Mariam and Aaron Rebuked
Numbers 12
Mariam and Aaron speak against Moses over his Ethiopian wife and question whether the Lord speaks only through him, and the Lord defends Moses as uniquely faithful and speaks to him face to face. Mariam is struck with leprosy, Moses prays for her healing, and she is shut outside the camp seven days before the people move on.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonAND while they were at Aseroth, Mariam and Aaron spoke against Moses, because of the Ethiopian woman whom Moses had taken; because he had taken to wife an Ethiopian woman,
BrentonAnd Mariam and Aaron spoke against Moses, because of the Ethiopian woman whom Moses took; for he had taken an Ethiopian woman.
GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησε Μαριὰμ καὶ Ἀαρὼν κατὰ Μωυσῆ, ἕνεκεν τῆς γυναικὸς τῆς Αἰθιοπίσσης ἣν ἔλαβε Μωυσῆς, ὅτι γυναῖκα Αἰθιόπισσαν ἔλαβε,
KJVAnd Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
JPSAnd Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman.
2
Thomsontherefore they said, Hath the Lord spoken to Moses only? Hath he not spoken to us also?
BrentonAnd they said, Has the Lord spoken to Moses only? has he not also spoken to us? and the Lord heard it.
Greekκαὶ εἶπαν, μὴ Μωυσῇ μόνῳ λελάληκε Κύριος; οὐχὶ καὶ ἡμῖν ἐλάλησε; καὶ ἤκουσε Κύριος.
KJVAnd they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
JPSAnd they said: ‘Hath the LORD indeed spoken only with Moses? hath He not spoken also with us?’ And the LORD heard it.—
3
ThomsonNow the man Moses was very meek, above all the men on the earth; and when the Lord heard,
BrentonAnd the man Moses was very meek beyond all the men that were upon the earth.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ ἄνθρωπος Μωυσῆς πραῢς σφόδρα παρὰ πάντας τοὺς ἀνθρώπους τοὺς ὄντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
KJV(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
JPSNow the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.—
4
Thomsonthe Lord immediately said to Moses and Aaron and Mariam: Come forth you three to the tabernacle of the testimony. And when they three came out to the tabernacle of the testimony,
BrentonAnd the Lord said immediately to Moses and Aaron and Mariam, Come forth all three of you to the tabernacle of witness.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος παραχρῆμα πρὸς Μωυσῆν καὶ Ἀαρὼν καὶ Μαριὰμ, ἐξέλθετε ὑμεῖς οἱ τρεῖς εἰς τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου.
KJVAnd the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
JPSAnd the LORD spoke suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam: ‘Come out ye three unto the tent of meeting.’ And they three came out.
5
Thomsonthe Lord descended in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, and Aaron and Mariam were called.
BrentonAnd the three came forth to the tabernacle of witness; and the Lord descended in a pillar of a cloud, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of witness; and Aaron and Mariam were called; and both came forth.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξῆλθον οἱ τρεῖν εἰν τὴν σκηνὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου· καὶ κατέβη Κύριος ἐν στύλῳ νεφέλης, καὶ ἔστη ἐπὶ τῆς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου· καὶ ἐκλήθησαν Ἀαρὼν καὶ Μαριάμ· καὶ ἐξήλθοσαν ἀμφότεροι.
KJVAnd the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
JPSAnd the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forth.
6
ThomsonAnd when they both came out He said to them, Hear My words. If there be a prophet among you to the Lord, I will make Myself known to him by a vision, and speak to him in sleep.
BrentonAnd he said to them, Hear my words: If there should be of you a prophet to the Lord, I will be made known to him in a vision, and in sleep will I speak to him.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτοὺς, ἀκούσατε τῶν λόγων μου· ἐὰν γένηται προφήτης ὑμῶν Κυρίῳ, ἐν ὁράματι αὐτῷ γυωσθήσομαι, καὶ ἐν ὕπνῳ λαλήσω αὐτῷ.
KJVAnd he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
JPSAnd He said: ‘Hear now My words: if there be a prophet among you, I the LORD do make Myself known unto him in a vision, I do speak with him in a dream.
7
ThomsonNot so with respect to My servant Moses. In all My house, he is faithful.
BrentonMy servant Moses is not so; he is faithful in all my house.
GreekΟὐχ οὕτως ὁ θεράπων μου Μωυσῆς, ἐν ὅλῳ τῷ οἴκῳ μου πιστός ἐστι·
KJVMy servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
JPSMy servant Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My house;
8
ThomsonMouth to mouth, I will speak to him personally, and not in dark sentences. He hath actually seen the glory of God. Why then were ye not afraid to speak against My servant Moses.
