Numbers 15:34

34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.

Numbers 15:34 in Other Translations

34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

34 They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him.

34 They held him in custody because they did not know what to do with him.

34 They put him in custody until it became clear what to do with him.

34 And they put him in ward, because it had not been declared what should be done to him.

34 They kept him in custody until they decided what to do with him.

34 They placed him in custody, because it had not been decided what should be done to him.

34 They kept him under guard. It wasn't clear what should be done to him.

Numbers 15:34 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 15:34

And they put him in ward
In a certain prison in the camp; perhaps the same in which the blasphemer was put, ( Leviticus 24:12 ) ; and for much the same reason:

because it was not declared what should be done to him:
that is, what kind of death he should die, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra; it had been before declared that the sabbath breaker should die, but not what death he should die, ( Exodus 31:15 ) ( 35:2 ) ; though some think it was a matter of doubt whether gathering of sticks was a breach of the sabbath, or at least such a breach of it as required death; and the answer of the Lord seems to confirm this sense, as follows.

Numbers 15:34 In-Context

32 While the Israelites were in the wilderness, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.

33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly,

34 and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.

35 Then the LORD said to Moses, “The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.”

36 So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 9:8