Lectionary Calendar
Monday, August 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Hebrews 3:17
This verse is not available in the MSG!
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Christian Standard Bible®
With whom was God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
With whom was God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
King James Version (1611)
But with whom was he grieued fourty yeeres? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wildernesse?
But with whom was he grieued fourty yeeres? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wildernesse?
King James Version
But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
English Standard Version
And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
New American Standard Bible
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?
New Century Version
And with whom was God angry for forty years? He was angry with those who sinned, who died in the desert.
And with whom was God angry for forty years? He was angry with those who sinned, who died in the desert.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Legacy Standard Bible
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
Berean Standard Bible
And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Contemporary English Version
Who were the people that made God angry for forty years? Weren't they the ones that sinned and died in the desert?
Who were the people that made God angry for forty years? Weren't they the ones that sinned and died in the desert?
Complete Jewish Bible
And with whom was God disgusted for forty years ? Those who sinned — yes, they fell dead in the Wilderness !
And with whom was God disgusted for forty years ? Those who sinned — yes, they fell dead in the Wilderness !
Darby Translation
And with whom was he wroth forty years? [Was it] not with those who had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was he wroth forty years? [Was it] not with those who had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
Easy-to-Read Version
And who was God angry with for 40 years? He was angry with those who sinned. And their dead bodies were left in the desert.
And who was God angry with for 40 years? He was angry with those who sinned. And their dead bodies were left in the desert.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But with whome was he displeased fourtie yeeres? Was hee not displeased with them that sinned, whose carkeises fell in the wildernes?
But with whome was he displeased fourtie yeeres? Was hee not displeased with them that sinned, whose carkeises fell in the wildernes?
George Lamsa Translation
But with whom was he displeased for forty years? Was it not especially with those who had sinned and whose bones lay in the wilderness?
But with whom was he displeased for forty years? Was it not especially with those who had sinned and whose bones lay in the wilderness?
Good News Translation
With whom was God angry for forty years? With the people who sinned, who fell down dead in the desert.
With whom was God angry for forty years? With the people who sinned, who fell down dead in the desert.
Lexham English Bible
And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?
Literal Translation
But with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with the ones sinning, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
But with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with the ones sinning, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
Amplified Bible
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies were scattered in the desert?
And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose dead bodies were scattered in the desert?
American Standard Version
And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Bible in Basic English
And with whom was he angry for forty years? was it not with those who did evil, who came to their deaths in the waste land?
And with whom was he angry for forty years? was it not with those who did evil, who came to their deaths in the waste land?
Hebrew Names Version
With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
International Standard Version
And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned and whose bodies fell in the wilderness?Numbers 14:22,29; 26:65; Psalm 106:26; 1 Corinthians 10:5; Jude 1:5;">[xr]
And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned and whose bodies fell in the wilderness?Numbers 14:22,29; 26:65; Psalm 106:26; 1 Corinthians 10:5; Jude 1:5;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And with whom was he wearied forty years, but with them who sinned, and whose bones fell in the desert?
And with whom was he wearied forty years, but with them who sinned, and whose bones fell in the desert?
Murdock Translation
And with whom was he disgusted forty years, but with those who sinned, and whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was he disgusted forty years, but with those who sinned, and whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But with whom was he displeased fourtie yeres? Not with them that had sinned, whose carkases fell in the desert?
But with whom was he displeased fourtie yeres? Not with them that had sinned, whose carkases fell in the desert?
English Revised Version
And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
World English Bible
With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Were they not all that came out of Egypt by Moses? And with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them who had sinned?
Were they not all that came out of Egypt by Moses? And with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them who had sinned?
Weymouth's New Testament
And with whom was God so greatly grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, and whose dead bodies fell in the Desert?
And with whom was God so greatly grieved for forty years? Was it not with those who had sinned, and whose dead bodies fell in the Desert?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But to whiche was he wraththid fourti yeeris? Whether not to hem that synneden, whos careyns weren cast doun in desert?