BrentonI will speak to him mouth to mouth apparently, and not in dark speeches; and he has seen the glory of the Lord; and why were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
GreekΣτόμα κατὰ στόμα λαλήσω αὐτῶ, ἐν εἴδει, καὶ οὐ διʼ αἰνιγμάτων, καὶ τὴν δόξαν Κυρίου εἶδε· καὶ διατί οὐκ ἐφοβήθητε καταλαλῆσαι κατὰ τοῦ θεράποντός μου Μωυσῆ;
KJVWith him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
JPSwith him do I speak mouth to mouth, even manifestly, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD doth he behold; wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?’
9
ThomsonAnd the wrath of the Lord was upon them,
BrentonAnd the great anger of the Lord was upon them, and he departed.
GreekΚαὶ ὀργὴ θυμοῦ Κυρίου ἐπʼ αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἀπῆλθε.
KJVAnd the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
JPSAnd the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and He departed.
10
Thomsonand the cloud withdrew from the tabernacle, and behold Mariam was leprous like snow. When Aaron looked on Mariam, and beheld she was leprous,
BrentonAnd the cloud departed from the tabernacle; and, behold, Mariam was leprous, white as snow; and Aaron looked upon Mariam, and, behold, she was leprous.
GreekΚαὶ ἡ νεφέλη ἀπέστη ἀπὸ τῆς σκηνῆς· καὶ ἰδοὺ Μαριὰμ λεπρῶσα ὡσεὶ χιών· καὶ ἐπέβλεψεν Ἀαρὼν ἐπὶ Μαριὰμ, καὶ ἰδοὺ λεπρῶσα.
KJVAnd the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
JPSAnd when the cloud was removed from over the Tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, as white as snow; and Aaron looked upon Miriam; and, behold, she was leprous.
11
Thomsonhe said to Moses, O my lord, impute not sin to us, because we have acted ignorantly—because we have sinned,
BrentonAnd Aaron said to Moses, I beseech thee, my lord, do not lay sin upon us, for we were ignorant wherein we sinned.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἀαρὼν πρὸς Μωυσῆν, δέομαι κύριε, μὴ συνεπιθῇ ἡμῖν ἁμαρτίαν, διότι ἠγνοήσαμεν καθʼ ὅτι ἡμάρτομεν·
KJVAnd Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
JPSAnd Aaron said unto Moses: ‘Oh my lord, lay not, I pray thee, sin upon us, for that we have done foolishly, and for that we have sinned.
12
ThomsonLet her not be as dead, as an abortive, for it devoureth the half of her flesh.
BrentonLet her not be as it were like death, as an abortion coming out of his mother's womb, when the disease devours the half of the flesh.
GreekΜὴ γένηται ὡσεὶ ἶσον θανάτῳ, ὡσεὶ ἔκτρωμα ἐκπορευόμενον ἐκ μήτρας μητρὸς, καὶ κατεσθίει τὸ ἥμισυ τῶν σαρκῶν αὐτῆς.
KJVLet her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.
JPSLet her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.’
13
ThomsonWhereupon Moses cried to the Lord, saying, O God, I beseech Thee, heal her.
BrentonAnd Moses cried to the Lord, saying, O God, I beseech thee, heal her.
GreekΚαὶ ἐβόησε Μωυσῆς πρὸς Κύριον, λέγων, ὁ Θεὸς δέομαί σου, ἴασαι αὐτήν.
KJVAnd Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
JPSAnd Moses cried unto the LORD, saying: ‘Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee.’
14
ThomsonAnd the Lord said to Moses, If her father had spit in her face, would she not be ashamed seven days? Let her be set apart seven days, without the camp, and after that let her come in.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to Moses, If her father had only spit in her face, would she not be ashamed seven days? let her be set apart seven days without the camp, and afterwards she shall come in.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν, εἰ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῆς πτύων ἐνέπτυσεν εἰς τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐντραπήσεται ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας; ἀφορισθήτω ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα εἰσελεύσεται.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd the LORD said unto Moses: ‘If her father had but spit in her face, should she not hide in shame seven days? let her be shut up without the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.’
15
ThomsonSo Mariam was set apart without the camp, seven days, and the people did not remove till Mariam was cleansed.
BrentonAnd Mariam was separated without the camp seven days; and the people moved not forward till Mariam was cleansed.
GreekΚαὶ ἀφωρίσθη Μαριὰμ ἔξω τῆς παρεμβολῆς ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας· καὶ ὁ λαὸς οὐκ ἐξῇρεν, ἕως ἐκαθαρίσθη Μαριάμ.
KJVAnd Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
JPSAnd Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days; and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
16
ThomsonAnd after this the people removed from Aseroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Pharan.
BrentonAnd afterwards the people set forth from Aseroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Pharan.
GreekΚαὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξῇρεν ὁ λαὸς ἐξ Ἀσηρὼθ, καὶ παρενέβαλον ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τοῦ Φαράν.
KJVAnd afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.
JPSAnd afterward the people journeyed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.