Numbers 20:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The people demand to know why they were brought from Egypt to this barren land with no water.
The Context of Numbers 20:5
The people list the barrenness of the land and regret the exodus.
What Does Numbers 20:5 Mean?
The complaint escalates to question the very exodus from Egypt. The people list the specific lacks of this place—no grain fields, no fruit trees, no water—using concrete evidence to support their accusation. They call the wilderness an 'evil place,' not merely uncomfortable but fundamentally hostile to life.
Their words frame the exodus itself as a mistake, suggesting they would have preferred slavery in Egypt to freedom in a barren land. This represents a profound spiritual crisis, not merely a physical one: they question the value of liberation when it appears to lead only to death.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 20:5
What does Numbers 20:5 mean?
The people demand to know why they were brought from Egypt to this barren land with no water.
What is the context of Numbers 20:5?
The people list the barrenness of the land and regret the exodus.