But to whiche was he wraththid fourti yeeris? Whether not to hem that synneden, whos careyns weren cast doun in desert?
Update Bible Version
And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with those that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with those that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Webster's Bible Translation
But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
But with whom was he grieved forty years? [was it] not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
New English Translation
And against whom was God provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?
And against whom was God provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?
New King James Version
Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
New Living Translation
And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness?
And who made God angry for forty years? Wasn't it the people who sinned, whose corpses lay in the wilderness?
New Life Bible
Who made God angry for forty years? Was it not those people who had sinned in the desert? Was it not those who died and were buried there?
Who made God angry for forty years? Was it not those people who had sinned in the desert? Was it not those who died and were buried there?
New Revised Standard
But with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
But with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, with whom, was be sore vexed forty years? Was it not with them who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the desert?
But, with whom, was be sore vexed forty years? Was it not with them who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the desert?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And with whom was he offended forty years? Was it not with them that sinned, whose carcasses were overthrown in the desert?
And with whom was he offended forty years? Was it not with them that sinned, whose carcasses were overthrown in the desert?
Revised Standard Version
And with whom was he provoked forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
And with whom was he provoked forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But with who was he despleased .xl. yeares? Was he not displeased with them that synned: whose carkases were overthorwen in the desert?
But with who was he despleased .xl. yeares? Was he not displeased with them that synned: whose carkases were overthorwen in the desert?
Young's Literal Translation
but with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with those who did sin, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
but with whom was He grieved forty years? was it not with those who did sin, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But with whom was he displeased fortye yeares longe? Was he not displeased with them yt synned, whose carcases were ouerthrowne in ye wyldernesse?
But with whom was he displeased fortye yeares longe? Was he not displeased with them yt synned, whose carcases were ouerthrowne in ye wyldernesse?
Mace New Testament (1729)
but with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with those that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the desert?
but with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with those that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the desert?
Simplified Cowboy Version
And wasn't it them who made God mad those forty years in the wilderness? It was these sinners whose bodies still lay in the desert.
And wasn't it them who made God mad those forty years in the wilderness? It was these sinners whose bodies still lay in the desert.
Contextual Overview
7The Centerpiece of All We Believe So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house! That's why the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising," that time of wilderness testing! Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked, oh, so provoked! I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road." Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul. These words keep ringing in our ears: Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising. For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed. 8The Centerpiece of All We Believe So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house! That's why the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising," that time of wilderness testing! Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked, oh, so provoked! I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road." Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul. These words keep ringing in our ears: Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising. For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed. 9The Centerpiece of All We Believe So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house! That's why the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising," that time of wilderness testing! Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked, oh, so provoked! I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road." Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul. These words keep ringing in our ears: Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising. For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed. 10The Centerpiece of All We Believe So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house! That's why the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising," that time of wilderness testing! Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked, oh, so provoked! I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road." Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul. These words keep ringing in our ears: Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising. For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed. 11The Centerpiece of All We Believe So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house! That's why the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising," that time of wilderness testing! Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked, oh, so provoked! I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road." Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." 12So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul. These words keep ringing in our ears: Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising. 15For who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? They never got there because they never listened, never believed.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
with him, Hebrews 3:10
was it: Numbers 26:64, Numbers 26:65, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
whose: Numbers 14:22, Numbers 14:29, Numbers 14:32, Numbers 14:33, Deuteronomy 2:15, Deuteronomy 2:16, Jeremiah 9:22, Jude 1:5
Reciprocal: Genesis 6:6 - grieved Numbers 14:23 - Surely they shall not see Numbers 14:28 - As truly Numbers 14:37 - died Joshua 5:4 - All the Joshua 24:7 - ye dwelt 2 Kings 7:2 - thou shalt see it Psalms 90:7 - For we Psalms 95:10 - Forty Mark 3:5 - grieved John 6:49 - and are 1 Corinthians 10:5 - General Ephesians 4:30 - grieve Hebrews 12:25 - if they
Cross-References
Genesis 3:2
The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"
The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"
Genesis 3:6
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Genesis 3:7
Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves.
Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves.
Genesis 3:9
God called to the Man: "Where are you?"
God called to the Man: "Where are you?"
Genesis 3:11
God said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?"
God said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?"
Genesis 3:13
"The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."
"The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate."
Genesis 3:14
God told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel."
God told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, Cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel."
Genesis 3:16
He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you."
He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you."
Genesis 3:17
He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree That I commanded you not to eat from, ‘Don't eat from this tree,' The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt."
He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree That I commanded you not to eat from, ‘Don't eat from this tree,' The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt."
Genesis 3:20
The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.
The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
But with whom was he grieved forty years?.... As is said in Psalms 95:10,
Psalms 95:10- :,
was it not with them that had sinned; not merely by committing personal iniquities, and particular provocations, which all men are guilty of, but by committing public sins; they sinned as a body of men; they joined together in the commission of sin; every sin is grieving to God, because it is contrary to his nature, is an act of enmity to him, is a transgression of his righteous law, and a contempt of his authority; but especially public sins, or the sins of a multitude, and when they are persisted in, which was the case of the Israelites; they sinned against him during the forty years they were in the wilderness; and so long was he grieved with them: the Alexandrian copy reads, "with them that believed not"; which points out the particular sin these men were guilty of, and which was so grieving to God, and suits well with the apostle's design:
whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? and so never entered into the land of Canaan. They died in the wilderness; and they did not die common and natural deaths, at least not all of them; their deaths were by way of punishment; in a way of wrath; in a judicial way: the Syriac version renders it, "their bones fell in the wilderness"; they lay scattered and unburied, and exposed to view, as an example of divine vengeance, see Numbers 14:29.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
But with whom was he grieved forty years? - With whom was he angry; see the notes at Hebrews 3:10.
Was it not with them that had sinned - That had sinned in various ways - by rebellion, murmuring, unbelief. As God was angry with them for their sins, we have the same reason to apprehend that he will be angry with us if we sin; and we should, therefore, be on our guard against that unbelief which would lead us to depart from him; Hebrews 3:12.
Whose carcasses fell ... - Numbers 14:29. That is, they all died, and were left on the sands of the desert. The whole generation was strewed along in the way to Canaan. All of those who had seen the wonders that God had done “in the land of Ham;” who had been rescued in so remarkable a manner from oppression, were thus cut down, and died in the deserts through which they were passing; Numbers 26:64-65. Such an example of the effects of revolt against God, and of unbelief, was well suited to admonish Christians in the time of the apostle, and is suited to admonish us now, of the danger of the sin of unbelief. We are not to suppose that all of those who thus died were excluded from heaven. Moses and Aaron were among the number of those who were not permitted to enter the promised land, but of their piety there can be no doubt; Beyond all question, also, there were many others of that generation who were truly pious. But at different times they seem all to have partaken of the prevalent feelings of discontent, and were all involved in the sweeping condemnation that they should die in the wilderness.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. But with whom was he grieved forty years? — I believe it was Surenhusius who first observed that "the apostle, in using the term forty years, elegantly alludes to the space of time which had elapsed since the ascension of our Lord till the time in which this epistle was written, which was about forty years." But this does not exactly agree with what appears to be the exact date of this epistle. However, God had now been a long time provoked by that race rejecting the manifested Messiah, as he was by the conduct of their forefathers in the wilderness; and as that provocation was punished by a very signal judgment, so they might expect this to be punished also. The analogy was perfect in the crimes, and it might reasonably be expected to be so in the punishment. And was not the destruction of Jerusalem a proof of the heinous nature of their crimes, and of the justice of God's outpoured wrath?
Whose carcasses fell — ων τα κωλα επεσεν. Whose members fell; for τακωλα properly signifies the members of the body, and here may be an allusion to the scattered, bleached bones of this people, that were a long time apparent in the wilderness, continuing there as a proof of their crimes, and of the judgments of God.
