Numbers 21:33 · Bible study
Numbers 21:33 Commentary: Og of Bashan
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the significance of King Og confronting Israel at Edrei and how this event demonstrates God's ongoing provision and power over formidable enemies.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Israel’s turn toward Bashan leads to a divinely assured victory over a giant king, demonstrating God’s continued provision on the way to Canaan.
- Key words: “Turned” (פָנָה Qal consecutive), “went up” (עָלָה Qal consecutive), “Og” (giant of Rephaim), “Bashan” (fruitful land), “Edrei” (goodly pasture).
- Main debate: Whether God directly led Israel to confront Og, or whether Og initiated the attack; also how to understand Og’s ethnicity (Amorite vs. Rephaim).
- Theological theme: Divine faithfulness in the face of overwhelming opposition; victory as a gift to be received through trust.
- Best use: A reminder that no obstacle is too great when God has already declared the outcome; useful in sermons on courage, inheritance, and the rehearsal of God’s deeds.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet them in battle at Edrei.
WEB World English Bible 2000
They turned and went up by the way of Bashan. Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
KJV King James Version 1769
And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and turn and go up the way of Bashan, and Og king of Bashan cometh out to meet them, he and all his people, to battle, at Edrei.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And they turned and went up by the way to Bashan; and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, for battle to Edrei.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And they turned themselves, and went up by the way of Basan, and Og the king of Basan came against them with all his people, to fight in Edrai.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y volvieron, y subieron camino de Basán, y salió contra ellos Og rey de Basán, él y todo su pueblo, para pelear en Edrei.
E voltaram, e subiram caminho de Basã. E Ogue, rei de Basã, ele e todo o seu povo, saíram contra eles, para lutar em Edrei.
Ils changèrent ensuite de direction, et montèrent par le chemin de Basan. Og, roi de Basan, sortit à leur rencontre, avec tout son peuple, pour les combattre à Édréï.
und wandten sich und zogen hinauf den Weg nach Basan. Da zog aus, ihnen entgegen, Og, der König von Basan, mit allem seinem Volk, zu streiten in Edrei.
Toen wendden zij zich en trokken op den weg van Basan; en Og, de koning van Basan, ging uit hen tegemoet, hij en al zijn volk, tot den strijd, en Edrei.
E, mutata direzione, risalirono il paese in direzione di Bashan; e Og, re di Bashan, uscì contro loro con tutta la sua gente per dar loro battaglia a Edrei.
Potem obróciwszy się szli ku Basan; gdzie wyciągnął Og, król Basański, przeciwko nim, sam i wszystek lud jego, aby z nimi stoczył bitwę w Edrej.
И поворотили и пошли к Васану. И выступил против них Ог, царь Васанский, сам и весь народ его, на сражение к Едреи.
以色列人轉回，向 巴珊 去。巴珊 王 噩 和他的眾 民 都出來，在以得來 與他們交戰。
Then turning they went up by the way of Bashan; and Og, king of Bashan, went out against them with all his people, to the fight at Edrei.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Numbers 21:33
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse records another decisive victory by which God displayed His continued favor to Israel. Calvin notes that the taking of fertile and extensive Bashan “in a moment, as it were” was a clear proof of divine aid, meant to stir the people to greater courage. Barnes observes that the advance into Bashan, whether by God’s express warrant or provoked by Og, resulted in the occupation of Gilead north of the Jabbok, territory that became part of Israel’s inheritance. The Cambridge Bible stresses that the battles with Sihon and Og were the last struggles before the promised land and that their memory was cherished (Psalm 135:10-12; Psalm 136:19-20). Gill highlights Og’s gigantic stature and his many fortified cities, underscoring the magnitude of what God accomplished. The consensus is clear: a seemingly routine military action is actually a landmark of God’s power and faithfulness, turning a fearsome opponent into a monument of deliverance.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse records that after defeating Sihon, Israel turned toward Bashan, that Og the king of Bashan came out with his whole army to fight them at Edrei, and that God gave Israel the victory over this powerful king.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Divine direction vs. human initiative | The hand of God is behind the victory; commentators agree that God’s favor and power are clearly demonstrated. | Barnes notes that the text does not say whether Israel was led by God’s express warrant or whether Og provoked the encounter. Some traditions see the turn to Bashan as providential; others see it as a strategic move that God then blessed. |
