Numbers 11:33

33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.

Numbers 11:33 in Other Translations

33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.

33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck down the people with a very great plague.

33 But while they were gorging themselves on the meat—while it was still in their mouths—the anger of the LORD blazed against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.

33 But while they were still chewing the quail and had hardly swallowed the first bites, God's anger blazed out against the people. He hit them with a terrible plague.

33 While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the people, and Jehovah smote the people with a very great plague.

33 While the meat was still in their mouths--before they had even had a chance to chew it--the LORD became angry with the people and struck them with a severe plague.

33 While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the Lord's anger burned against the people, and the Lord struck them with a very severe plague.

33 But while the meat was still in their mouths, the LORD acted. Before the people could swallow it, his anger burned against them. He struck them with a terrible plague.

Numbers 11:33 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 11:33

And while the flesh [was] yet between their teeth
When they had just got it into their mouths, and were about to bite it: ere it was chewed;
or "cut off"; or cut into pieces by the "incisores", or fore teeth, and then ground by the "molares", or grinders, and so became fit to be swallowed. Both quails and locusts were eaten as food; the former is a fat and delicious fowl, and the latter, some sorts of them, at least, were allowed clean food for the Jews, and were fed on by many people: the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people;
for their lusting after flesh, and despising the manna: and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague;
the pestilence, as Aben Ezra; or with fire, as Bochart ^F5, who gives the following reasons why the people were so severely punished now, and not before, when they murmured on a like account; because their sin's were greater, and more aggravated, they falling again into the same sin which had been forgiven them; and besides, they were before pressed with famine, now they had a plenty of manna every day; and also were better instructed, having received the law, which was not yet given when they were just come out of Egypt. Sulpitius ^F6 the historian says, 23,000 perished at this time.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Ut supra, (Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 1. c. 15.) col. 109.

Numbers 11:33 In-Context

31 Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction.

32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp.

33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague.

34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food.

35 From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth and stayed there.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 78:30
• 2. Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 9:7; Judges 2:12; 2 Kings 22:17; Psalms 106:29; Jeremiah 44:3; Ezekiel 8:17
• 3. S ver 18-20; Psalms 106:15; Isaiah 10:16