Numbers 20:18
New International Version
But Edom answered: “You may not pass through here; if you try, we will march out and attack you with the sword.”

New Living Translation
But the king of Edom said, “Stay out of my land, or I will meet you with an army!”

English Standard Version
But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.”

Berean Standard Bible
But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

King James Bible
And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

New King James Version
Then Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my land, lest I come out against you with the sword.”

New American Standard Bible
Edom, however, said to him, “You shall not pass through us, or I will come out with the sword against you.”

NASB 1995
Edom, however, said to him, “You shall not pass through us, or I will come out with the sword against you.”

NASB 1977
Edom, however, said to him, “You shall not pass through us, lest I come out with the sword against you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Edom, however, said to him, “You shall not pass through us, lest I come out to meet you with the sword.”

Amplified Bible
But [the king of] Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through my territory, or I will come out against you with the sword.”

Christian Standard Bible
But Edom answered him, “You will not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Edom answered him, “You must not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword."”

American Standard Version
And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.

Contemporary English Version
But the king of Edom answered, "No, I won't let you go through our country! And if you try, we will attack you."

English Revised Version
And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the Edomites answered, "You may not pass through our country. If you try, we'll come out and attack you."

Good News Translation
But the Edomites answered, "We refuse to let you pass through our country! If you try, we will march out and attack you."

International Standard Version
But Edom replied, "You are not to pass through my land. If you do, I'll come out and start a war with you."

Majority Standard Bible
But Edom answered, “You may not travel through our land, or we will come out and confront you with the sword.”

NET Bible
But Edom said to him, "You will not pass through me, or I will come out against you with the sword."

New Heart English Bible
Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Edom said to him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.

World English Bible
Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Edom says to him, “You do not pass over through me, lest I come out to meet you with the sword.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Edom saith unto him, 'Thou dost not pass over through me, lest with sword I come out to meet thee.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Edom will say to him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest with the sword I shall come out to thy meeting.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Edom answered them: Thou shalt not pass by me: if thou dost I will come out armed against thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Edom responded to them: “You shall not cross through me, otherwise, I will meet you armed.”

New American Bible
But Edom answered him, “You shall not pass through here; if you do, I will advance against you with the sword.”

New Revised Standard Version
But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, or we will come out with the sword against you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But Edom said to him, You shall not pass through my border, lest I come out against you with the sword.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Adum said to him: “You shall not pass through my border lest I come out to meet you with a sword.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Edom said unto him: 'Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Edom said to him, Thou shalt not pass through me, and if otherwise, I will go forth to meet thee in war.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Edom Refuses Passage
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.” 19“We will stay on the main road,” the Israelites replied, “and if we or our herds drink your water, we will pay for it. There will be no problem; only let us pass through on foot.”…

Cross References
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.

Amos 1:11
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and stifled all compassion; his anger raged continually, and his fury flamed incessantly.

Obadiah 1:10-14
Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and cut off forever. / On the day you stood aloof while strangers carried off his wealth and foreigners entered his gate and cast lots for Jerusalem, you were just like one of them. / But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their distress. ...

Psalm 137:7
Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”

Ezekiel 25:12-14
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt, / therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. / I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

Malachi 1:2-4
“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you ask, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet Jacob I have loved, / but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.” / Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever.

Isaiah 34:5-6
When My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, then it will come down upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. / The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat—with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Jeremiah 49:7-22
Concerning Edom, this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed? / Turn and run! Lie low, O dwellers of Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau at the time I punish him. / If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? Were thieves to come in the night, would they not steal only what they wanted? ...

Lamentations 4:21-22
So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself. / O Daughter of Zion, your punishment is complete; He will not prolong your exile. But He will punish your iniquity, O Daughter of Edom; He will expose your sins.

Matthew 7:12
In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.

Luke 9:52-56
He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. / But the people there refused to welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem. / When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” ...

Romans 12:18-21
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. / Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” / On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ...

Galatians 5:14-15
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” / But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.


Treasury of Scripture

And Edom said to him, You shall not pass by me, lest I come out against you with the sword.

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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














But Edom answered
The nation of Edom, descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, represents a historical and familial tension between the Israelites and Edomites. The Hebrew root for Edom is "אֱדוֹם" (Edom), meaning "red," which is linked to Esau's red appearance at birth and his red stew. This response from Edom is significant as it highlights the longstanding animosity and lack of cooperation between the two nations, despite their shared ancestry. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of unresolved familial conflicts and the importance of reconciliation.

You may not pass through here
This phrase underscores the refusal of Edom to allow the Israelites passage through their land. In the ancient Near Eastern context, such a denial was not merely a logistical inconvenience but a significant diplomatic affront. The Israelites' request was based on kinship and the expectation of hospitality, a deeply ingrained cultural value. Edom's refusal reflects a hardened heart and a missed opportunity for peace and alliance, illustrating the broader theme of human resistance to God's plans and the challenges faced by God's people.

if you try
The conditional nature of this phrase indicates a warning and a potential for conflict. It suggests that Edom is prepared to defend its territory aggressively. This reflects the broader biblical theme of free will and the choices that nations and individuals make, which can either align with or oppose God's purposes. The Israelites are faced with a decision that tests their faith and reliance on God's guidance.

we will march out
The phrase implies a mobilization for war, indicating Edom's readiness to protect its borders. In the ancient world, such a movement would involve gathering troops and preparing for battle, a significant undertaking that demonstrates Edom's determination. This readiness to confront Israel highlights the seriousness of the threat and the potential for violence, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need for divine intervention.

and confront you with the sword
The sword symbolizes conflict, judgment, and the potential for bloodshed. In biblical terms, the sword often represents divine judgment or human warfare. Edom's threat to use the sword against Israel is a stark reminder of the hostility that God's people often face in a fallen world. It also serves as a call to trust in God's protection and provision, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The Israelites are reminded that their journey to the Promised Land will not be without trials, but God's promises remain steadfast.

Verse 18. - And Edom said... Thou shalt not pass by me. This was the first of a series of hostile acts, prompted by vindictive jealousy, which brought down the wrath of God upon Edom (compare the prophecy of Obadiah). See, however, on Deuteronomy 2:29.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Edom
אֱד֔וֹם (’ĕ·ḏō·wm)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 123: The name of a condiment

answered,
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“You may not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

travel
תַעֲבֹ֖ר (ṯa·‘ă·ḇōr)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

through our land,
פֶּן־ (pen-)
Conjunction
Strong's 6435: Removal, lest

or we will come out
אֵצֵ֥א (’ê·ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

and confront
לִקְרָאתֶֽךָ׃ (liq·rā·ṯe·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7125: Against he come, help, meet, seek, to, in the way

you with the sword.”
בַּחֶ֖רֶב (ba·ḥe·reḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword


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OT Law: Numbers 20:18 Edom said to him You shall not (Nu Num.)
Numbers 20:17
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