| Og’s identity and race | Og was the king of Bashan, a figure of great stature and military power. | Gill and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown label Og an “Amorite” king; others (including Barnes) point out that he was of the Rephaim, a different race. The tension is whether “Amorite” is a broad ethnic term or a specific tribal designation. |
| Theological significance of the battle | The victory is a proof of God’s faithfulness and a cause for praise (see Psalm 135:10-12). | Some emphasize that the battle was Israel’s last struggle before entering Canaan (Cambridge, Calvin); others focus on the occupation of territory as part of the inheritance (Barnes). Different traditions draw different applications regarding the necessity of warfare in the Christian life. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Bashan was a hilly region east of the Jordan, celebrated for its rich pastures, oak forests, and herds of cattle (Deuteronomy 32:14). The name itself means “fruitful,” and it was a prize that had been held by the Amorites. Og was the last of the Rephaim, the ancient giants of the Transjordan; his iron bedstead is later noted in Deuteronomy 3:11 as a curiosity. Edrei (modern Der‘a) lay on a branch of the Jarmuk River, forming the boundary between Gilead and Bashan. The city had once been the seat of the Rephaim (Genesis 14:5) and was now Og’s stronghold.
Israel had just defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites at Heshbon, and was now camped near Jaazer. The account says they “turned and went up” toward Bashan, a shift in direction that some commentators view as a natural movement toward Canaan, while others see providential guidance. The exact reason for Og’s confrontation is not stated; Barnes suggests that Og may have been provoked by Israel’s presence, while Lange argues that the successful establishment of Israelite control over lower Gilead threatened Og’s domain. What is clear is that Og came out with his full army, trusting in his strength and his lineage of giants. God’s immediate word to Moses (v.34), “Don’t fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand”, shows that Yahweh was already at work, turning this challenge into another sign of His presence with His people.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across the Masoretic tradition, and the verse appears in substantially the same form in the parallel passage Deuteronomy 3:1. The main variation among English translations is in the choice of prepositions at Edrei (e.g., “at” vs. “to”), but this does not affect the meaning.
Reception History
The defeat of Og was celebrated in Israel’s worship from an early period. Psalm 135:10-12 and Psalm 136:19-20 pair it with the defeat of Sihon as a reason to give thanks to God who “slew mighty kings.” The event is also referenced in the historical retrospect of Nehemiah 9:22 and in Joshua’s farewell address (Joshua 9:10). Early Christian writers, drawing on the New Testament theme of spiritual warfare, sometimes saw Og as a type of the overwhelming enemy that God subdues for His people. The fertility of Bashan later became shorthand for God’s material blessing (Psalm 22:12; Ezekiel 39:18). Throughout the ages, the story has been used to encourage believers to trust God when facing humanly insurmountable odds.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God directs His people into new challenges. Israel turned and went up, sometimes obedience leads us into territory we did not plan, but God goes before.
- Formidable enemies do not intimidate the Lord. Og was a giant, the last of his race, but God had already declared the outcome. The size of the problem magnifies the size of the deliverance.
- Victory becomes a foundation for faith. This event is recited throughout Scripture (Psalms 135, 136; Nehemiah 9) as a reason to trust God for what lies ahead.
Five-point outline
- Turning is part of the journey. After Jaazer, Israel changed direction. God sometimes leads us in unexpected ways.
- The enemy knows no hesitation. Og came out immediately, with all his people. He saw Israel as a threat and reacted.
- God’s assurance comes before the battle. In the next verse, God tells Moses not to fear, before a single sword is raised, the victory is declared.
- The battle belongs to the Lord. Israel did not seek this fight, but they fought knowing God had already given the land.
- The heritage of faith grows with every victory. The defeat of Og became part of Israel’s story of God’s faithfulness for generations to come.
Illustration hooks
- An unexpected detour: When a road closure forces you through a rough neighbourhood, and you discover a hidden resource you would have missed otherwise. Israel’s turn to Bashan led to a rich inheritance.
- The giant in the room: Og was a descendant of the Rephaim, like Goliath’s family tree. But this giant was no match for the God who brought them out of Egypt. Sometimes our biggest fears are simply the last of a line God has been dismantling for years.
