Numbers 20:17
New International Version
Please let us pass through your country. We will not go through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway and not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

New Living Translation
Please let us travel through your land. We will be careful not to go through your fields and vineyards. We won’t even drink water from your wells. We will stay on the king’s road and never leave it until we have passed through your territory.”

English Standard Version
Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King’s Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

Berean Standard Bible
Please let us pass through your land. We will not cut through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

King James Bible
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

New King James Version
Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through fields or vineyards, nor will we drink water from wells; we will go along the King’s Highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s road, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.’”

NASB 1995
‘Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s highway, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.’”

NASB 1977
‘Please let us pass through your land. We shall not pass through field or through vineyard; we shall not even drink water from a well. We shall go along the king’s highway, not turning to the right or left, until we pass through your territory.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we pass through your territory.’”

Amplified Bible
Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through a field or through a vineyard; we will not even drink water from a well. We will go along the king’s highway, not turning [off-course] to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’”

Christian Standard Bible
Please let us travel through your land. We won’t travel through any field or vineyard, or drink any well water. We will travel the King’s Highway; we won’t turn to the right or the left until we have traveled through your territory.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Please let us travel through your land. We won’t travel through any field or vineyard, or drink any well water. We will travel the King’s Highway; we won’t turn to the right or the left until we have traveled through your territory.’”

American Standard Version
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.

Contemporary English Version
Please let us go through your country. We won't go near your fields or vineyards, and we won't drink any water from your wells. We will stay on the main road until we leave your territory.

English Revised Version
let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's high way, we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Please let us go through your country. We won't go through any of your fields or vineyards, or drink any of the water from your wells. We'll stay on the king's highway and never leave it until we've passed through your territory."

Good News Translation
Please permit us to pass through your land. We and our cattle will not leave the road or go into your fields or vineyards, and we will not drink from your wells. We will stay on the main road until we are out of your territory."

International Standard Version
Permit us now to pass through your land. We won't pass through your fields or vineyards, and we won't drink water from your wells. We'll keep to the King's Highway without turning either right or left until we have passed through your territory.'"

Majority Standard Bible
Please let us pass through your land. We will not cut through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”

NET Bible
Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards, nor will we drink water from any well. We will go by the King's Highway; we will not turn to the right or the left until we have passed through your region.'"

New Heart English Bible
"Please let us pass through your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border."

Webster's Bible Translation
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high-way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

World English Bible
“Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink from the water of the wells. We will go along the king’s highway. We will not turn away to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Please let us pass over through your land; we do not pass over through a field or through a vineyard, nor do we drink waters of a well; we go the way of the king, we do not turn aside [to] the right or left until we pass over your border.”

Young's Literal Translation
Let us pass over, we pray thee, through thy land; we pass not over through a field, or through a vineyard, nor do we drink waters of a well; the way of the king we go, we turn not aside -- right or left -- till that we pass over thy border.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Now we will pass over in thy land: we will not pass through in the field and in the vineyard, and we will not drink the water of the well: the way of the king we will go; we will not incline to the right or to the left till we shall pass over thy boundary.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And we beseech thee that we may have leave to pass through thy country. We will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards, we will not drink the waters of thy wells, but we will go by the common highway, neither turning aside to the right hand, nor to the left, till we are past thy borders.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And we beg you to permit us to cross through your land. We will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards; we will not drink the waters of your wells, but we will travel by the public ways, neither turning aside to the right, nor to the left, until we have passed your borders.”

