Numbers 21:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

From Bamoth, is a valley in the country of Moab, to the top of Phasga, which looked towards the desert.
Douay-Rheims

וּמִבָּמ֗וֹת הַגַּיְא֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה מוֹאָ֔ב רֹ֖אשׁ הַפִּסְגָּ֑ה וְנִשְׁקָ֖פָה עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַיְשִׁימֹֽן׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Ephraem the Syrian

4th centuryChurch Father

The summit of the mountain symbolizes the essence of God; Vamoth signifies the Thrones; Naadiel represents the Angels; Manphanael embodies the prophets; the desert illustrates the manifestation of the Apostles and the gathering of the nations.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

Num 23:28And when he had brought him upon the top of mount Phogor, which looketh towards the wilderness,
Num 23:14And when he had brought him to a high place, upon the top of mount Phasga, Balaam built seven altars, and laying on every one a calf and a ram,
Num 26:63This is the number of the children of Israel, that were enrolled by Moses and Eleazar the priest, in the plains of Moab upon the Jordan, over against Jericho.
Deut 1:5Beyond the Jordan in the land of Moab. And Moses began to expound the law, and to say:
Deut 34:1Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab upon mount Nebo, to the top of Phasga over against Jericho: and the Lord shewed him all the land of Galaad as far as Dan.
Deut 4:49All the plain beyond the Jordan at the east side, unto the sea of the wilderness, and unto the foot of mount Phasga.
Num 33:49And there they camped from Bethsimoth even to Ablesatim in the plains of the Moabites,
Num 33:50Where the Lord said to Moses: