Numbers 16:21 kjv
Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Numbers 16:21 nkjv
"Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."
Numbers 16:21 niv
"Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once."
Numbers 16:21 esv
"Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."
Numbers 16:21 nlt
"Get away from all these people so that I may instantly destroy them!"
Numbers 16 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 16:45 | "Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." | Reiterates God's command and threat of swift judgment. |
| Exo 32:10 | "Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them..." | God's desire for immediate destruction for the golden calf sin. |
| Psa 106:17-18 | "The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan... Fire also broke out in their company..." | Describes the fulfillment of this destructive judgment. |
| Heb 10:26-27 | "For if we go on sinning deliberately... there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." | Warning of consuming judgment for persistent rebellion against truth. |
| Jude 1:11 | "Woe to them! For they... perish in Korah's rebellion." | New Testament affirmation of Korah's fate as a warning. |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | "Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing..." | Spiritual application of physical separation for holiness. |
| Lev 20:24-26 | "I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples... You shall be holy to me..." | Principle of divine separation of God's people for holiness. |
| Deut 17:12 | "The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest... or the judge, that man shall die." | Law regarding severe consequences for defying authority. |
| Psa 106:23 | "Therefore he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him..." | Highlights Moses' role in preventing total destruction. |
| Ezek 22:30 | "And I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it..." | Illustrates the need for intercession to avert judgment. |
| Rom 13:2 | "Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment." | NT principle of submission to God-ordained authority. |
| Num 25:9 | "Nevertheless, those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand." | Another instance of swift, widespread judgment for sin. |
| Isa 28:22 | "Now therefore do not scoff, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord GOD of hosts upon the whole land." | Divine decree of destruction for widespread defiance. |
| Jer 5:6 | "Therefore a lion from the forest shall kill them... because their transgressions are many..." | Judgment for extensive rebellion and backsliding. |
| Zeph 1:2-3 | "I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the LORD... I will consume man and beast..." | Prophecy of widespread judgment, consumption. |
| 2 Pet 2:10b-12 | "...despise authority... But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed..." | Judgment on those who despise authority and live wantonly. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry." | Severity of rebellion likened to detestable sins. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Proverbial wisdom explaining the root of such rebellion. |
| Mal 3:19 (4:1) | "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." | Prophecy of future consuming judgment on the wicked. |
| Matt 3:12 | "His winnowing fork is in his hand... he will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." | Jesus' coming judgment distinguishing the saved from the condemned. |
Numbers 16 verses
Numbers 16 21 Meaning
Numbers 16:21 records a severe command from the Lord to Moses and Aaron, following the widespread rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against their divine authority. The Lord, filled with holy wrath, instructs Moses and Aaron to immediately distance themselves from the assembled Israelites. This separation is necessary because He intends to unleash a swift and complete destruction upon the entire rebellious congregation, underscoring the gravity of challenging His ordained leadership and the immediate consequences of corporate sin.
Numbers 16 21 Context
Numbers chapter 16 chronicles one of the most significant rebellions in Israel's wilderness journey. Korah, a Levite, along with Dathan, Abiram, and On from the tribe of Reuben, and 250 respected leaders of the congregation, challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron. Their core accusation was that Moses and Aaron had "lifted yourselves above the assembly of the LORD," implying that all the congregation was holy, and therefore, these leaders had no exclusive claim to spiritual or civil leadership. This challenge was not merely political but a direct affront to the divinely ordained roles of Moses as Israel's leader and Aaron as the High Priest. God views this rebellion against His appointed leaders as rebellion against Him directly. Verse 21 occurs as God's immediate and furious response to this challenge, revealing His intent to instantly eradicate the entire assembly, underscoring the gravity of challenging His chosen order and the inherent dangers of corporate sin.
Word Analysis
- Separate yourselves: הִבָּדְלוּ (hibbādəlū) - This is a Hiphil imperative, meaning "cause yourselves to be separated" or "stand apart." It is a strong command for active withdrawal. The root בדל (bāḏal) signifies distinguishing, dividing, or setting apart, often for sacred purposes or to mark a difference. Here, it is an urgent command for physical distancing to avoid judgment. This reflects God's need to distinguish the faithful from the rebellious before an act of destruction, mirroring the concept of holiness where the clean must be separated from the unclean.