New American Bible
Please let us pass through your land. We will not cross any fields or vineyards, nor drink any well water, but we will go straight along the King’s Highway without turning to the right or to the left, until we have passed through your territory.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from any well; we will go along the King’s Highway, not turning aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now let us pass through your land; we will not pass through the fields, nor through the vineyards, neither will we drink the water of the wells; but we will go by the king's highway, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left until we have passed your borders.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Now we will pass through your land; we will not pass in a field or in a vineyard and we will not drink water of the wells, but let us go in the road of the King and we will not turn aside, not to the right neither to the left, until we pass by your border.’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land; we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells; we will go along the king's highway, we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
We will pass through thy land: we will not go through the fields, nor through the vineyards, nor will we drink water out of thy cistern: we will go by the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left, until we have passed thy borders.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Edom Refuses Passage
16and when we cried out to the LORD, He heard our voice, sent an angel, and brought us out of Egypt. Now look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17Please let us pass through your land. We will not cut through any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway; we will not turn to the right or to the left until we have passed through your territory.” 18But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 2:4-6
and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful. / Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession. / You are to pay them in silver for the food you eat and the water you drink.’”

Deuteronomy 2:27-29
“Let us pass through your land; we will stay on the main road. We will not turn to the right or to the left. / You can sell us food to eat and water to drink in exchange for silver. Only let us pass through on foot, / just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for us, until we cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.”

Judges 11:17-18
Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let us pass through your land,’ but the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel stayed in Kadesh. / Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, since the Arnon was its border.

Deuteronomy 23:3-4
No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation. / For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you.

Exodus 13:21-22
And the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud to guide their way by day, and in a pillar of fire to give them light by night, so that they could travel by day or night. / Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place before the people.

Exodus 15:22
Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the Desert of Shur. For three days they walked in the desert without finding water.

Exodus 23:31
And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

Isaiah 63:12-14
who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown, / who led them through the depths like a horse in the wilderness, so that they did not stumble? / Like cattle going down to the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. You led Your people this way to make for Yourself a glorious name.

Psalm 78:52-53
He led out His people like sheep and guided them like a flock in the wilderness. / He led them safely, so they did not fear, but the sea engulfed their enemies.

Psalm 136:16
He led His people through the wilderness. His loving devotion endures forever.

Amos 2:9
Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, though his height was like that of the cedars, and he was as strong as the oaks. Yet I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below.

Matthew 10:14
And if anyone will not welcome you or heed your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.

Luke 9:5
If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them.”

Matthew 10:11-14
Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy there and stay at his house until you move on. / As you enter the home, greet its occupants. / If the home is worthy, let your peace rest on it, but if it is not, let your peace return to you. ...

Luke 10:10-11
But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare, / ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’


Treasury of Scripture

Let us pass, I pray you, through your country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your borders.

Numbers 21:1,22-24
And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners…

Deuteronomy 2:1-4,27,29
Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days…

Jump to Previous
Border Borders Country Drink Hand High Highway King's Passed Right Turn Vineyard Vineyards Water Way Wells
Jump to Next
Border Borders Country Drink Hand High Highway King's Passed Right Turn Vineyard Vineyards Water Way Wells
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














Please let us pass through your land
This phrase reflects a humble request from the Israelites to the Edomites. The Hebrew word for "please" is "נָא" (na), which conveys a sense of politeness and urgency. The Israelites, led by Moses, are seeking permission to traverse Edom's territory peacefully. Historically, this request underscores the Israelites' reliance on diplomacy and respect for the sovereignty of other nations during their journey to the Promised Land. It also highlights the importance of seeking peaceful resolutions and respecting boundaries, a principle that resonates with Christian teachings on loving one's neighbor.

We will not pass through any field or vineyard
The Israelites assure the Edomites that they will not disturb their agricultural resources. Fields and vineyards were vital for sustenance and economic stability in ancient times. The Hebrew word for "field" is "שָׂדֶה" (sadeh), and "vineyard" is "כֶּרֶם" (kerem). This promise reflects a commitment to non-interference and respect for the property and livelihood of others. It serves as a reminder of the Christian ethic of stewardship and the importance of respecting others' possessions.

or drink water from any well
Water was a precious resource in the arid regions of the Near East. The Israelites' promise not to drink from any well, "בְּאֵר" (be'er), signifies their intention to avoid imposing on the Edomites' resources. This assurance highlights the value of self-restraint and consideration for others' needs, aligning with the Christian principle of putting others before oneself.

