Numbers 14:18
Numbers 14:18 in Multiple Translations
‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’
The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
Jehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.
The Lord is slow to wrath and great in mercy, overlooking wrongdoing and evil, and will not let wrongdoers go free; sending punishment on children for the sins of their fathers, to the third and fourth generation.
The Lord is slow to become angry and is full of trustworthy love, forgiving sin and rebellion. However, he will not allow the guilty to go unpunished, bringing the consequences of the parents' sin on their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The Lord is slowe to anger, and of great mercie, and forgiuing iniquitie, and sinne, but not making the wicked innocent, and visiting the wickednes of the fathers vpon the children, in the thirde and fourth generation:
Jehovah [is] slow to anger, and of great kindness; bearing away iniquity and transgression, and not entirely acquitting, charging iniquity of fathers on sons, on a third [generation], and on a fourth; —
‘The LORD is slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, forgiving iniquity and disobedience; and he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation.’
The LORD is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty , visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation .
The Lord is patient and full of mercy, taking away iniquity and wickedness, and leaving no man clear, who visitest the sins of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
‘I do not quickly become angry; instead, I love people very much, and I forgive people for having sinned and having disobeyed my laws. But I will always punish [LIT] people who are guilty of doing what is wrong. When parents sin, I will punish them, but I will also punish their children and their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren and their great-great-grandchildren.’
Berean Amplified Bible — Numbers 14:18
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Numbers 14:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Numbers 14:18
Study Notes — Numbers 14:18
- Context
- Cross References
- Numbers 14:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Numbers 14:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 14:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
- Cambridge Bible on Numbers 14:18
- Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
- Sermons on Numbers 14:18
Context — Moses Intercedes for Israel
18‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’
19Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people, in keeping with the greatness of Your loving devotion, just as You have forgiven them ever since they left Egypt.” 20“I have pardoned them as you requested,” the LORD replied.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 34:6–7 | Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” |
| 2 | Psalms 145:8 | The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion. |
| 3 | Exodus 20:5 | You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, |
| 4 | Jonah 4:2 | So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster. |
| 5 | Nahum 1:2–3 | The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and reserves wrath for His enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. |
| 6 | Psalms 103:8 | The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. |
| 7 | Micah 7:18 | Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? |
| 8 | Deuteronomy 5:9 | You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, |
| 9 | Romans 3:24–26 | and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and to justify the one who has faith in Jesus. |
| 10 | Jeremiah 23:2 | Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who tend My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your deeds, declares the LORD. |
Numbers 14:18 Summary
[This verse tells us that God is patient and doesn't get angry quickly, which gives us time to turn to Him and ask for forgiveness, as we see in Psalm 103:8-12. He loves us and wants to forgive us, but He also can't just ignore sin and its consequences. God's love and justice are connected, and He wants us to understand that our actions have consequences, not just for us, but for those around us and for future generations, as seen in Exodus 34:6-7.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that the Lord is 'slow to anger'?
This phrase, found in Numbers 14:18, Exodus 34:6, and other passages, means that God is patient and doesn't quickly become angry, giving people time to repent and turn to Him, as seen in Jonah 3:10 and 4:2.
Does the Lord really punish children for their parents' sins?
According to Numbers 14:18, the Lord visits the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation, but this doesn't mean children are directly punished for their parents' sins; rather, the consequences of sin can affect future generations, as seen in Exodus 34:7 and Deuteronomy 5:9-10.
How can a loving God also be a God of justice who punishes the guilty?
The Bible teaches that God's love and justice are not mutually exclusive; in fact, His love demands justice, as seen in Psalm 89:14 and Romans 3:26, where God's righteousness and justice are closely tied to His love and mercy.
What does 'abounding in loving devotion' mean in this verse?
This phrase, found in Numbers 14:18, describes God's abundant and faithful love, which is also seen in Psalm 103:8 and 1 John 4:8, emphasizing God's character as a loving and merciful Father.
Reflection Questions
- How does the Lord's patience and slowness to anger encourage me to turn to Him in repentance?
- In what ways can I see the consequences of sin affecting future generations, and how can I break those cycles in my own life?
- How can I balance the idea of a loving God with the reality of His justice and punishment for sin?
- What are some ways I can experience and reflect God's 'loving devotion' in my daily life, and how can I share that with others?
Gill's Exposition on Numbers 14:18
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Numbers 14:18
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
Trapp's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
Ellicott's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
Cambridge Bible on Numbers 14:18
Whedon's Commentary on Numbers 14:18
Sermons on Numbers 14:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Ark of the Covenant by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the significance of the Ark of the Covenant as described in the book of Deuteronomy. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the presenc |
|
Powerful Sermon Compilation - the Trumpet Solo by James A. Stewart | This sermon emphasizes the consequences of sin and the need for repentance, highlighting the judgment that follows sin and the importance of churches and congregations repenting. I |
|
God's Greatest Enemy by Greg Locke | In this sermon, the preacher starts by quoting Romans 1:16, emphasizing that he is not ashamed of the gospel. He explains that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to every |
|
Of the Long-Suffering of God. by John Gill | John Gill emphasizes the longsuffering of God as a profound expression of His mercy and patience, illustrating how this attribute encourages faith and hope among believers. He expl |
|
God's Order in Wilderness Disorders by H.J. Vine | H.J. Vine preaches on the Book of Numbers, highlighting the journey of the redeemed towards heaven and the divine order and grace of God in the midst of murmurings and disorders. T |
|
The Root Cause of Americas Moral Collapse by John Franklin | John Franklin emphasizes the importance of fearing God in a society plagued by immorality and a lack of accountability. He highlights how the fear of God serves as a deterrent to s |
|
A Worm's Eye View of Missions by Warren Wiersbe | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the lessons Jonah learned about God in the first three chapters of the book of Jonah. In chapter one, Jonah learns about God's providence and |