- from among: מִתּוֹךְ (mittōwḵ) - Literally "from the midst of" or "from within." It indicates Moses and Aaron are currently immersed within the congregation and must physically remove themselves from the central mass. This reinforces the immediacy and severity of the impending separation.
- this congregation: הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת (hā‘ēḏāh hazzō't) -
- הָעֵדָה (hā‘ēḏāh): "the assembly," "the congregation." The term 'ēḏāh refers to the entire covenant community of Israel, a unified body. Its usage highlights that God’s wrath is directed at the collective body that has allowed or participated in rebellion.
- הַזֹּאת (hazzō't): "this." The demonstrative pronoun emphasizes the specific, current gathering of Israelites before God, signaling that judgment is imminent for this very group.
- that I may consume them: וַאֲכַלֶּה אֹתָם (wa'akallēh 'ōtām) -
- וַאֲכַלֶּה (wa'akallēh): Waw consecutive + Piel imperfect of כָּלָה (kālāh) - "to finish," "complete," "bring to an end," "utterly destroy." The Piel stem emphasizes the intensive or complete nature of the action, signifying utter obliteration. The verb choice indicates a decisive, final, and inescapable end.
- אֹתָם ('ōtām): "them." Refers unequivocally to the entire congregation, not just the ringleaders. This underscores the corporate responsibility for allowing or participating in the rebellion.
- in a moment: כְּרֶגַע (kəreḡa‘) - "as a moment," "in an instant." The particle כְּ (kə-) means "like" or "as." The word רֶגַע (reḡa‘) refers to a brief, immeasurable period of time, akin to a twinkling of an eye. This stresses the suddenness, swiftness, and irresistibility of divine judgment. There would be no time for negotiation, appeal, or escape once the action commenced.
Word Group Analysis:
- "Separate yourselves from among this congregation": This phrase emphasizes an urgent, active disengagement and distancing by Moses and Aaron. It signifies that those faithful to God must physically and metaphorically dissociate themselves from sin and rebellion to avoid sharing in its consequences. This establishes a boundary drawn by God Himself, distinguishing between His chosen servants and the rebellious mass.
- "that I may consume them in a moment": This clause reveals the divine purpose and nature of the impending judgment. The combination of "consume" (utter destruction) and "in a moment" (immediate execution) portrays God's furious, decisive, and overwhelming wrath against unholy defiance. It illustrates that His patience can abruptly run out, leading to instantaneous, devastating consequences. This swiftness is characteristic of divine justice when His authority is openly challenged.
Numbers 16 21 Bonus section
The phrase "in a moment" or "in an instant" appears in various biblical contexts, always emphasizing the sudden and often catastrophic nature of an event, particularly divine action or judgment. For instance, in Job 34:20, it describes how the mighty perish without warning; in Isaiah 29:5, how enemies are swept away; and in 1 Corinthians 15:52, it describes the swift transformation of believers at the resurrection. This consistent usage underscores the immediate and unstoppable force of God’s decree. The entire narrative of Numbers 16 stands as a monumental illustration of God's jealousy for His holiness and His direct intervention to uphold the authority He Himself institutes within His people.
Numbers 16 21 Commentary
Numbers 16:21 powerfully encapsulates God's absolute holiness, His intolerance for rebellion against His established order, and the corporate implications of sin. When Moses and Aaron’s divinely appointed authority was challenged, it was seen as a direct affront to God Himself. The Lord’s command to "separate yourselves" is an urgent and gracious act, giving His faithful servants a window to escape the imminent wrath intended for the unholy congregation. This serves as a critical theological point: while God is merciful, His justice is immediate and absolute when His boundaries are blatantly transgressed, especially regarding His chosen leadership and the sanctity of His people. The "consuming in a moment" highlights the instantaneous and complete nature of divine judgment when provoked. This narrative serves as a perpetual warning against rebellion, pride, and despising spiritual authority, emphasizing that remaining apart from such sin is crucial for one's salvation.