "Look, you rebellious people, and you will see water flow from this rock!"

English Revised Version
And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Moses and Aaron assembled the community in front of the rock and said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?"

Good News Translation
He and Aaron assembled the whole community in front of the rock, and Moses said, "Listen, you rebels! Do we have to get water out of this rock for you?"

International Standard Version
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock. "Pay attention, you rebels!" Moses told them. "Are we to bring you water from this rock?"

Majority Standard Bible
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?”

NET Bible
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock, and he said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?"

New Heart English Bible
Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you water out of this rock for you?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

World English Bible
Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Shall we bring water out of this rock for you?”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and Moses and Aaron assemble the assembly to the front of the rock, and he says to them, “Now hear, O rebels, do we bring out water to you from this rock?”

Young's Literal Translation
and Moses and Aaron assemble the assembly unto the front of the rock, and he saith to them, 'Hear, I pray you, O rebels, from this rock do we bring out to you water?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses and Aaron will gather together the gathering before the rock, and he will say to them, Hear, now, ye rebellious: from this rock shall we bring forth to you water?

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And having gathered together the multitude before the rock, he said to them: Hear, ye rebellious and incredulous: Can we bring you forth water out of this rock?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And having gathered the multitude before the rock, he said to them: “Listen, you who are rebellious and unbelieving. Would we be able to cast out water from this rock?”

New American Bible
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, where he said to them, “Just listen, you rebels! Are we to produce water for you out of this rock?”

New Revised Standard Version
Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; out of this rock we will bring forth water for you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe gathered, and Ahron, the entire assembly to the rock and he said to them: “Hear now, rebels; from this rock we will bring water out to you.”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them: 'Hear now, ye rebels; are we to bring you forth water out of this rock?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation before the rock, and said to them, Hear me, ye disobedient ones; must we bring you water out of this rock?

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Water from the Rock
…9So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. 10Then 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?” 11Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, so that a great amount of water gushed out, and the congregation and their livestock were able to drink.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Exodus 17:6
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Psalm 106:32-33
At the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them. / For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips.

Deuteronomy 32:51-52
For at the waters of Meribah-kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you broke faith with Me among the Israelites by failing to treat Me as holy in their presence. / Although you shall see from a distance the land that I am giving the Israelites, you shall not enter it.”

1 Corinthians 10:4
and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Hebrews 3:16-19
For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...

Exodus 17:5-7
And the LORD said to Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders of Israel with you. Take along in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. / Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. / He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

Numbers 27:14
for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin.

Psalm 95:8-11
do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. / For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.” ...

John 7:38-39
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” / He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Deuteronomy 1:37
The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land.

Hebrews 4:2
For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

Isaiah 48:21
They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.

1 Corinthians 10:11
Now these things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.

Deuteronomy 3:26
But the LORD was angry with me on account of you, and He would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said to me. “Do not speak to Me again about this matter.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Treasury of Scripture

And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

Deuteronomy 9:24
Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.

Psalm 106:32,33
They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: …

Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

we fetch

Numbers 11:22,23
Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? …

Genesis 40:8
And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

Genesis 41:16
And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

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Numbers 20

1. The children of Israel come to Zin, where Miriam dies.
2. They murmur for want of water
7. Moses smiting the rock, brings forth water at Meribah
14. Moses at Kadesh desires passage through Edom, which is denied him
22. At Mount Hor Aaron resigns his place to Eleazar, and dies

Berean Study Bible

And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock
This phrase sets the scene for a significant moment in Israel's journey. The Hebrew word for "gathered" (קהל, qahal) implies a formal assembly, often used for religious or communal purposes. Moses and Aaron, as leaders, are bringing the people together for a divine encounter. Historically, this reflects the structured leadership and communal identity of Israel during their wilderness journey.

and he said to them
The phrase "he said" (ויאמר, vayomer) is a common introduction to prophetic speech in the Hebrew Bible. It indicates that what follows is of great importance, often conveying God's direct message or command. Moses, as God's chosen leader, speaks with authority, reflecting the theocratic leadership structure where God communicates through appointed leaders.

Listen now, you rebels
The term "rebels" (מרים, morim) is a strong rebuke. It highlights the Israelites' repeated disobedience and lack of faith. This word choice underscores the tension between Moses and the people, who have frequently challenged his leadership. Historically, this reflects the ongoing struggle of maintaining faith and obedience in the face of hardship.

must we bring you water out of this rock?
The phrase "must we bring you water" suggests a moment of frustration and perhaps a lapse in Moses' usual humility. The Hebrew word for "rock" (סלע, sela) is significant, as rocks in the wilderness were often seen as symbols of God's provision. This question implies a challenge to the people's faith and a reminder of God's past miracles. Theologically, it raises questions about human agency versus divine power, as Moses seems to momentarily place himself in the role of provider, rather than God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) Must we fetch you water out of this rock?--In the case of the former miracle at Rephidim the rock is spoken of only under the Hebrew word zur (Exodus 17:6). Throughout the present narration the rock is invariably spoken of under the word sela. In Psalm 78:15-16, where reference appears to be made to both miracles, both words are used.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 10. - Hear now, ye rebels. הַמֹּרִים. Septuagint, οἱ ἀπειθεῖς. The verb is used in a similar sense of Moses and Aaron themselves in verse 24. It has been suggested that this was the word really used by our Lord in Matthew 5:22, and translated μωρός. This, however, is extremely precarious, and is indeed to accuse the Evangelist of a blunder, for there is no real correspondence between the words. Must we fetch you water. Septuagint, μὴ ἐξάξομεν ὑμῖν ὕδωρ. And this is no doubt the sense. It has been rendered by some "Can we fetch you water," on the supposition that Moses really doubted the possibility of such a miracle, but this seems to be an entire mistake (see next note).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then Moses
מֹשֶׁ֧ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

and Aaron
וְאַהֲרֹ֛ן (wə·’a·hă·rōn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175: Aaron -- an elder brother of Moses

gathered
וַיַּקְהִ֜לוּ (way·yaq·hi·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6950: To gather as an assembly or congregation

the assembly
הַקָּהָ֖ל (haq·qā·hāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6951: Assembly, convocation, congregation

in
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

front
פְּנֵ֣י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the rock,
הַסָּ֑לַע (has·sā·la‘)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5553: A craggy rock

and Moses said to them,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Listen
שִׁמְעוּ־ (šim·‘ū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

now,
נָא֙ (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

you rebels,
הַמֹּרִ֔ים (ham·mō·rîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 4784: To be contentious or rebellious

must we bring you water
מָֽיִם׃ (mā·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

out
נוֹצִ֥יא (nō·w·ṣî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

of
הֲמִן־ (hă·min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

this
הַזֶּ֔ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

rock?”
הַסֶּ֣לַע (has·se·la‘)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5553: A craggy rock

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OT Law: Numbers 20:10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together (Nu Num.)