Verse
Numbers 14:18 — The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and…
“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.”
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Read it in context
The verses around Numbers 14:18.
16Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.
17And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,
18The 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.
19Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
20And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word:
Verse explanation
Moses quotes back to God an already-known description of the divine character: patient, merciful, forgiving, yet not simply overlooking guilt. The line about the third and fourth generation reflects the ancient idea that the consequences of wrong choices could affect a family for generations, not that children were punished for their parents’ sins.
From the Numbers 14 study in Bible in Stories.
Numbers 14:18 in other versions
The same verse in the 4 Bible versions we have on the site.
- KJV · King James
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.
Read the chapter in this version → - ARC · Almeida 1911Português
O Senhor é longanimo, e grande em beneficencia, que perdôa a iniquidade e a transgressão, que o culpado não tem por innocente, e visita a iniquidade dos paes sobre os filhos até á terceira e quarta geração.
Read the chapter in this version → - BLIVRE · Bíblia LivrePortuguês
O SENHOR, tardio de ira e grande em misericórdia, que perdoa a iniquidade e a rebelião, e deixa impune o culpado; que visita a maldade dos pais sobre os filhos até a terceira geração e até a quarta.
Read the chapter in this version → - VBL · Versión Biblia LibreEspañol
El Señor es lento para enojarse y está lleno de amor confiable, perdonando el pecado y la rebelión. Sin embargo, no permitirá que los culpables queden impunes, trayendo las consecuencias del pecado de los padres a sus hijos, nietos y bisnietos.
Read the chapter in this version →
In other languages: Português (Números 14:18) · Español (Números 14:18)
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