- Old stories become new courage: On the eve of battle, a commander might retell the story of a previous victory. The defeat of Og was told again and again (Psalm 135, Nehemiah 9) to remind Israel that the same God still fights for them.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God had already promised the land, why did Israel have to fight for it? (Seeing battle as the means of receiving the promise, not a sign of failure.)
- How do I know if a difficult situation is from God or just my own bad decision? (The difference between Og’s attack and Israel’s turn to Bashan, was it providential or accidental? The text leaves room for both, but God’s response is clear.)
- What does it mean that Og was a “giant”? Does that matter for my faith today? (The historical reality of the Rephaim shows that no human power can stand against the purposes of God.)
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits within a string of victories that mark the end of Israel’s wilderness journey. Og of Bashan was no ordinary king, he represented the last of the giant clans that once occupied the land. The confrontation at Edrei tested whether Israel would trust God after their success over Sihon. Read Numbers 21:33 together, then consider the questions below.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What do you notice about the language of the verse? Words like “turned,” “went up,” “came out,” “battle”, what do they tell you about the action?
- Observation: Looking at the context (v.31, 35), what had just happened before this verse? How might that have affected Israel’s confidence?
- Interpretation: Why do you think the Bible includes the detail that Og brought “all his people”? What does that say about the scale of the threat?
- Interpretation: Calvin says this victory was meant to arouse the people to “greater alacrity and courage.” How can remembering past victories strengthen faith for current challenges?
- Interpretation: The defeat of Og is mentioned in Psalms 135 and 136, Nehemiah 9, and Deuteronomy 29. Why do you think this battle is recalled so often in Scripture?
- Application: Is there a “Bashan” in your life, a situation that feels too big, too fertile with problems, or too intimidating? How might God be asking you to trust Him before you even see the outcome?
- Application: What is one small way this week you can rehearse God’s past faithfulness as a preparation for something difficult?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 32:33 | Moses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan; the land, according to its cities and borders, even the cities of the surrounding land. |
| Deuteronomy 1:4 | after he had struck Sihon the king of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth, at Edrei. |
| Deuteronomy 3:1 | Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan. Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. |
| Deuteronomy 3:6 | We utterly destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones. |
| Deuteronomy 4:47 | They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise; |
| Deuteronomy 29:7 | When you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we struck them. |
| Deuteronomy 32:14 | butter from the herd, and milk from the flock, with fat of lambs, rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the finest of the wheat. From the blood of the grape, you drank wine. |
| Joshua 9:10 | and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that the passage does not reveal whether the Israelites advanced into Bashan by God's direct command or because Og provoked them. He also identifies Edrei with the modern site of Der'a on the Jarmuk river, which marked the boundary between Gilead and Bashan.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that the swift conquest of Bashan, a famously fertile and vast region, was a striking proof of God's continued favor. Because king Og confidently trusted in his own forces yet was defeated, God's grace shone all the more clearly, as the later mention of sixty captured cities confirms.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that the account arranges the battles with Sihon and Og for convenience rather than strict chronology. Heshbon had to be captured first to gain access, but the order is shaped for readability. He also observes that the phrase "and his sons" appears here but is absent in Deuteronomy.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note focuses on Og's personal leadership and the full scale of the opposition: he came out himself with all his people to fight, not just sending his army. This highlights the complete threat Israel faced from this powerful king.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Israel's march toward Bashan was directed by God's providence, not chance. He emphasizes that Og, a giant-king of the Amorites, came out with his full army to stop them at Edrei, which was a famous city near the ancient home of the Rephaim from whom Og descended.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB draws attention to the rich soil that gave Bashan its name, describing this hilly region east of the Jordan. Og is identified as a giant and an Amorite prince who met defeat when he opposed Israel's advance.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the fiery serpents were not a symbol of sin or the devil, but of God's punishment and remedy. The real evil was not the snakes but the people's own murmuring spirit. Looking at the brazen serpent taught that God uses suffering itself as the cure, instilling confidence in His saving power.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley suggests that Sihon and Og were not simply local rulers but leaders of Canaanite colonies that drove out the region's earlier inhabitants. He also highlights Bashan as a famously rich land, known for its excellent pastures, cattle, and oak trees.