We will stay on the King's Highway
The "King's Highway" was an ancient trade route that ran through the Transjordan, facilitating commerce and communication. By committing to stay on this established path, the Israelites demonstrate their intention to minimize disruption. This decision reflects a respect for established order and the rule of law, principles that are foundational in Christian teachings about living peaceably within society.

we will not turn to the right or to the left
This phrase emphasizes the Israelites' commitment to a direct and unobtrusive passage. The imagery of not turning "to the right or to the left" is often used in Scripture to denote faithfulness and adherence to a chosen path (Deuteronomy 5:32). It serves as a metaphor for spiritual steadfastness and integrity, encouraging believers to remain focused on God's path without deviation.

until we have passed through your territory
The Israelites' journey through Edom was a necessary part of their larger journey to the Promised Land. The word "territory," "גְּבוּל" (gevul), signifies the boundaries set by God for different nations. This acknowledgment of territorial limits reflects a respect for God's ordained order and the understanding that each nation has its place within God's plan. For Christians, it serves as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and respecting the roles and boundaries established by God in our lives.

(17) We will go by the king's highway.--It is supposed that this military road led through the broad Wady el Ghuweir, which is celebrated for its excellent pasture and its numerous springs. (See Keil in loc.)

Verse 17. - Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country. Moses desired to march through Seir eastwards and northeastwards, so as to reach the country beyond Jordan. If the northern portion of the wilderness of Paran was at this time held by the king of Edom, it would be through this region that Israel would first seek to make their way from Kadesh to the Arabah; thence the broad and easy pass of the Wady Ghuweir would lead them through Mount Seir (properly so called) to the plains of Moab. Through the fields, or through the vineyards. These words attest the change for the worse in the condition of these regions. Even in the Wady Ghuweir, although springs and pasturage are abundant, fields and vineyards hardly exist. Neither will we drink, i.e., as appears from verse 19, without obtaining leave and making payment. By the king's highway. דֶּרֶך הַמֶּלֶך. The state road used for military purposes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Please
נָּ֣א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

let us pass
נַעְבְּרָה־ (na‘·bə·rāh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

through your land.
בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ (ḇə·’ar·ṣe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

We will not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

cut
נַעֲבֹר֙ (na·‘ă·ḇōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

through any field
בְּשָׂדֶ֣ה (bə·śā·ḏeh)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

or vineyard,
וּבְכֶ֔רֶם (ū·ḇə·ḵe·rem)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3754: A garden, vineyard

[or]
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

drink
נִשְׁתֶּ֖ה (niš·teh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 8354: To imbibe

water
מֵ֣י (mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

from any well.
בְאֵ֑ר (ḇə·’êr)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 875: A pit, a well

We will stay on
נֵלֵ֗ךְ (nê·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

the King’s
הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

Highway;
דֶּ֧רֶךְ (de·reḵ)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

we will not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

turn
נִטֶּה֙ (niṭ·ṭeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5186: To stretch out, spread out, extend, incline, bend

to the right
יָמִ֣ין (yā·mîn)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south

or to the left
וּשְׂמֹ֔אול (ū·śə·mō·wl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8040: Dark, the north, the left hand

until
עַ֥ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

we have passed through
נַעֲבֹ֖ר (na·‘ă·ḇōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

your territory.”
גְּבוּלֶֽךָ׃ (gə·ḇū·le·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed


Links
Numbers 20:17 NIV
Numbers 20:17 NLT
Numbers 20:17 ESV
Numbers 20:17 NASB
Numbers 20:17 KJV

Numbers 20:17 BibleApps.com
Numbers 20:17 Biblia Paralela
Numbers 20:17 Chinese Bible
Numbers 20:17 French Bible
Numbers 20:17 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Numbers 20:17 Please let us pass through your land: (Nu Num.)
Numbers 20:16
Top of Page
Top of Page