Numbers 16 23

Numbers 16:23 kjv

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 16:23 nkjv

So the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Numbers 16:23 niv

Then the LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 16:23 esv

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Numbers 16:23 nlt

And the LORD said to Moses,

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 23 Meaning

Numbers 16:23 marks the pivotal moment where God directly intervenes and communicates His will following the significant rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron. This verse signals that the forthcoming actions and judgment are solely God's initiative and authority, validating His chosen leaders and reaffirming their divine appointment as conduits of His commands to the Israelite community. It establishes that the judgment against the rebels is from the Lord Himself.

Numbers 16 23 Context

Numbers 16 records the brazen rebellion led by Korah, a Levite, along with Dathan, Abiram (from Reuben's tribe), and 250 prominent Israelite leaders. They accused Moses and Aaron of arrogating too much authority, claiming the entire congregation was holy and directly linked to God, thus rendering their leadership superfluous. Moses had already fallen on his face in prayer, asserting that the matter was between them and God and that God would reveal whom He chose. This challenge directly questioned the divine establishment of the Mosaic covenant and the Aaronide priesthood. Verse 23 appears precisely as God's response to this direct challenge, just before He issues the command to separate from the rebellious faction, thereby demonstrating that the judgment and actions that follow are divinely mandated, not an act of human retribution.

Numbers 16 23 Word analysis

• Then (וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר - waydabber, implies sequence and immediacy with the verb's conjunction): This particle marks a transition and denotes that God's action immediately follows the events described previously – namely, the rebellion and Moses' appeal. It emphasizes divine promptness and intervention.
• the Lord (יְהוָ֣ה - YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, indicating His personal, revealed, and unchanging character. Using YHWH underscores His supreme sovereignty, authority, and faithfulness to His covenant promises and established order, distinguishing His will from human initiatives.
• spoke (וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר - waydabber, root דָּבַר - dabar): Signifies a definitive, authoritative, and intentional verbal communication. It is not merely a thought or inspiration but a direct pronouncement. This word choice conveys that the subsequent instructions are absolute divine revelation and command, demonstrating God's active engagement.
• to Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֮ - ’el-Mosheh): Highlights Moses' continued, unparalleled role as God's chosen prophet and the primary mediator of the Old Covenant. Even amidst challenges to his authority, God explicitly confirms His relationship with and channel through Moses.
• and Aaron (וְאֶל־אַהֲרֹן֒ - wə’el-Aharon): Confirms Aaron's divinely appointed role as High Priest and a legitimate leader. God's inclusion of Aaron explicitly counters Korah's claim against the priesthood, revalidating Aaron's unique, God-given position alongside Moses.
• saying (לֵאמֹ֑ר - le’mor): A common Hebrew idiom introducing direct speech. It indicates that the exact words of the Lord are about to follow. It underscores the precision and authority of the divine message that Moses and Aaron are to relay to the people.

• "Then the Lord spoke": This common formula in the Pentateuch stresses the divine origin of the forthcoming message. It removes any doubt about the source of authority, making it clear that the ensuing judgment and command for separation are God's will, not Moses' or Aaron's personal decision or vengeance. This is especially crucial given the preceding challenge to their authority.
• "to Moses and Aaron": The explicit naming of both Moses and Aaron as the recipients of God's direct communication serves as a powerful divine affirmation of their joint leadership roles. It refutes the rebellion's core claim that they had overstepped their bounds and that all the congregation shared equal authority with them. God chooses His instruments and communicates through them.

Numbers 16 23 Bonus section

• The repetitive phrase "Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron" or similar formulas (e.g., "The Lord spoke to Moses") is a signature of the book of Numbers. This specific formula consistently appears to introduce God's direct instructions or responses to significant events, especially those that validate the covenant and the designated leaders, serving as an anti-polemical device against any future challenges to divine authority or Mosaic law.
• This verse illustrates a key principle of divine communication: God chooses specific individuals as His primary spokespersons for a given era. In this context, it was Moses and Aaron. Their inclusion together emphasizes the unified, yet distinct, aspects of leadership (political/spiritual and priestly/cultic) that God ordained for Israel. Any bypassing of this divinely appointed channel was a direct affront to God Himself.

Numbers 16 23 Commentary

Numbers 16:23 is a succinct yet profound statement marking God's decisive intervention against the most significant challenge to His appointed leadership in the wilderness narrative. In the face of widespread rebellion and a direct challenge to Moses and Aaron's divine authority, this verse instantly re-establishes God's sovereignty. The act of "the Lord" directly "speaking to Moses and Aaron" unequivocally validates their challenged roles and confirms that the imminent judgment on Korah and his followers is not a human decree but God's righteous verdict, mediated through His chosen servants. It underscores the danger of rebelling against God's established order and the unique authority bestowed upon those He calls to lead His people.